South Africa’s state utility Eskom has signed an agreement with the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) for the scaling up of the local renewable energy workforce.
The signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) will see SARETEC supporting Eskom equip its workforce with renewable energy skills, vital for the implementation of the Eskom Just Energy Transition Strategy – a roadmap for the transition to a clean energy future.
Under the terms of the MoA, SARETEC will help Eskom establish a renewable energy training facility over the next three years, whereby artisans and technicians at the utility’s Komati Power Station will be trained. Managed by Eskom’s Academy of Learning, the facility will educate, reskill and upskill Eskom’s staff and new engineers in the Mpumalanga region.
With a number of clean energy projects covering the wind and solar sector currently underway to boost Eskom’s energy supply system, the MoA signed with SARETEC is expected to play a key role in ensuring Eskom meets its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050 whilst ensuring that the country’s energy transition is just and inclusive.
Currently, the country relies on fossil fuels for more than 80% of its energy mix. However, according to Eskom, the facility is expected to be instrumental in supporting the growth of the renewable energy industry while ensuring the transition does not translate into job loss.
