Cape Town - Eskom has collaborated with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) SA Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) in efforts to reskill workers at the Komati power station.
A multi-million rand Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the power utility’s chief executive André de Ruyter and CPUT Vice-Chan- cellor Professor Chris Nhlapo on Monday.
CPUT is expected to set up a renewable energy training centre at the station in Mpumalanga ahead of the facility being decommissioned at the end of September.
The programme’s aim is to educate and upskill Eskom staff and qualify beneficiaries from the surrounding communities in the Mpumalanga region.
This will be conducted in line with Eskom’s Just Energy Transition drive and SARETEC’s vision to ensure a pipeline of local skills responding to economic needs.
“We estimate that 300 000 jobs could be created thanks to the transition to renewable energy but of course these are skilled jobs and so that is why it is so important that we engage with a reputable education institution like CPUT to ensure that we can reskill these people who are currently working in the coal value chain to work in renewable energy,” said De Ruyter.
Nhlapo said their institution was the perfect home for a project of this nature.
“In many respects CPUT is the perfect home for a partnership of this nature because everything that we have done thus far has distinguished SARETEC from other energy centres.
“SARETEC is already part of a portfolio of excellence at CPUT. We have a proven track record of being trusted with nationally imperative projects and consistently fulfilling and exceeding the brief. We have shown that CPUT has the requisite skills and agility,” he said.
Energy expert Lungile Mashele said there was initial concern from labour regarding the reskilling of employees when Komati is set for decommissioning in a few weeks.
“Komati is the first of Eskom's power stations to be decommissioned through the Just Energy Transition Programme. This MOA is a significant step in addressing the plight of the employees who will be impacted by the decommissioning of Komati.”
Mashele said Komati will be converted into an Agri-Solar facility and new skills will be required to construct, operate and maintain the plant.
“South Africa runs one of the best renewable auction programmes globally with a steady pipeline of projects over the next decade. The employees will not be limited to working at Eskom only, the skills the employees will gain through this MOA will put them in good stead to compete for jobs in the burgeoning green jobs sector globally,” said Mashele.
Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) legal project manager Brendan Slade said the upskilling of workers was inevitable and a reality that cannot be taken lightly.
“This MOA shows that Eskom is serious about moving the country forward, especially as far as the Just Energy Transition is concerned. It is a good initiative in our view. It is also good that Eskom invests not only in renewable projects, but also in the people - staff and workers - that will make future renewable projects possible”.
Cape Times