Green Economy Journal Issue 32

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Issue 32 R29.00 incl VAT 9 772410 645003

Energy The winds of change Infrastructure Investment opportunities Manufacturing SA’s call to action 11025

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Green Buildings Built environment’s new goal Skills Women and energy audits 2018/11/07 10:55 AM

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EDITOR: Melissa Baird

CONTRIBUTORS: Nicholas Woode-Smith Janine Basson Mary Anne Constable Constance Mokhoantle

PROOFREADER: Nicole Cameron

LAYOUT AND DESIGN: CDC Design

PROJECT MANAGER: Munya Jani

SALES: Vania Reyneke Annie Peters Danielle Solomons Thandiswa Mbijane

PRINTING: FA Print

DISTRIBUTION: Edward MacDonald

WEB: www.alive2green.com/ publications/green-economy-journal/

DISTRIBUTION AND COPY

SALES ENQUIRIES: distribution@alive2green.com

ENQUIRIES: info@alive2green.com

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: vania.reyneke@alive2green.com

EDITORIAL PROPOSALS: melissa.baird@alive2green.com

PUBLISHER: Gordon Brown, Alive2Green Projects

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 1st Floor Cape Media House 28 Main Road Rondebosch 7700 Cape Town TEL: 021 447 4733 FAX: 086 694 7443 REG NUMBER: 2005/003854/07 VAT Number: 4750243448 ISSN NUMBER: 2410-6453 PUBLICATION DATE: November 2018

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Green Economy Journal is audited by ABC Issue 32 R29.00 incl VAT 9 772410 645003

Energy Wind taking centre stage Infrastructure Opportunities for investment Manufacturing Competitiveness in the age of technology 11025

Net Zero Green Buildings on the rise Skills Women and energy audits

Cover image: SAWEA

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any way or in any form without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher or the Editor. All editorial and advertising contributions are accepted on the understanding that the contributor either owns or has obtained all necessary copyrights and permissions. The Publisher does not endorse any claims made in the publication by or on behalf of any organisations or products. Please address any concerns in this regard to the Editor.

The Green Economy Journal is printed on Hi-Q Titan plus paper, manufactured by Evergreen Hansol, a leading afforestation member acknowledged by FOA. Hi-Q has Chain of Custody certification, is totally chlorine free, and is PEFC, ISO 14001, ISO 9001 accredited. This paper is FSC certified.

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This is the last issue of GEJ for 2018 and as I write this I am reflecting on the astonishing events we have seen across the political, economic, social and environmental landscapes over the past year. Extreme weather, Cape town averting day zero, leaders being outed for their lies, job losses and job promises, high tech innovations and the tenuous future of land owners that hangs like a pall over our country. I was invited by the University of the Freestate to speak at the Landskruin forum in Bothaville, the heart of South Africa’s maize belt. My topic was the Green Economy and the hope it can offer for rural social development and food security. I had never addressed a group of 100 farmers before and I was deeply humbled in the presence of these men who are the major producers of South Africa’s staple crop and are being threatened with land appropriation without compensation. They are also living in fear as the farm murders continue somewhat systematically. I thought it would be my toughest audience and yet there they were – some having driven 100 kms to attend this event, ready and willing to listen. The talk was well received, and I was able to showcase some incredible success stories that are real and happening today. It made me hopeful that if we can connect the positives then the network in agricultural social development will grow and we can be witness to true rural reform.

Closing off October, I presented my annual lecture to the final year marketing students at the Red and Yellow School of Creative Business and watched as the 40 or so young people got to grips with what sustainability means and how it impacts their sector and the way in which they will create advertising that explains this to the consumer. I introduced them to the Water Lions campaign which is an endeavour to generate funding to enable legal action to be taken against those responsible for the mismanagement of the water infrastructure. The Vaal dam and others are being destroyed by daily dumps of effluent that has been untreated. How much longer does this go on and why is there no action to fix the most vital resource we have and need? I can only trust that there will be recourse and will wait to see how this action campaign grows in 2019. President Ramaphosa has made a bold move reaching out to the private sector to collaborate to solve the job crises but the renewable energy skills development and small-scale farming options must not be left out of the mix. Proximity can determine a lot about success. Biomimicry teaches us that if a single cell is active and healthy it can replicate and mimic its success.

Communities can do the same, but we are desperate for ethical leadership, guidance, social conscience and awareness about what is going on and what solutions exist to solve the problems. My wish for 2019 is regeneration on all levels.

Melissa Baird www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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The people keeping it clean Heavy industry is a critical part of our economy. But disposing of the waste they produce in a way that’s safe for people and the environment takes years of expertise, scientific savvy and biochemistry knowledge.

Not just anyone can do it. That’s why EnviroServ employs qualified professionals for the job.

Like Project Manager Yolandi Kruger. A keen cyclist, she’s just as passionate about protecting the planet as you are. Yolandi has participated in five 94.7 Cycle Challenges as well as the Amashoba Cycling Challenge in October 2017 – a 110 kilometre race in Durban and hopes to this year do her sixth Cycle Challenge in under three hours. Yolandi is currently training to do a four-day Johannesburg to Durban cycle in December this year.

With more than five years’ experience at EnviroServ, she’s the right person for this demanding job and takes pride in working for a compliant operation.

Because expertise is one thing, but employees who live the EnviroServ values of passion and integrity are dedicated to working towards delivering waste solutions that are environmentally responsible and effective.

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Contents

ISSUE 32

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News and Updates Urine-based bricks, jobs in renewable energy, SA’s first Green Bank, environmental awards & investment in high tech

Wind Energy Hope for the future

Interview

Old Mutual’s Khiyam Fredericks and their green star status

Green Buildings

The positive impact of net zero

Recycling

PETCO and the purpose of plastic

Energy Efficiency

Tech tools for easy management

Blockchain

How technology ensures accountability

TECHNOLOGY

Drones and their role in managing infrastructure delivery

Manufacturing

Being competitive in the age of technology

Job Creation

ROSE foundation supports used oil enterprises

Comment

Investec discusses infrastructure development

Energy Management

Empowering a new generation of female managers

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News and Updates

UN warns world is at risk if global warming exceeds 1.5°C A report released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that if the world continues to warm at its current rate, global temperatures will rise by 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052. For Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular the findings of the report are especially damning. Without immediate global cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, average temperatures in Africa will rise more than two degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2050. By this time, heat extremes never experienced before by humans in this part of the world could

affect 15% of sub-Saharan Africa’s land area in the hot season, causing deaths and threatening farmers’ ability to grow crops.

The report is the result of the work of 91 dedicated lead authors and review editors from 40 countries, and the inputs of 133 contributing authors. This group assessed more than 6000 scientific publications on climate change and climate change mitigation strategies. It also found that pledges that governments made over the last three years are not enough to keep warming below 1.5°C, even with ambitious and very challenging efforts after 2030. It

The world’s first bio-brick grown from human urine This astonishing innovation has been unveiled by University of Cape Town (UCT) master’s student in civil engineering Suzanne Lambert, signalling an innovative paradigm shift in waste recovery.

The bio-bricks are created through a natural process called microbial carbonate precipitation. It’s not unlike the way seashells are formed, said Lambert’s supervisor Dr Dyllon Randall, a senior lecturer in water quality engineering.

In this case, loose sand is colonised with bacteria that produce an enzyme called urease which breaks down the urea in urine while producing calcium carbonate through a complex chemical reaction. This cements

the sand into any shape, whether it’s a solid column, or now, for the first time, a rectangular building brick.

The development is also good news for the environment and global warming as bio-bricks are made in moulds at room temperature. Regular bricks are kiln-fired at temperatures around 1 400°C and produce vast quantities of carbon dioxide.

The concept of using urea to grow bricks was tested in the United States some years back using synthetic solutions, but Lambert’s brick uses real human urine for the first time, with significant consequences for waste recycling ¬and upcycling.

will require unprecedented transitions in all aspects of society and rapid and deep emission reductions in all sectors as well as the use of a wide range of technologies such as removing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Methods for doing this include: planting trees; bioenergy combined with carbon dioxide capture and storage; and changed land management.

Source: Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC) www.gsccnetwork.org

30th Annual SAB environmental awards honours activists Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid (Earthlife Africa) were awarded the honour of SAB Environmentalist of the Year. They received the Nick Steele Memorial Award for their work in winning a crucial court case to halt plans by the South African government to proceed with a national nuclear build programme.

The two built a broad coalition to stop the South African government’s massive secret nuclear deal with Russia. In April 2017, the High Court ruled that the $76 billion nuclear power project was unconstitutional – a landmark legal victory that protected South Africa from an unprecedented expansion of the nuclear industry and production of radioactive waste.

Recognising and rewarding work by the media, is an important part of making sure that big business, governments, communities and individuals take accountability for their actions, which have an impact on the environment.

SAB and AB InBev this year announced their sustainable development strategy outlining their joint priorities for 2025. The key areas of focus are water, agriculture, climate change and circular packaging.

Source: Nala Media

https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2018-10-24-world-first-bio-bricks-from-urine

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www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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News and Updates

GCF commits $55.6m for Green Bank The Coalition for Green Capital has congratulated the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for the approval of a first-of-its-kind-loan from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to the DBSA for the creation of the Climate Finance Facility. The CFF is modelled on Green Banks created in other countries, but when launched, is likely to be the first application of the Green Bank concept in a developing nation.

When operational, the CFF will use its own capital to catalyze multiple private investments into a range of climate-related markets. With support from Convergence Finance and ClimateWorks, CGC worked with the DBSA and South Africa-based partners Green Cape to help design the CFF, secure capitalization, and craft the GCF funding

application. CGC CEO Reed Hundt said, “We at CGC wish DBSA the best of luck in this new enterprise. The battle against climate change very much needs reinforcements.”

Following the Green Bank model, the CFF will focus its investments to “crowd in” private investment at the project level in green sectors where projects currently struggle to access affordable financing at commercial terms. In this way, the CFF will offer globally significant proof-of-concept value to middle-and-lower-income nations seeking to create local institutions that address market barriers and scale up the high levels of private investment required by Paris climate commitments.

Source: http://coalitionforgreencapital. com/2018/10/19/2687/

South African Student Wins International Green Talents Award

Naspers to fund high tech startups A $100 million Naspers Foundry fund ( set to launch in 2019) to support South African tech startups has been allocated as part of a $300 million (1.4 billion Rand) commitment by the South African media and investment company to help talented and ambitious South African technology entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses.

“Technology innovation is transforming the world,” said Naspers chief executive Bob van Dijk. “The Naspers Foundry aims to both encourage and back South African entrepreneurs to create businesses which ensure South Africa benefits from this technology innovation.”

The company recently added around $70 million to its commitment to South African e-commerce site Takealot.

The $300 million commitment to South Africa’s tech ecosystem signals a strong commitment by Naspers to its home market.

Source https://techcrunch. com/2018/10/29/naspers-announces300-million-initiative-to-supportstartups-and-tech-in-south-africa/

Jobs in the renewable energy sector Sola Future Energy’s CEO Dom Wills has said that the more new solar systems that are built and come online, “the greater the growth in the ongoing job opportunities in both the operation and maintenance of these facilities”. His company replaced Robben Island’s dieselpowered electricity supply with a grid driven by solar energy.

Wills said a common misconception about the renewable energy sector is that it lacks job opportunities.

For the tenth time the “Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development” culminated in a festive award ceremony in Berlin at which the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research honoured the newest 25 awardees for their innovative green ideas from various fields of research. Under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Education and Research, the award has been honouring talented researchers

since 2009 and provides young scientists with a platform for sharing their views on green concepts to make our world a better place. Pheladi Venda Tlhatlha, 24, from Westenburg, Limpopo conducted her MSc in Environmental Management at the University of Pretoria where her research focused on Renewable Energy Strategies for Energy Poverty Alleviation.

Source: www.ghcm.co.za

The European market shows that for every MW of solar installed, some 28 job-years per MW were created.

Closer to home, across SOLA’s operations portfolio of 23.5 MW, four people are employed full time and one part time.

“If we extrapolate this to cover the entire embedded market, we estimate that at least 37 people are employed, full time, for South Africa’s current 200 MW of embedded generation,” said Wills. “The market potential of 5 000 MW means that at least 900 potential jobs could exist.”

Source: African News Agency

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Renewable Energy

Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm assists in helping South Africa shift towards clean energy production. Arising from the South African Government’s REI4P, the wind farm supplies Eskom with 460 000 MWh per year.

What the

wind is worth

South Africa’s wind energy sector is regulated by government through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P) and its competitive bidding auctions. Uniquely, the programme’s auctions are only 70% based on price, with the balance making way for economic development (ED) objectives, to actively facilitate local economic development.

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nergy infrastructure is a critical component that underpins economic activity and growth across the country; it needs to be robust and extensive enough to meet industrial, commercial and household needs. The Wind Power Industry is already a key direct contributor, producing over 52% of total renewable power, with more than 900 wind turbines generating power into the national grid.

In line with the national commitment to transition to a low carbon economy by 2030; 17,800 MW power supply is expected to be derived from renewable energy sources, with 5,000 MW to be operational by 2019 and a further 2,000 MW operational by 2020. ( DoE, 2018).

Investments are leading the SA energy transition South Africa is in the midst of an energy transition away from a dominant dependence on coal-fired power, toward a power

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mix made up of a greater share of renewable energy supply. This transition is largely driven by the country’s climate commitments, but it is also informed by economics: wind and solar power are the cheapest new build options in South Africa.

Enterprise Development achievements to date:

• During construction thus far, employment for 30,405 job years has been created by the SA RE Industry as a whole; the Wind Industry has contributed approximately one third of these jobs.

• While the construction phase offers high employment opportunities over shorter timeframes (typically 2 years), the power plant operations phase offers fewer employment opportunities over a 20-year operational period.

• Over the operational life of the full portfolio of wind projects (up to BW4), 32,138 job years are anticipated. www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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Renewable Energy

Above: Noupoort Wind Farm supports education within the local community of Noupoort and is particularly dedicated to improving literacy levels.

The Wind Farm supports the belief that literacy is not only the ability to read and write, but rather in a person’s capacity to apply these skills to effectively connect, interpret and discern the intricacies of the world in which they live.

Left: Perdekraal East Wind Farm, situated within the Witzenberg Local Municipality, is preparing the way to begin major construction activity on the Western Cape’s largest BW4 wind farm.

• Black South African shareholders own on average 31% of wind farm investments.

• Utility-scale RE investments directly contribute to rural development: The Eastern Cape hosts 43% of private RE power plants, the Northern Cape 43% and the Western Cape 14%.

• The average lead time for construction is 2 years. During this period, local people are employed and develop further skills to enhance their prospects.

• 20-year power purchase agreements ensuring long-term operational employment as well as ongoing procurement from local businesses.

• Procurement contracts with renewable power companies enables small and medium-sized local businesses to invest and grow stronger.

• By March 2018 a total of R66 582 462,73 in bursary awards had been granted by the SA RE industry; over 50% of recipients originate from the Northern Cape province. www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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SA Wind and RE market share – current and future • Once BW4 plants are commissioned, RE total contribution to the power system will be approximately 5%.

• Ministerial determinations i.e. the legal basis for procurement have been made for 6,360 MW of wind power by 2025 i.e. 69% of the planned wind allocations in IRP2010.

• Following a two-year delay in the programme between 2015 and 2017, South Africa is currently behind on procurement for Wind as only 3,366 MW of already-determined wind power has been procured to-date.

• The IRP2018 draft update allows for 11,442 MW of wind power to be installed by 2030 i.e. 15.1% of SA’s overall power mix.

• If adopted in the final IRP2018, a further 8,100 MW of Wind would still need to be procured by 2030.

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Interview

Old Mutual’s

green stars

South Africa’s most trusted financial organisation has excelled yet again; this time to ensure resource efficiencies in all aspects of its building management. In collaboration with PCM, a project, contract and engineering management consultancy, the organisation was able to achieve significant wins that have brought about costs savings and happier staff within two years. Melissa Baird spoke to Old Mutual’s technical manager Khiyam Fredericks about their journey.

Melissa Baird What is Old Mutual’s current position on implementing sustainability measures across their offices?

Khiyam Fredericks The two campuses; Mutual Place (Jhb) and Mutual Park (CT) are 5 star certified. In Jhb we are having the interiors rated and exploring Net Zero certification for water in Cape Town. Sustainability is one of our core pillars, so we take this seriously.

The waste-to-drinking Water Filtration Plant is incredible, give us a snapshot of how this works.

It’s the largest corporate-owned black to potable water filtration system, capable of producing 650 kL of water a day in a normal (16hr) shift. This can be ramped up to 850 kl if needed in an emergency. The efficiency is 75%, meaning 100lt of black water will result in at least 75lt of clean drinking water. We added another 480kL of storage which allows enough capacity to maintain operations for a complete day in the event of no water supply at all.

Solar PV 1 MWp system installed in 2016.

Explain the energy efficiency measures that are in place and how this has helped cut utility costs - are you feeding power back to the grid?

As a certified building, there are a number of initiatives such as: Low pressure Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems with temperature and branch static pressure reset and all windows have been treated to reduce heat penetration from the sun. Variable speed drives installed allow for greater control of fans and pumps. All lifts and escalators are replaced with energy efficient motors and control systems when they, reach end of life. In terms of solar OH installation, consists of 3600 solar panels covering 14 500m² on the parking deck.

On the happiness scale that green buildings offer its tenants workers how would you say your staff have reacted to the changes?

Largest corporate-owned Black water filtration plant.

We have proven that greener buildings result in healthier tenants that are more productive because they offer healthy amounts of fresh air, natural light, solvent free paints and good waste management.

PCM Consulting assisted Old Mutual with the modular waste water to potable water filtration plant as a full turnkey solution through all phases, from concept, design, implementation and operations. Jann Prinsloo CEO of PCM had this to say: “The project is a major success by having the right vision and a core drive to make a difference.”

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Green Buildings

Zero is Hero

By Mary Anne Constable

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t’s widely-known that buildings world-wide contribute to around a third of carbon emissions through their construction and operation, and consume half the planet’s energy and resources. While over the last 11 years, the GBCSA’s green star rating tools have completely transformed the “conventional” building model for many property developers, it’s become clear that building “green” is not enough. More needs to be done.

Net zero energy buildings have zero net energy consumption which means the amount of energy consumed by the building on an annual basis is equal to the amount of renewable energy generated on site. It’s about bringing the balance between consumption and production down to zero, and this same concept can also be applied to other resources such as water, treating of waste, and environmental impact.

Convention keynote speaker and American environmentalist Paul Hawken’s message was that achieving net zero is “a threshold and not an endpoint”. It is the moment where we stop to pause, take our foot off the gas, and rethink before taking our next move. We now need to move beyond net zero and swing the pendulum in the opposite (positive) direction.

Following in the footsteps of the World Green Building Council’s global Advancing Net Zero project, the GBCSA is promoting and supporting the acceleration of all new buildings to be net zero carbon (energy) by 2030, and all buildings by 2050. So far, four of South Africa’s major cities – Johannesburg, Cape Town, Tshwane and eThekwini – have joined the pledge to achieve net zero carbon buildings under the C40 Cities South Africa Building’s Programme. It’s essential that cities are involved in developing net zero policies to guide development on an urban and building scale. The GBCSA also encouraged the private property sector to pledge to achieve these net zero goals across their building portfolios, and several projects have already been certified under the four new Net Zero/Net Positive rating tools, while more are in the pipeline.

To some, implementing net zero may seem impossible, but the key is efficiency as a starting point. Architect Robert Pena explained that “efficiency is energy”. When it comes to providing renewable energy on site for example, there is often not enough space (on the roof or elsewhere) to provide enough solar panels for a “conventional” building’s energy needs.

The solution: bring down the building’s energy usage to match what can

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Credit Anthea Davison

The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) presented a compelling case for creating net zero buildings at their annual Green Building Convention in October 2018.

This requires a huge mindset shift in the building industry and a deeper understanding of what it really means to be net zero.

Paul Hawken at the GBCSA Net Zero conference.

be generated. In practice, this reveals a (sometimes large) gap between the energy consumption of even a green building and the amount of energy able to be generated. Thus, net zero buildings are being asked to achieve an unprecedented high level of energy efficiency. Yet in the space of the unknown, innovation happens.

Chilu Lombe from Solid Green said that “solving the energy efficiency gap is where the business case is [for net zero]”. This is where we need to show that making a building highly energy efficient does not have to be an expensive exercise. One major change that will likely be seen going forward, for example, is how buildings are ventilated. Air-conditioning is a major consumer of energy and often unnecessary or at least oversubscribed in buildings. Edward Garrod from Integral Group is a strong contender for natural ventilation and believes that all buildings should be “breathable” it’s all about the design of the building’s skin. The best part is that natural ventilation, in contrast to air-conditioning, is free.

So as cities grapple with the challenge of developing strong net zero policies as they race towards the 2030 goal and built environment professionals innovate to achieve ever increasing levels of efficiency, the net zero concept will become more and more commonplace, until...the pendulum begins to swing in the right direction and we begin to regenerate, rebuild and heal our world. Next year’s convention will continue to push the envelope by going beyond buildings, to how we shape sustainable cities.

For information about next year’s GBCSA Convention: “Shaping Cities of Tomorrow” visit, gbcsaconvention.org.za

Recent statistics from the IPD South Africa Annual Green Property Index for 2017 show that green star certified buildings outperform similar uncertified buildings by 3.8%. Occupants are healthier, more productive and buildings are more consistently tenanted.

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Credit: Benjamin Benschneider Photography

Green Buildings

Touted as the world’s greenest building, the Bullitt Center in Seattle, designed by Robert Pena, has an array 575 solar panels on the roof which generate electricity to power the building. http://www.bullittcenter.org www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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Recycle plastic bottles. They are turned into new bottles.

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By doing one thing and recycling, you are exercising extraordinary power. Consider that in 2017 alone, 90 749 tonnes of PET plastic was diverted from landfill through recycling. That’s the equivalent of over 250 Olympic-sized swimming pools full of PET plastic bottles that were used in the creation of many new and useful products, including brand new bottles.

Polyethylene Terephthalate, or PET is the most commonly used plastic in the manufacture of cool drink and water bottles. It is a 100% recyclable material when basic design principles are followed.

Because of its recyclability, plastic bottles are broken down into pellets, washed and then sold to various manufacturers for use in the creation of numerous products,

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like stuffing for duvets and pillows, jeans and jackets, even automotive parts.

Recycled PET plastic bottles are also turned into many food-grade products, like punnets for fruit. But most importantly, they are turned into new bottles that are 100% safe to use again. Recycling bottles back into bottles is called ‘closing the loop’ and it is critical to a sustainable future for humankind.

This kind of Circular Economy means that, not only do we no longer rely on expensive imported virgin PET fibre, instead we empower local entrepreneurs and industry, and combat the rising unemployment rate. And that means only good things for South Africa’s GDP.

PETCO achieves this by accepting responsibility for the management and recycling of PET plastic bottles and containers on behalf of the PET sector in SA. We call it EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and it involves us subsidising every kilogram of PET recycled in South Africa.

plastic bottles simply cannot be considered as trash.

Please do 1 thing and recycle so that they can become brand new bottles.

EPR integrates the environmental costs of PET into the market costs of products and we undertake this responsibility so that PET bottles can be made and sold to consumers at the lowest possible cost to them.

With such great potential to transform livelihoods, contribute to our GDP, be recycled into countless new products, not to mention how recycling PET plastic is beneficial to the environment,

Find us on Social Media:

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Recycling

Finding new purpose for

plastic

By Janine Basson

Climate change and sustainable development are two of the biggest issues facing today’s society. It is therefore increasingly important for companies to reduce the environmental impacts of their products and services throughout their entire lifecycle. Those that fail to address environmental performance in product design and development will find it progressively more difficult to compete in a global market that is fast transitioning towards a circular economy.

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roducts traditionally seen as waste should rather be resources which can be brought back into the supply chain once they’ve completed their original purpose. In this model, plastic packaging never becomes waste; rather, it re-enters the economy as a valuable commodity.

This is the future that PETCO (the PET Plastic Recycling Company NPC), along with its many partners, is working to create with a variety of stakeholders from the government through to the raw material producers, manufacturers, retailers, consumers and recyclers.

Recycling is useful for extending the life of valuable materials, reducing energy use, waste and litter and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. However, the recycling of packaging does not begin with its collection, but with its design. Therefore, to maximise recycling of plastic packaging, it is essential that retailers, brand owners, packaging manufacturers and designers embed recyclability principles into their pack design processes so that, at the end of its life, the packaging material can be recycled and re-used in new products and packaging.

To facilitate this, PETCO has put together a guideline document1 , driven specifically by the requirements of the mechanical recycling process in South Africa, to ensure that PET plastic packaging does not cause recycling issues and has value far beyond its original intended purpose.

Recycling Within a Circular Economy Around the world, product stewardship and extended producer responsibility have become requirements for producers. In short, this means that the producer (which includes all sectors of the supply chain, including retailers and consumers) takes joint responsibility to deal with the product and all the waste it creates after its commercial life. In South Africa, the National Environmental Management (NEM): Waste Act (Act 59 of 2008) (generally referred to as the Waste Act) makes this a legal requirement for all. www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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PET forms the basis for synthetic fibres like polyester and rigid plastic commonly used as beverage bottles for carbonated soft drinks and bottled water, amongst other things.

Since PETCO’s inception in 2004, PET producers have contributed voluntary recycling fees of more than R371-million, which has enabled the collection of 14 billion discarded PET plastic bottles for recycling, thereby reducing landfills by 3 777 639m3 and carbon emissions by 913 107 tonnes.

Additionally, PET recycling created 64 000 income-generating opportunities for South African ‘waste-preneurs’ in 2017 alone, changing their lives and the lives of their families in immeasurable ways.

In South Africa, recycled PET (rPET) can be used to make many new products, such as polyester staple fibre used for apparel (clothing), home textiles (duvets, pillows, carpeting), automotive parts (carpets, sound insulation, boot linings, seat covers), industrial end-use items (geotextiles and roof insulation), strapping, fruit carton corner pieces. The use of rPET in food-grade PET packaging entails compliance with extremely stringent standards for health, safety and product quality. The production and use of both food grade and non-food grade rPET resin remains the major growth opportunity for PET recycling in South Africa, the first African country to do so.

To date, PET recycling has created R5.4-billion in economic value. In 2017 alone, approximately 96% of all PET bottles recovered in South Africa were reprocessed locally into new end-use products. South Africa no longer needs to import polyester staple fibre and exports it instead, bringing valuable foreign earnings into the country.

1. Download PETCO’s ‘Designing for the Environment’ Guideline Document from www.petco.co.za/resources

17 2018/11/07 10:56 AM

Energy Efficiency

Corporate energy savers GLO South African businesses are placing greater importance on not only reducing their energy consumption, but also communicating their energy-saving abilities to the world.

M

ila Vicquery, Head of Energy Reporting at Energy Partners Intelligence says that many of South Africa’s large companies have put robust energy saving strategies in place, which include energy efficiency measures as well as renewable power generation. “From what we have witnessed, an increasing number of these businesses have now also started to look for ways to monitor their energy consumption more comprehensively, in order to better present this information to the public.”

These companies can indeed benefit from being able to show how well their energy-saving initiatives are performing to investors and stakeholders.

One example is a company in the healthcare sector that managed to save R220 million on their energy bill (to date). Another in the food retail sector has achieved an accumulated energy savings of around R1.8 billion.

“Companies that can show their efforts to reduce operating costs and expand on their profit margins in this way, make themselves much more attractive to investors for potential partnerships” she pointed out.

While many energy consultants and service providers are able to monitor an organisation’s energy use across all of their locations, Vicquery

says that presenting this data still has some challenges. This is why the industry standard is to simply provide monthly or quarterly reports to clients, that will address their exact sustainability, environmental or utility management needs.

Energy Partners Intelligence has developed a utility management platform that can display an organisation’s energy-related data in real time, and in a manner that is easy to understand. The utility management tool, GLO, is a web- and mobile-based utility management software designed for real-time metering and data collection, optimising asset performance, and ensuring energy compliance.

It’s also got the wow factor and any organisation that is monitoring its energy consumption and generation, can now display the GLO energy management tool on their own website, or on screens in their foyers to show the public how well their energy saving strategies are working.

With businesses increasingly working towards greater transparency and accessibility, being able to show how an organisation can cut down on its operating costs is becoming more valuable.

About Energy Partners Founded in 2008, Energy Partners is a leading energy solutions provider in South Africa. www.energypartners.co.za

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2018/11/07 10:56 AM

Technology

Accountability in standards

BY Nicholas Woode-Smith

How do we ensure that corporations and governments maintain their promises, fulfil sustainability goals and don’t lie about their sustainable certifications and standards? By tracking each transaction in the supply chain, blockchain technology is now enabling utter transparency that will ensure claims are not merely sales ploys.

S

upply chains are long and tracked by myriad transactions made by all the stakeholders in the process which can leave gaps in the authenticity of the sustainability claims.

This is where the Blockchain, a ground-breaking technology that uses decentralisation and transparency to create a public ledger, can be used to ensure authentic and measurable claims are being made. It is revolutionising the financial industry by providing the backbone to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as helping banks track their transactions. But its uses are not limited to finance. Developers are already finding ways to use the Blockchain to aid in corporate and environmental sustainability.

But, how does the Blockchain work? Think of it as a magical ledger that everyone owns. Imagine you have this ledger in your business or home and whenever you make a transaction, you write it down. But when you write it down, the transaction appears on everyone else’s ledger. If your entry doesn’t match up with what everyone else has, alarm bells ring and the system automatically audits you to find out what is causing the inconsistency.

The Blockchain functions like that, but using computer and encryption technology rather than magic. Nobody owns the Blockchain. It is a decentralised system hosted on the servers of every person or company that uses it. This means it has no single point of vulnerability. No one person can hack it or manipulate it and, once someone makes an entry, it is irreversible.

So, how can this be applied to aid in sustainability? Now, customers must take it for granted that a product’s claims are ‘true’; which can lead www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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to greenwashing in certain areas. But by recording every transaction as it happens and using the system to ensure that the supply chain remains as transparent as possible, any faulty claims can be identified because the Blockchain is self-auditing and it looks for inconsistencies across all recorded transactions across innumerable supply chains.

Imagine the coffee you drink. It has a multitude of supply chain links involved in its production and while it may claim to be Fairtrade, because it didn’t exploit any of its own workers, it may very well be purchasing its goods from other suppliers that do exploit their labour.

It may also be using the services of growers that have damaged the rainforest, or use non-organic agricultural practices. Without the blockchain this information can be hidden. Think of it as reputation laundering.

With this system, customers will know, likely by using an app to scan a product, if that product is truly sustainable and up to standard. The virtue of the Blockchain system is that it puts everything out in the open and can potentially (especially if combined with AI) be automatic. With all these transaction logs, tied in together with an automatic reputation system and hardcore analysis, we will be able to truly examine the behaviour of companies and their claims to sustainability practices.

It doesn’t stop at certifications and standards. The Blockchain promises to revolutionise sustainable electricity, environmental governance, carbon taxing and recycling and it is all being led by passionate developers who want to make the world a better place.

19 2018/11/07 12:11 PM

Technology

Drones

deliver results The University of Johannesburg’s CARINBE and Gauteng Province’s Department of Infrastructure Development are exploring the use of drone technology to improve infrastructure delivery.

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www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

2018/11/07 11:36 AM

Technology

M

any mega construction projects experience challenges in their delivery and often exceed their planned timelines, quality and budgets. These challenges are not uncommon to the construction industry in South Africa. However, the fourth industrial revolution has a solution that will aid in the way infrastructure is delivered.

According to the World Economic Forum, digital technologies are changing Professor Innocent Musonda the construction industry in the waybuilt assets are designed, constructed, operated and maintained. The entry of technology to the industry is also driven by the realisation that to improve on the delivery of projects, adoption of innovative methods that are based on digital technology is essential as it ensures efficiency and effectiveness in project management, transparency, and record keeping.

The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ), Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE) in collaboration with the Gauteng Province’s Department of Infrastructure Development (GPDID) explored the use of drones i.e. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to capture site data and Building Information Modelling (BIM) as basis for as-built and as-imagined/designed comparisons in construction projects. For the proof of concept, the construction of Greenspark clinic in Fochville, Gauteng was used as the case study.

CARINBE and GPDID have from the initial concept, demonstrated that UAV and BIM technology can be used for efficient and accurate site

data collection, monitoring of work progress during construction, site surveillance, and integration of transformed 3D models to BIM to achieve more effective project management, record keeping and quality control.

The outputs from the integrated 3D models enabled inspection of the entire construction site of Greenspark clinic much more closely than would ordinarily be achieved with traditional inspection methods. The methodology of using UAVs gives an opportunity to the entire project team involved in the project including the client representatives, to inspect difficult-to-access areas such as rooftops, excavations etc.

Since the generated 3D models enable clear visualisation of the asset under construction, and BIM provides a single point of truth, it is possible to achieve a fair assessment of contractors’ claims, improve quality by monitoring deviations of as-built from design plans, monitor materials on site and measure actual work done on site.

Integration of UAV and BIM technology leverages the capabilities and opportunities that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has provided.

We can now digitalise and automate many processes and outputs in the construction process for the benefit of our nation. Therefore, the collaboration between GPDID and UJ’s CARINBE to improve infrastructure delivery with UAVs (Drones) and BIM technology will bring accountability and transparency in Government projects, as well as reduce the many aberrations that occur in construction projects.

As demonstrated by the UAV and BIM integration proof of concept based on Greenspark clinic, CARINBE also proved that government departments can partner with academia to solve many challenges that our people and the industry face. The University of Johannesburg and CARINBE will continue to conduct applied research in 4IR for the benefit of the masses in the country and speed up service delivery, as it has the resources and a robust supportive structure.

https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/febe

The Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE) Principal Activities: • Research: Applied contract research • Knowledge optimization: Identify, collate and promote innovations, existing technologies and significant research output for the benefit of the wider society • Industry advisory services on policy, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes • Professional skills development: Training and mentorship focused on key built environment skills CARINBE - A resource and support structure for the built environment www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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2018/11/07 10:56 AM

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CRITICAL TO SUSTAINING SOUTH AFRICA’ S GREEN ECONOMY South Africa is once again on an upward trajectory, with an expected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of over 1.5% in 2018.

In light of this positive news, it must be noted that natural resources such as water, land, and minerals are the biggest drivers of the South African economy. This vast and lucrative sector of natural resources covers a full spectrum of industries like mining, agriculture, energy and gas.

Additionally, both the energy and water particularly are fundamental resources for all industries. Considering their impact on the economy, the country would not exist without them. To compound this, South Africa has been enduring the worst drought in over 30 years – affecting the country’s tourism and agriculture sectors severely. As a result of the intense drought experienced in the Western Cape, the province has shed over 50,000 jobs in the agricultural sector alone with a projected loss in the agriculture sector in the province of up to R5.9bn.

Moreover, like other progressive countries the world over; South Africa is confronted with the challenge of a complete migration to renewable energy, sustainable water management and the extensive reduction of the carbon footprint. Failure to adapt can have far-reaching consequences such as fines for the government, increased possibilities of dangerous climate change and reduced competitiveness for green South African businesses.

Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that South Africa is making great strides to remain on par – if not ahead of its counterparts. Essentially, to lead the pack and continue to look after its own people, South Africa needs a skilled workforce that will take it forward. In this case, a young, talented, visionary and skilled labour force will be vital.

To secure world-class manpower that will advance the country’s green economic sector and skills, strategic skills development initiatives are imperative. It is here that entities such as the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) continue to demonstrate their instrumental value.

South Africa has a total of 21 SETAs, these entities are strategically organised to address the skills needs of the country in their respective sectors. SETAs lead the education and training domain, namely in the technical and vocational space and due to the levy system have close ties with employers in the various industries.

As one of these SETAs, the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) has been working continuously to set the country forward with the main goal to safeguard and leverage the country’s natural resources through improved skills planning and strategic skills development projects.

The EWSETA is mandated to anticipate, build and manage the skills development and training needs of the energy and water services sector through strategic skills planning within the context of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS III). The Authority serves seven sub-sectors which include electricity; oil and gas; nuclear; renewable energy; waste and sewage services; collection, purification, and distribution; and refuse and sanitation services.

South Africa has a unique opportunity to create employment opportunities in its renewable natural resources, including energy, water, and biodiversity. The implementation of the Green Economy Accord, as aligned with the government’s New Growth Path (NGP), will see the development of green skills potentially create more than five million new jobs by 2020.

The EWSETA is fully committed to developing renewable energy and ‘green economy’ skills to support the Green Economy Accord and is actively involved in a number of significant projects.

The projects include the War on Leaks programme which aims to train 15,000 young people as artisans and water agents in local communities. Another partnership is with the South African Independent Power Producers Association (SAIPPA) to establish the UN Women in Oil South Africa programme.

EWSETA has also been a co-sponsor of the annual Green Youth Indaba with the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA and Department of Environmental Affairs where the focus is on creating ‘green’ skills and career paths for youth and entrepreneurs.

Considering the shortage of artisans in the country, the EWSETA and other SETAs have partnered with the government and industry stakeholders to increase the output of qualified artisans on an annual basis. An increase in this critical skill should eventually aid the country in addressing the challenges that are facing the country’s green economy.

Moreover, developing the scarce skills to manage South Africa’s water resources and mitigate the impact of drought in the country is an urgent priority for the EWSETA. The SETA is actively engaged in key interventions, such as the Young Water Professional Conference and TVET water programmes.

Without a doubt, South Africa is well on its way to winning the skills race and this should yield sustainable results for its green economy.

With that said, it is certain that with the SETAs by its side, great progress is guaranteed.

Tel: (011) 274 4700 | Fax: (011) 484 8953 / (011) 484 1078 | eMail: info@eseta.org.za Building B, Sunnyside Office Park, 32 Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, Johannesburg PO Box 5983, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa www.ewseta.org.za

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Manufacturing

Upping

The Stakes In order for South Africa to reach the top 20 in global manufacturing competitiveness, it needs to harness certain attributes that countries that are at the top of the global competitive edge in manufacturing prioritise. These include the roles played by advanced technologies, policy, and infrastructure, but also the importance of people.

H

istorically, the availability of high-quality talent will always remain in the top set of competitiveness drivers.

Likewise, another important goal and pertinent to Africa is regional competitiveness where new alliances are formed in order to create mutually beneficial advantages for all involved.

Countries that have maintained global manufacturing supremacy prioritise an all-inclusive innovation agenda to remain attractive to global companies, while pinpointing the right balance across several key drivers. These include: • support for high value talent • cost competitiveness • productivity gains • supplier strength • maintenance of policy and regulatory environments that are favourable to global business requirements

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Manufacturing production in South Africa advanced 2.5% yearon-year in January of 2018. This following a downwardly revised 1.8% rise in the prior month, and in line with market expectations.

Accordingly, it was the biggest gain in manufacturing production since June of 2016. The high notes for manufacturing since June of 2016 has seen an output for food and beverages at 10.1% from 1.2% in December, with basic iron & steel and metal & machinery at 4.3% from 3.8%. The production of electrical machinery also rallied at 4.1% from -8.4%, and wood & wood products, paper, publishing & printing declining less at -3.2% from -5.7%.

South Africa has developed an established, diversified manufacturing base and this sector offers an opportunity to significantly accelerate the country’s growth and development, and remains crucial for creating employment. The prime cornerstones of SA manufacturing include:

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Manufacturing

Agri processing: The agri-food complex comprising inputs, primary production and processing contribute approximately R124 billion to South Africa’s GDP, and employ 451 000 people in the formal sector.

Automotive: The automotive industry with vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota and Daimler Chrysler is rapidly expanding. Likewise, the components industry, for example, Arvin Exhaust, Bloxwitch, Corning, and Senior Flexonics have established production bases in South Africa creating a well- placed scenario for investment opportunities.

Chemicals: SA’s chemical industry is of considerable economic significance to the country, contributing around 5% to the gross domestic product (GDP) and approximately 25% of its manufacturing sales.

ICT and electronics: SA’s information technology (IT) industry growth outstrips the world average. The country’s established and sophisticated indigenous information and communications technology (ICT) and electronics sector is comprised of more than 3 000 companies, with access to cutting-edge technologies, equipment and skills. With access to the rapid expansion of telecommunications and IT throughout the African continent, SA’s software developers are also recognised as world leaders in innovation, production and cost efficiency backed by an excellent local infrastructure. The telecommunications industry is thriving, contributing more than 7% to South Africa’s gross domestic product

(GDP). With approximately 5.5 million installed fixed-line telephones, South Africa is ranked 23rd in telecommunications development in the world and represents more than 30% of the total lines installed in South Africa.

Metals: The large, well-developed metals industry, with vast natural resources and a supportive infrastructure, represents roughly a third of all South Africa’s manufacturing. The iron and steel basic industries involve the manufacture of primary iron and steel products from smelting to semi-finished stages, and today South Africa is acknowledged as the largest steel producer in Africa.

Textiles, clothing and footwear: The textile and clothing industry endeavours to incorporate all natural, human and technological resources at its disposal to make South Africa the preferred domestic and international supplier of SA manufactured textiles and clothing.

Through technological developments, local textile production has evolved into a capital-intensive industry, producing synthetic fibres in large quantities. Local clothing and the textile industry have grown and offer the full range of services from natural and synthetic fibre production to non-woven, spinning, weaving, tufting, knitting, dyeing and finishing. Hence the industry displays the sophistication of first world markets augmented by SA’s sophisticated transport and communications infrastructure. Exports account for R1.4 billion for apparel and R2.5 billion for textiles, mostly to the US and European markets.

Sources: The Manufacturing Indaba, the foremost manufacturing event in sub-Saharan Africa and with its strategic partners, the DTI and the Manufacturing Circle has grown exponentially and is considered to be the leading manufacturing business platform.

Brand South Africa (https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/news-facts/using-brand-south-africa-material) Trading Economics (https://tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/industrial-production) Deloitte 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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JOBS

Used oil collectors prepare to decant oil from their vehicle

This oil works‌ According to the latest figures from the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey, released by Statistics South Africa, the country has seen a decrease in the number of jobs being created. But the Rose Foundation has good news: a significant number of jobs have been created through the recycling of used oil.

R

ecycling Oil Saves the Environment (ROSE) is a national nonprofit organisation made up of the major lubricating oil producers and distributors and established in South Africa in 1994 in response to the growing environmental concerns around the consumption and recycling of oil and petroleum.

It promotes and encourages the environmentally responsible and legally compliant collection and recycling of used oils and related waste in South Africa, through education, compliance support, audits and incentives. Since its inception, it has received great support from industry stakeholders and has championed the responsible collection of well over 1 billion litres of used oil in South Africa.

This is a recycling success story – the used oil industry is a sustainable sector that not only employs many people but also effectively supports their dependents,ROSE Foundation CEO, Bubele Nyiba.

The recycling of used lubricant oil in South Africa is a well-established and thriving industry thanks largely to the efforts of foundation and the compliance of licensed collectors and processors across South Africa.

Together, they ensure that the collection, transportation, storage, refining, recycling, disposal and utilisation of used oil is managed in a sustainable, ethical, environmentally compliant and responsible manner.

Now the job creation opportunities speak for themselves and a study compiled by The Research LampPost, indicated that approximately 1,300 new jobs ranging from drivers, labourers and administrators, to operators and managers, have been created in this sector. On average the employed person is supporting up to four dependants.

The majority of collectors and processors are situated in Gauteng, where nearly 50% of the oil is collected. If this sector continues to grow as it should this offers some hope in the development of new skills for the job market and puts the used oil industry into the category of a highly competitive business despite fierce competition and pricing.

Despite the challenges many of the part-time collectors show entrepreneurial flair in combining used oil collection with other services such selling automatic lube systems, fire suppression, garage equipment and hydraulics, hazardous waste removal, scrap metal collection, cleaning wash bays and collection and processing of plastic oil bottles and used oil filters.

Recycling can only work if it is economically sustainable. The ROSE foundation offers support in the form of training, audits, equipment and incentives.

For more information and to find out about registered collectors and processors contact the ROSE Foundation on (021) 448 7492 or visit www.rosefoundation.org.za

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Infrastructure & Services

Investors looking for

viable infrastructure

projects in Africa

T

here is investor appetite for well-structured infrastructure projects on the continent, but investors need clarity from governments on regulations and the various projects earmarked for development, says specialist banking company Investec Bank head of power and infrastructure finance (sub-Saharan Africa) Andre Wepener.

Governments in Africa have to create a conducive environment in terms of a clear regulatory framework, policy certainty and transparent processes without corruption to unlock opportunities for private investment in infrastructure projects, he adds.

He explains that infrastructure development is long term by nature and to make it economically viable, banks and investors have to be in a position to commit to funding such projects over a period of up to 20 years. In order to do that they need policy certainty and economic stability in a country.

If that is not guaranteed, then it is necessary to have a combination of private and developmental funding institutions, such as the Development Financial Institution and Export Credit Agency, to fund projects.

Wepener says the South African government is generally effective in planning for infrastructure development; the regulatory environment is relatively stable and there has been an uptick in confidence around policy certainty in recent months: “The recent changes in government

The PPP initiative is resurfacing after President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned in his inaugural State-of-theNation address that government will prioritise partnering with the private sector to fund infrastructure projects..

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are a positive indicator to investors and we see a lot of commitment from government to engage the private sector around policy decisions”.

He notes that South Africa has a “good environment” for investment and Investec is prepared to provide long-term funding for infrastructure projects, provided they are well-structured and developed by sponsors with strong technical capability.

“South Africa has done well under difficult circumstances in its planning of infrastructure development and putting in place a clear regulatory framework for investors. In the early to mid 2000’s a number of projects were funded using the public–private partnerships (PPP) framework, but the initiative has been under-utilised in recent years.”

“This is positive for the sector because government would struggle to fund the required investment in infrastructure on its own balance sheet, but through PPPs it can create a framework and environment to unlock opportunities for the private sector to invest in its projects.”

Wepener believes that government’s social infrastructure development initiative to build schools, hospitals and clinics and prisons through PPP will create investment opportunities for private investors.

He says Investec has appetite to provide debt funding and investment in renewable energy, water desalination, treatment and bulk water projects, transportation infrastructure, fuel infrastructure, and specialised buildings.

They are also exploring opportunities to invest in alternative technologies such as Energy From Waste (“EFW”) and utility-scale energy storage.

He highlights the bankability of offtakers as a key risk associated with investment in infrastructure project, as if the offtaker fails to fulfil their contractual obligations, the project can ultimately fail.

“As the procurement of infrastructure projects is becoming more competitive, developers have to structure their projects in more innovative ways, both technologically and financially in order to reduce costs and compete in the market,” Wepener concludes.

Contact Andre Wepener 011 286 7398 Andre.wepener@investec.co.za

27 2018/11/07 10:56 AM

Advertorial – Skills Development

Women

in Energy Management

By Constance Mokhoantle

The participation of women in the energy management projects and training courses of the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) has revealed that the level of involvement by women in this sector is on the increase. However, the conversion to energy management expert has not yet attained the same level of inclusion and more can still be done.

G

ender mainstreaming, the term describing the globally-used approach for promoting gender equality within programmes and projects, is a core value in the national programme and its energy flagship, the national Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) project.

By the end of 2014, the NCPC-SA had trained just over 1900 delegates, of which only 17 percent were women. During 2017/18 the percentage of female delegates trained was 48%, due primarily to the proactive efforts of the centre to attract female delegates. Women who are befitting from this free training are generally small business owners.

The course is empowering me on understanding resource efficient and cleaner production and how to support my clients with compliance, promoting energy saving and helping me deliver a good report to clients,” Josephine Sidambe, owner of a project management consultancy in Gauteng.

At the NCPC-SA itself, women are integral to the delivery of the IEE project, which has assisted industry to save 3 800 GWH of energy, and a resulting R 3.18 billion, since 2011. Also, many of the successful energy management systems implemented in participating companies have been led by female engineers at the companies – most notably Airports Company South Africa and ArcellorMittal in the Western Cape.

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NCPC-SA project manager Faith Mkhachwa represents South Africa on the ISO technical committee for energy management, ISO TC 301. She is also a mentor and committee member of the Females in Energy Efficiency chapter of the SA Energy Efficiency confederation, whose goal is to ‘establish a large representation of females playing an influential role in the Energy Management sector.’

International trend data shows that many women enter the engineering and energy fields but do not stay as long as their male counterparts. Through mentorship and awareness programmes, the body aims to change this for South African women.

This observation is borne out by the NCPC-SA training statistics, where there is a slower trend in the participation of women at the expert-level training, than in the end-user courses either because they do not realise that they do have the technical expertise to implement energy management and become an expert or because of lack of time.

But Mkhachwa believes that things are improving for gender mainstreaming in industrial energy management. “Companies have to be supportive of the candidate’s goal of becoming an expert, and whilst the numbers are still lower than we would like, we are seeing more companies hiring female energy managers, and supporting them to become IEE experts.” In 2014, only 11 percent of UNIDO-certified IEE experts were women – last year 39 percent of the 41 new experts trained were female.

Another woman leading the charge in the IEE project work is Valerie Geen, Senior Advisor and Implementation Specialist at UNIDO’s energy division. Her role includes integrating gender mainstreaming into all aspects of UNIDO’s projects in South Africa. She is adamant that the equal inclusion of women has to be a measured part of the energy mix of the future.

“We need to ensure that a gender-sensitive perspective is central to all activities, policy development, research, resource allocation, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.”

The NCPC-SA is a programme of the Department of Trade and Industry and is hosted by the CSIR. For more information, visit www.ncpc.co.za. www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

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