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Thousands of jobs in jeopardy as SA moves away from coal
The South African government has committed to reaching net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. In order to achieve this, the Komati Power Station based in Mpumalanga needs to be decommissioned, says Bloomberg. ‘The province of Mpumalanga, in which Komati is located, [is] one of the most coal-dependent and polluted regions on Earth’. The switch to cleaner, renewable energy is essential – but it does come with issues of its own. Decommissioning the coal-fired plants will cost thousands of people their jobs and livelihoods. Head of Eskom’s Just Energy Transition office, Mandy Rambharos told Bloomberg about the communities around the plant. ‘If you look at some of these communities, they have been dependent on the power station and, in some cases, mining for many many decades, generations. You can’t just lock the door, throw away the keys and walk away’. South Africa has already seen a drastic rise in unemployment. Is there an opportunity for the surrounding community and employees? Not to be left behind, but rather to be brought along for the transition into clean energy? – Jarryd Neves

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