South African Power Utility Eskom has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Cape Peninsula University’s (CPUT) South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) to train and re-skill workers in Mpumalanga.
The collaboration between Eskom and CPUT will formalise their collaboration to develop renewable energy artisan skills in South Africa. It is believed that this will also support the implementation of the Eskom Just Energy Transition (JET) strategy.
Eskom's JET strategy aims to achieve “Net Zero” carbon emissions by 2050. This strategy will create sustainable jobs and will have a positive impact on the environment.
SARETEC will also benefit as the project will help achieve their vision to build a pipeline of local skilled workers that can respond to economic needs and readiness for the transition to cleaner energy in South Africa.
Eskom said, “Given the accelerated global movement towards investment in a clean energy transition, there is a need in South Africa to upskill, retrain and develop a workforce to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by this transition.
The objectives of the collaboration are to educate, re-skill, and up-skill Eskom Komati Power Station staff and qualifying beneficiaries from the surrounding communities in Mpumalanga
Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter says there will be opportunities available to these workers after they complete their training. This is because there will be an increased number of renewable energy power stations constructed in the coming years.
They said, “These are skilled jobs, they are jobs that require specific qualifications and therefore it's so important for us to engage with a reputable academic institution that has a record of training people with credible qualifications such as the CPUT”.
De Ryter adds that working with CPUT will ensure that current employees in the coal value chain are re-skilled. This will allow them to work in the renewable energy industry.
