SA Energy Minister Encourages Mining Sector to Adopt Renewable Energy Technology and Smart Grids

Speech highlights:

• The minister also encourages possible collaborative partnerships in the energy efficiency and renewable energy space that can establish win-win cleaner technology solutions into mining value chain.
• With the Fourth Industrial Revolution advancing faster, the minister emphasized the need to move with speed to intensify the deployment of smart grids.
• The relayed message also encourages the mining sector to adopt renewable energy technology.
• Battery storage can play a significant role in meeting mining sector energy challenges.
• Understanding the socioeconomic footprint of the energy transition is essential to optimise the outcome.

At the Energy Media breakfast on the side-lines of the Mining Indaba taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre yesterday, Ms Mokgadi Modise (Acting Deputy Director-General: Clean Energy) delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister of Energy, Mr Jeff Radebe.

Ms Modise said ‘The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) deemed it fit that together with the Department of Energy, they should present possible collaborative partnerships in the energy efficiency and renewable energy space, that can establish win-win cleaner technology solutions into mining value chain after thorough consideration of the mining production processes; operations and maintenance; research and development; technology growth, development and advancement in contributing towards low a carbon economy in the short, medium and long term.

The relayed speech from the Energy Minister also highlighted the importance of aligning with the fourth industrial revolution in relation to Smart Grids. “With the Fourth Industrial Revolution advancing faster, we too need to move with speed to intensify the deployment of smart grids. The Smart Grid represents an unprecedented opportunity to move the energy industry into a new era of reliability, availability, and efficiency that will contribute to our economic and environmental health”.

“Understanding the socioeconomic footprint of the energy transition is essential to optimise the outcome. It is indisputable that the energy transition cannot be considered in isolation, separate from the socio-economic system in which it is deployed. With holistic policies, the transition can greatly boost overall employment in the energy sector. Partnerships will certainly spread into uplifting communities where these projects are implemented” , Ms Modise added.

Author: Bryan Groenendaal