Eskom and the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (Saretec) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formalise a collaboration to develop renewable energy artisan skills in South Africa to support the implementation of the Eskom Just Energy Transition (Jet) Strategy.
Eskom announced the move in a statement on Tuesday in which it said it had developed a comprehensive Jet Strategy which places equal importance on the transition to lower carbon technologies and the ability to do so in a manner that is ‘just’.
“In support of this strategy, Eskom has a pipeline of clean energy projects at various stages of development and recognises that there is a dire lack of skills along the value chain,” Eskom said.
Saretec was established as the first national renewable energy technology centre and is managed by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It is an initiative of the Department of Higher Education and Training through the National Skills Fund. The centre aims to expedite specialised industry-related and accredited training, including short courses and workshops, for the entire renewable energy (RE) industry.
“Saretec will support Eskom for the next 36 months to establish a similar renewable energy training facility fit for purpose to train artisans and technicians at Eskom’s Komati Power Station. The facility will be managed by Eskom’s Academy of Learning (EAL),” it said.
The power utility added that as members of the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) and the South African Solar Photovoltaic Industry Association (Sapvia) both the parastatal and Saretec were drawing ongoing support from the organisations for the project.
“The objective is to educate, reskill and upskill Eskom Komati Power Station staff and qualifying beneficiaries from the surrounding communities in the Mpumalanga region. This is in line with Eskom’s Just Energy Transition drive and Saretec’s vision to ensure a pipeline of local skills responding to economic needs and readiness for the inevitable transition,” 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.”
Eskom added that the risk of job losses and redundancy due to the transition presented an opportunity to provide training and upskilling for new industries that could be scaled up as a result of the transition.
