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South Africa plans an $85 billion investment to transition from coal to renewable energy, aiming to reskill coal workers and develop new sectors. However, coal communities like those in Mpumalanga are fearful about job security, with little clarity on green job prospects. Political commitment to the transition remains contentious.
Growing up surrounded by the towering smokestacks of coal-fired power stations, 22-year-old Siya Mokoena's life is inextricably linked to the coal industry that dominates his hometown of Emalahleni in South Africa's eastern province of Mpumalanga. Like many in Emalahleni, generations of Mokoena's family have worked in the coal sector. His father, a miner, was laid off in March when his mine was shut down.
The Kouga municipality has been given the green light to construct a 20MW solar plant — the first step in breaking free from dependence on Eskom.
‘Eskom, despite all of the massive tariff increases that we've all been subjected to, still isn't making enough money to cover its costs. So its tariffs are still not cost-reflective, and that's just not enough to cover its costs, let alone ramp up maintenance to the levels needed,’ says Nick Hedley, sustainability researcher and founder of The Progress Playbook.
The Progress Playbook magazine's primary target market is decision-makers - city managers, CEOs, heads of civil society groups, policymakers.