Facilitating South Africa’s energy transition through capability enhancement

Context

South Africa has grappled with a prolonged energy crisis, resulting in economic losses, unemployment, and social disparities. Compounded by an aging coal-reliant power infrastructure, the nation urgently needs to address multiple challenges including energy security, economic stability, social equity, and climate resilience. Enhancing the capabilities of personnel and organisational structures within South African public institutions responsible for the power system reform is central for this task.

Improving these abilities is essential for informed decision-making, policy coherence, and effective implementation of eco-friendly energy strategies. Equipping decision-makers and leaders with necessary expertise enables South Africa to navigate complex policy landscapes and expedite reform efforts. Moreover, a proficient workforce ensures that initiatives align with national objectives, promoting efficiency and resilience.

Objective

The personnel and organisational capabilities of selected public institutions for implementing a socially balanced energy transition have been improved.

Approach

The project collaborates with South African partners to manage the transition to a reliable, affordable and clean energy future through the following measures:

• Organising expert talks, peer exchanges, training programmes, collaborations with educational institutions, and targeted capability enhancement across various government departments.
• Providing international know-how for policy-makers and utilities on the future power market design and energy transition.
• Supporting the implementation of existing policies and legal provisions.
• Offering structured training at entities like the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) on market design, regulations, and technical aspects.
• Addressing gender inequality within the power industry through strategies, gender-specific data capture, organisational development measures, and gender-responsive working conditions.

Last update: March 2024