Green Economy Journal Issue 39

G r e e n

Economy

journal

Issue 39

R29.00 incl VAT

9 772410 645003

11025

Water Risks quality and availability

Green Finance a unicorn no more!

Infrastructure decoupling rand and ruin

New Skillforce greening our economy

#BeWaterSmart

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Contents

ISSUE 39

06

12

04

06

10

12

14

15

16

NEWS & SNIPPETS

WATER STORAGE

When business-as-usual is no longer

an option

PROFILE

Toyota’s environmental programme

ECONOMY

Sustainable finance: a gamechanger for SA

ECONOMY

A guide to carbon tax submissions

INFRASTRUCTURE

Decoupling economic growth from

environmental harm

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Focusing on the action and not the words

19 PROFILE

NCPC-SA impacting skills development

20 BIOENERGY

Wasted food, wasted water, wasted economy

22 EVENTS

CTICC and corporate sustainability

20

24 ENERGY

Green jobs are good for the economy

Green Economy Journal - GreenEconomyOnline

greeneconomy.media

1

Keep plastic bottles in use.

Always recycle.

Lightweight, shatterproof and, above all, convenient for our

daily lives. It’s no secret that plastic bottles are very useful

in our modern society. But only when they are discarded

irresponsibly or thoughtlessly after use, do they end up

polluting. By choosing to recycle, you’re ensuring that they

can become bottles yet again. This eliminates the chance that

they harm the environment, creates income opportunities for

many individuals involved in their collection and processing,

and contributes positively to our country’s GDP.

Recycling PET plastic bottles ensures that a circular economy

is established where their value can continue indefinitely.

16 BILLION

PET bottles collected

for recycling

R6.6 BILLION

injected into South

Africa’s economy

68 000

income opportunities

created**

1905356_FP_E

** 2018 specifically

Now that COVID-19 is upon us, all other issues appear small and

somewhat irrelevant, but that could not be further from the truth.

As we adapt to our new reality, the question, apart from how can

I play my role in delaying the spread of this virus, is what will the

world be like after COVID-19?

That answer depends to some degree on just how severe the

pandemic becomes, and God-willing, South Africa will somehow

shallow dip out of the worst of it.

G r e e n

Economy

journal

Editor-in-Chief:

Gordon Brown

I predict a world of greater caution, greater attention to detail.

One in which health and freedoms are no longer taken for

granted, and I believe this will extend to the broader health of

the world around us.

I predict new standards, higher levels of compliance, and more

regulation. In short, those companies already leading the way in

respect of governance and stewardship will emerge with an even

greater competitive advantage, and the rest will be left behind.

In these circumstances, I see the green economy becoming even

more mainstream, with companies being expected to do what’s

right for all stakeholders and being rewarded with loyalty and the

concomitant success that flows from such a market positioning.

PRODUCTION MANAGER:

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PUBLISHER:

Alexis Knipe

CDC Design

Danielle Solomons

danielle@greeneconomy.media

Munya Jani

Vania Reyneke

Gerard Jeffcote

FA Print

www.greeneconomy.media

info@greeneconomy.media

munya@greeneconomy.media

alexis@greeneconomy.media

Gordon Brown

It may be that green economy solutions, which are intrinsically

clean and healthy, will ultimately prevail. A vision that is borne out

of two extremes: the vulnerability to COVID-19 of communities

living with respiratory illnesses along the coal belts near Witbank,

and the desperate efforts by Saudi Arabia to capitalise on their

vast stockpiles of oil as the end of the combustion engine starts

to crystallise on the horizon.

And all at once - a ray of hope of the appears through the soot:

Eskom releases a request for proposals for independent power

generation! Somehow, it’s a good day.

gordon@greeneconomy.media

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 21 Selous Rd

Claremont

7709

Cape Town

REG NUMBER: 2005/003854/07

VAT Number: 4750243448

ISSN NUMBER: 2410-6453

PUBLICATION DATE: March 2020

Yours,

G r e e n

Economy

journal

PUBLISHER

It may be that green economy solutions,

which are intrinsically clean and

healthy, will ultimately prevail.

Issue 39

R29.00 incl VAT

9 772410 645003

Water Risks quality and availability

Green Finance a unicorn no more!

Infrastructure decoupling rand and ruin

Green Economy Journal

is audited by ABC

11025

New Skillforce greening our economy

Cover image: Courtesy of Veolia Water

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any way or in any form without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The opinions expressed herein are not

necessarily those of the Publisher or the Editor. All editorial and advertising contributions are accepted on the understanding that the contributor either owns or has obtained all necessary copyrights

and permissions. The Publisher does not endorse any claims made in the publication by or on behalf of any organisations or products. Please address any concerns in this regard to the Publisher.

The Green Economy Journal is printed on Hi-Q Titan plus paper, manufactured by Evergreen Hansol, a leading afforestation member acknowledged by FOA. Hi-Q has Chain of Custody certification, is

totally chlorine free, and is PEFC, ISO 14001, ISO 9001 accredited. This paper is FSC certified.


greeneconomy.media

3

News & Snippets

the IPP process. CTF sought to interdict the

conclusion by Eskom of the then-pending

PPAs with 3 bid window 4 IPPs, which had not

been signed when they argued their case. CTF

further argued in its founding affidavit that

the renewables programme would impact

negatively on Eskom’s financial performance.

SAWEA CEO Ntombifuthi Ntuli welcomed this

final judgement issued by the Supreme Court of

Appeal, handed down earlier this year.

Perdekraal East Wind Farm

SAWEA

SAWEA WELCOMES COURT RULING

The South African Wind Energy Association

(SAWEA) has welcomed a judgement by the

Supreme Court of Appeal dismissing a case

brought by the Coal Transporters Forum (CTF)

to set aside power purchase agreements (PPAs)

with preferred bidders.

CTF had argued that the court should declare

null and void all Round 4 PPAs signed by Eskom

with IPPs at the time because it claimed that

the National Energy Regulator of SA (NERSA)

had not properly approved the section 34

authorisation, which was a pre-requisite for

Ntombifuthi Ntuli

SOUTH AFRICAN KIDS

LEARN ABOUT RENEWABLES

English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Setswana speaking

children are learning about the role that wind

power is playing as the world transitions to

renewable through a beautifully illustrated

storybook, aptly named ‘Let the Wind Blow’.

“The amazingly insightful tale of the desire

for a healthier planet, inspired by a conversation

between two mums, a Polish wind advocate

and a British journalist, as well as a talented

young Iranian artist who brings the story to

life, is a great way to gently teach our country’s

4

According to a CarbonBrief analysis it is estimated that the

coronavirus cut China’s carbon emissions by 25% over a period of

four weeks.

young children about benefits of wind energy.

The South African version has also been

contextualised, which makes it easier for our

children to relate to,” explained Ntombifuthi

Ntuli, CEO of South African Wind Energy

Association (SAWEA).

SAWEA has taken the opportunity to make

this book available to schools, libraries and

parents, both in print and electronic versions.

To download your copy visit https://sawea.

org.za/let-the-wind-blow/

Water scarcity:

not understanding

what is needed

“Water scarcity is the next big threat we face

in the coming months as the coronavirus

pandemic spreads, particularly in our country

where there is a wide gap between ‘first’ and

‘third’ worlds. Not having access to water

to frequently wash hands could mean the

difference between life or death for some,” says

Mannie Jnr. Ramos, COO of Abeco, the world’s

first ‘bank’ for water and leader in hygienic

water storage solutions in Africa for over

35 years.

Ramos does not welcome calling attention

to this fact while our country is facing concerns

around safety and their livelihoods, due to

Covid-19. “This issue has to be voiced,” he says,

“there is a very real threat to those living in

areas where water is not accessible. In addition,

the drain on existing water resources which are

already in crisis needs to be addressed in our

coronavirus crisis planning, sooner rather than

later.”

By 2030 over a third of the world population

will be living in significant water stress, including

many of the countries and regions that drive

global economic growth, with an estimated

40% gap between demand and supply.


greeneconomy.media

News & Snippets

PLASTICS SA HELPS LAUNCH

WASTE NETWORK

No rush for

renewables

As part of the African Marine Waste Network,

various projects have been initiated around

South Africa to stem the tide of marine pollution.

Although activities are currently coordinated

and managed by the Clean Surf Project, a

South Coast steering committee has been

formed consisting of industry, government and

environmental organisations.

“Launching the KZN Marine Waste Network

South Coast is directly aligned with the aims and

objectives set by the SA Initiative to End Plastic

Waste, i.e. solving the issue of plastic in the

The voice of the public

South Africa is a developing nation, however, advancement in development does not come

without its environmental impacts. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) play an important

role in ensuring the environmental and social impacts are mitigated as much as possible. Equally

as important is including the voice of the public in the EIA process.

Reputation Matters has launched its public participation service to support environmental

practitioners and developers with the public participation process. The purpose of public

participation is to provide a source of information for the public about the EIA and proposed

development. It also allows stakeholders to register as interested and affected parties (I&APs) to

submit their comments, concerns and recommendations.

Public participation is a vital component to the EIA process and will largely influence the

Department of Environmental Affairs’ decision to approve a development based on the EIA.

www.reputationmatters.co.za

February 2020: Minister of Mineral Resources

and Energy Gwede Mantashe cautioned that the

department would not be rushed by renewable

energy lobbyists to open the renewable energy

IPP procurement programme’s bid window 5.

He emphasised that the S34 determinations –

which would allow municipalities to procure

electricity from IPPs – need to first be concurred

with by the energy regulator before this bid

window can be opened.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa

(NERSA) received two ministerial determinations

enabling Government to procure emergency

and utility-scale projects to address the

electricity deficit plaguing South Africa.

In terms of the legal framework, both

the National Energy Regulator Act and the

Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA)

require NERSA to observe procedural fairness

and allow for public consultation in its decisionmaking

processes.

Following from this, an expedited publicparticipation

process by NERSA or potentially

even dispensing with the entire publicparticipation

process may be permissible

and necessary to enable a swift response by

Government to close the existing electricity

supply deficit of 30 000MW.

Africa’s move towards solar energy is rapidly underway

According to industry experts, the future scope

of solar energy for Africa is extensive and has

seen exponential growth in the past few years.

The continent has experienced a growth of over

1.8 GW of new solar installations, with 1.4 GW

related to photovoltaic (PV) installations, which

is a considerable increase from the 786MW that

was connected in 2017. In 2016, South Africa

had 1329MW of installed solar power capacity

and this capacity is expected to reach 8400MW

by 2030.

African nations and their respective municipalities

lack the available grid infrastructure

and required funding to upgrade the

existing network or grid. Owing to the lack of

infrastructure upgrades, along with the rising

cost of fuel and electricity, an increasing number

of companies are transitioning to solar. This is

not only to yield the associated returns but to

gain access to reliable power.

Successful implementation of solar is

futile without regional cooperation to enable

expediting the process of implementing solar

under a single framework. As most municipalities

operate completely independently from one

environment. It is significant in its ability to unite

industry partners around a common goal and

we are very excited about the future possibilities

that this project holds. Not only does it offer a

very real environmental solution for reducing

waste in the environment, but it will also have

very positive socio-economic spin-offs for local

communities thanks to future job creation and

youth development. We are truly fortunate to be

part of such a significant initiative,” says Douw

Steyn, Plastics SA.

www.plasticsinfo.co.za

another, this consequently implies that they are

unable to foresee or understand the benefits

or the process of such regional integration

initiatives.

Addressing Africa’s large and persistent

power deficit is key to achieving economic

and social targets. There is significant potential

for solar power, both at the utility and off-grid

scale, to assist in reducing this shortfall. This is

because of the given high solar irradiation in

many countries, as well as the declining price of

PV equipment in recent years.

Governments increasingly see both forms

of solar power as critical to their electrification

objectives. In an endeavour to increase investment

on the continent’s solar front, African ministers are

encouraging international investors to participate

in solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

processes and are empowering them to own and

operate solar farms in their own capacity.


greeneconomy.media

5

Water Management

When business-as-usual

is no longer an option

By JAMES CULLIS, AURECON

With increasing pressure from population growth and the need for water to support

economic growth, South Africa’s water security is at risk. Additional threats are posed by

climate change, land-use changes, declining water quality, and catchment degradation.

only is it vital that South Africa continues to invest in the

development of its physical water infrastructure systems,

“Not

but we must also invest in the people who manage these

systems and maintain our critical ecological infrastructure such as

wetlands, catchments, groundwater aquifers, and river systems,” Aurecon

Technical Director James Cullis attests.

South Africa has always been a water-stressed country and has

developed a complex and highly integrated bulk water distribution

system. Johannesburg is the only global city to be located on a continental

divide, while South Africa has one of the highest numbers of large dams

per capita globally. Therefore, the country’s water-resource expertise and

legislation are respected globally.

“Investing in technical and institutional capacity, improved operations,

water-use efficiency, and the development of decision support systems

is particularly important as we become increasingly dependent on these

more complex and stressed water-supply systems. We also need to balance

the trade-off between competing demands for an increasingly scarce

resource. Financial constraints and a lack of capacity and accountability

for the management of our water resources is a constraint requiring

innovative solutions, particularly in Africa,” Cullis elaborates.

There are still significant opportunities for improved water-use efficiency

through replacing old pipes, reducing leaks, and by implementing new

technologies such as low-flush toilets, improved irrigation systems,

and pressure-management devices. Smart technologies, improved

monitoring, and operational decision support systems are also critical to

reduce wastage.

The future will see a transition to more diverse and alternative

water-supply options. In particular, the potential for increased reuse of

wastewater for both direct and indirect purposes has many advantages.

This is increasingly recognised as an important water-supply option for the

future, particularly for landlocked countries or regions, including Gauteng.

Demand management will, however, continue to be an important

component for managing the variability of water supply.

“The private sector will have an increasing role in coming up with longterm

water solutions,” Cullis elaborates. Trends include a general move

towards more decentralised water supply and treatment solutions, just the

same as is happening for energy, but the private sector will also be critical

in terms of providing the financing as part of Public-Private Partnerships

(PPPs) for water.

“We have undertaken water resource planning and feasibility studies for

alternative water-supply options, including deep groundwater aquifers,

desalination, and direct and in-direct potable re-use. We are assisting

municipalities in terms of access to financing, development of their digital

transformation strategy, and the development of decision support systems

to improve operational efficiencies and reduce losses,” Cullis concludes.

We need to balance the trade-off

between competing demands for an

increasingly scarce resource.

*Aurecon undertakes advisory, planning and engineering design for water infrastructure, as well as hydrology, water-resource planning and feasibility studies across Africa.

Aurecon is currently in the process of rebranding as Zutari, after officially announcing the separation of the African business from the Aurecon Group, effective from 1 January 2020.

6


greeneconomy.media

Water Management

Urban Water

Photos by JG Afrika

Management

BY BENJAMIN BIGGS, CIVIL ENGINEER, JG AFRIKA

The uninterrupted availability for clean water for many industries is a prerequisite

for operations. To what extent are companies in South Africa at risk of interruptions

in the supply of water, or the supply of quality water of the required standard?

Cape Town’s Drought of the Century forever changed the City’s

urban water management landscape. Declared as a disaster

area in May 2017, the City of Cape Town faced severe level 6b

water restrictions – up to 50 litres per person per day. Residents and

businesses alike experienced considerable water tariff increases. The

possibility of Day Zero threatened business continuity and precipitated

a necessary discussion on the value of water as a resource.

Cape Town’s water comes almost entirely from surface water resources

(i.e. rainfall run-off into dams), which is captured and stored in six major

reservoirs around the city. Supply dependence on surface water resources

can reduce supply resilience to climatic shocks, such as drought.

Considering tariff increases and supply stresses; reducing domestic and

commercial water demand; as well as associated water costs has become

important for industries, homeowners and businesses. Consumption in

toilets, taps, showers and irrigation typically comprise 60-80% of potable

use in domestic and commercial areas and targeting these water uses

became the focus for demand reduction strategies.

Interestingly, business continuity, rather than savings on utility bills,

became a primary motivation for de-centralised alternative supply.

Water Sensitive Design (WSD)

WSD is a globally accepted concept that addresses the limitations of

conventional urban water management. It integrates all aspects of the

water cycle with urban design to provide economic, environmental and

social (sustainability) benefits. These principles form a framework through

which sustainable water management can be achieved.

Fit-for-purpose

‘Fit-for-purpose’ use is important when selecting a suitable alternative

supply for a local site. Not all water supply needs to be a potable (drinking)

standard. The application, available quantities and associated risk should

determine the level of treatment incorporated. Non-potable use within

buildings often necessitates altering plumbing networks – a process that

is the easiest to incorporate during the design stage.

Source diversification

Source diversification provides resilience against climatic shocks, such

as drought. This requires identifying and matching suitable alternative

sources with appropriate application(s).


greeneconomy.media

Alternative supply

CASE STUDY: STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY

GREYWATER SYSTEM

These principles were applied in the design and operation of a greywater

system at Stellenbosch University (SUN). One of the largest of its kind in

Africa and a Water Category winner at the 2019 South African Institution of

Civil Engineering (SAICE) Western Cape Regional Awards, the system was

designed to provide fit-for-purpose water for SUN.

Once both installation phases have been completed, the network will

flush over 1 300 toilets used by about 25 000 university students to meet

a significant portion of campus water supply and supplement campus

irrigation. During term time, up to 75 m 3 /day of greywater can be treated

and reused (Phase 1). This capacity could be increased to between 150 and

200 m 3 /day after Phase 2.

Eight representative buildings on campus were assessed and modelled.

Water characteristics from each type were then extrapolated across

campus to other similar buildings and calibrated against utility data to

develop a comprehensive campus water balance. Interventions focused

on the top 40 users, comprising 80% of total water demand and the

WSD principles were then applied according to the Water-Management

Hierarchy. Notably, campus interventions introduced as part of the first

“reduce” stage of the Water-Management Hierarchy decreased potable

water use during the drought by more than 50%.

Alternative water supplies were then investigated. The Water Masterplan

identified treated greywater reuse on campus as a viable alternative

Photo by JG Afrika

SUN greywater treatment plant and storage facility.

7

Water Management

Inside the treatment plant container.

supply. JG Afrika was appointed to implement a campus-wide greywater

reuse system for toilet flushing and irrigation.

In this system, shower greywater from selected residences is isolated

from blackwater and redirected into the collection system via sumps,

manholes and grit traps and distributed to a treatment plant.

The treatment plant on-site can treat, store and distribute up to 100m³ of

greywater a day at a peak supply of 6 l/s. Treatment steps include primary

sedimentation, aeration, solids removal/physical filtration and disinfection/

sterilisation using hydrogen peroxide dosing. The treated water is stored

in tanks at the treatment plant for daily use and in future (Phase 2), excess

greywater will be boosted into the existing irrigation network.

Treated greywater is pumped to a header tank with a booster system

situated on the roof of a residence to pressurise the non-potable network,

which includes a municipal potable supply backup. Plumbed directly into

the toilets, this network plans to be expanded to supply and collect from

additional campus buildings during the second phase of the project.

Photo by JG Afrika

and a booster system, was installed for flushing toilets and irrigation. This

system enabled off-grid use for between six and eight months of the year

and increased municipal saving to 83% from the baseline year.

The combined savings realised by the rainwater harvesting system

and efficient fixtures under drought tariffs enable a payback of three to

four years for all water optimisation measures. With an alternative supply

available, the risk of closing the office should Day Zero arrive was also

eradicated and business continuity guaranteed.

CONCLUSIONS FROM CASE STUDIES

WSUD principles, applied to the Stellenbosch University Campus using ‘The

Water Management Hierarchy,’ improved the campus water sustainability.

The SUN greywater was designed to improve campus supply resilience

and provide ‘fit-for-purpose’ water.

JG Afrika demonstrated that demand reduction measures – regardless

of implementation scale – can be simple, cost-effective and result in better

than expected savings. Installation of efficient fixtures typically does not

require behaviour change and only minor maintenance. These measures

can be implemented by a local plumbing team and do not usually depend

upon additional technical assistance.

Furthermore, rainwater harvesting when used alongside efficient

fittings can be highly effective in maintaining business continuity during a

drought and reducing utility bills.

Implementing similar measures to these two case studies on a larger

scale could considerably alleviate pressures on regional and national water

supply and enable water savings in other offices, homes and campuses.

*Benjamin Biggs is a civil engineer in JG Afrika’s Municipal Infrastructure and

Sustainability divisions.

8

Interestingly, business continuity,

rather than savings on utility bills,

became a primary motivation for

de-centralised alternative supply.

Alternative supply

CASE STUDY: JG AFRIKA’S RAINWATER SYSTEM

During the drought conditions in the Western Cape, JG Afrika’s Cape

Town office decided to install a rainwater-harvesting system to provide

an alternative source of water should municipal supply cease to be

readily available.

Implemented as early as 2011, JG Afrika’s demand-side management

at its office had already recorded a 73% saving in water use. Retrofitted

old water fixtures with water-saving items began in 2013 through a series

of water-saving interventions, including reduced irrigation time and

waterless urinals.

Further measures, such as hold-flush toilets, low-flow taps and showers

were undertaken in 2016 and 2017. Educational information on the effects

of the drought and responsibilities of the consumer was distributed

to staff and engagement on the suitability of installed fixtures was

facilitated regularly with employees. Water-efficient retrofits kept office

water use below level 6b water restriction targets and reduced utility bills

considerably.

Once demand had been reduced, a rainwater harvesting system –

comprising 30kl of storage, activated carbon filtration and UV-sterilisation

The Water Management Hierarchy

WSD principles can be implemented through this JG Afrika strategy

comprising three stages.

i. After a mandatory baseline assessment is undertaken to develop

a site water balance that provides an understanding of water use

on-site, JG Afrika first focuses on reducing demand. This can be

done by, inter alia, installing efficient fittings; addressing leaks;

educating staff/users and encouraging behavioural change; as

well as managing system pressures. Importantly, reducing demand

is emphasised before implementing alternative supply solutions.

This step is critical in decreasing quantities of alternative supply

required and, in so doing, reducing installation, operation and

maintenance costs, as well as utility bills, while also facilitating

good stewarding of precious water resources. Many projects have

saved over 50% in water use after implementing these measures.

ii. The second stage entails reusing greywater and rainwater in ‘fitfor-purpose’

applications, such as toilet flushing and irrigation

iii. Alternative supply from more conventional sources, such as

borehole abstraction in conjunction with sustainable drainage

systems managed aquafer recharge, river abstraction and treated

wastewater reuse, are assessed in the final stage as a last resort.

Local world-class initiatives

- Working for Water programme, administered by the

Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA)

- Working for Wetlands joint initiative by the DEA and other

bodies

- Greater Cape Town Water Fund


greeneconomy.media

Profile

A Sustainable

Post-Mining Future:

The Reuse Potential of AMD

By Tamsyn Grewar and Kerri du Preez (Biotechnology Division of Mintek)

Mining is a significant driver of the South African economy, however a lack of enforcement

of regulations has left a legacy of environmental and socio-economic impacts, including

uninhabitable land and acid mine drainage (AMD). The AMD produced from our gold

and coal mines contains abnormally high levels of sulphate with relatively low metal

concentrations, which is a uniquely South African problem.

In view of the anticipated number of mines due to close in the near

future, the impact of uncontrolled and untreated decant of acid water

on the environment and communities will be significant and severe,

including:

1. Serious and long-term consequences for community health

2. Contamination of natural water bodies

3. Unavoidable job losses

Currently, South Africa does not have a commercially available,

sustainable solution for the treatment of AMD. We need to look at finding

integrated solutions to solving the most immediate challenges around

AMD treatment, instead of trying to solve this problem in isolation. A truly

sustainable solution should address the Triple Bottom Line: Society, the

Environment and the Economy.

Innovators in the sustainability arena are proactively investigating

new ways of sharing resources between industries. Two of the largest

combined water users in South Africa are mining and agriculture, and a

strategic marriage of these two industries, at least in part, could make a

significant contribution to addressing the damage caused by our mining

legacy.

Over the past few years Mintek’s Biotechnology Division has been

developing a biological process for the treatment of AMD. Mintek’s

cloSURE TM technology employs biological sulphate reduction, facilitated

by a complex consortium of microbes. It has been developed as a low-cost,

low-maintenance technology for treatment of AMD, and is particularly

suitable for treating small point sources in remote locations that lack

services and infrastructure, such as mines after closure.

cloSURE TM takes a three-pronged approach to mine water treatment,

by removing metals, increasing pH and removing sulphate to below

limits required for safe discharge or reuse. It also produces relatively small

volumes of waste in comparison to current treatment alternatives, such as

high density sludge processes. The process overcomes the obstacle of high

substrate costs by utilising organic waste products, including cow manure.

cloSURE TM consists of a number of stages. AMD typically has a pH

between 2 and 3. Currently a partial neutralisation step is required, since

the sulphate reducing bacteria have a lower pH limit of around 5. However

the cloSURE group at Mintek is undertaking research to overcome this

issue so as to eliminate the pre-treatment step and the associated costs.

Mintek’s pilot plant located at a coal mine in Mpumalanga

The pre-neutralised AMD is then treated in two successive steps. Stage 1

employs anaerobic sulphate reduction, while Stage 2 facilitates aerobic

sulphide oxidation. Stage 1 does most of the heavy lifting in terms of water

treatment, by removing sulphates, metals and further neutralising the

effluent. Stage 2 is primarily a polishing step to remove excess sulphide and

any remaining metals of concern prior to re-use.

To date, the process has been piloted at a local coal mine treating 300L

of AMD a day. Preliminary data shows that the treated water would be

of a suitable quality to irrigate a number of hardy crops grown on the

Mpumalanga Highveld, including maize, wheat, potatoes and sorghum.

The next phase will demonstrate the treatment and re-use of the water in

irrigated crop trials with local partners.

The primary objective of the cloSURE TM process is to produce treated

water that is fit for re-use in irrigated agriculture. An alternative water

resource and rehabilitated mine land has the potential to create agriindustrial

hubs which would promote entrepreneurship, and employment

in local communities.

The broader vision of the project encompasses skills development and

new inclusive economies around mine water in the Mpumalanga region.

Such an approach to protect community health and water resources,

while promoting socio-economic development of affected communities,

has the potential to change the post-mining landscape of South Africa.


greeneconomy.media

9

Profile

Toyota

ramping up

environmental programmes

in South Africa

Halfway Toyota George is a green dealership

and the current holder of the Toyota

Environmental Dealer of the Year

Toyota South Africa Motors has been

an enthusiastic and very active supporter

of local environmental initiatives for many

years, participating in public projects

such as beach and river clean-ups as

well as having long-running, structured

programmes for the company itself and

its dealers.

10

A

strategy is now being implemented to ramp up the programme

on all levels in South Africa, particularly at the 219 Toyota

and Lexus dealerships countrywide. There is also a strategy

to increase public awareness of all these eco-friendly actions at the

dealerships which benefit local communities as well as the environment.

“We are keen to encourage other automotive vehicle dealerships in

South Africa to get involved in environmental projects to show consumers

a caring attitude by the local motor industry as a whole,” says John

Thomson, Vice President – Service, at Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM).

“Driving environmental programmes is a win-win situation for all involved

and that is why we are now stepping up our dealer programme.”


greeneconomy.media

Profile

Rainwater is collected and water recycled at Halfway Toyota George

Halfway Toyota George’s service manager, Frans de Winnaar, checking daily

environmental compliance at the dealership

Solar panels on the roof of Halfway Toyota, George.

An initial step, taken many years ago, was for all dealers to sign a

commitment to support TSAM’s environmental programme. This has

expanded over the years into a structured, sophisticated programme that

has become more comprehensive over time, with a set of standards that

require compliance.

Each dealership has a chief environmental officer with the seniority and

correct reporting line. He or she can take any transgressions to the dealer

principal and institute remedial action immediately.

Already 200 of the Toyota and Lexus dealerships have attained Toyota’s

ECO-3 standard, which included several of the relevant, key elements of

the international ISO 14001 standard. Now the Toyota benchmark has

been raised to ECO-3 Advanced which brings it in line with recent revisions

to the ISO 14001 standard. TSAM uses its own standards because obtaining

ISO 14001 certification would be extremely onerous and expensive for

individual dealerships.

“Our objective now is to get the dealers to an ECO-3 Advanced

level which puts even more focus on reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

emissions, promotes a recycling culture that minimises waste to landfill

and optimises water usage,” explained Charles Classen and Gregory Molise

who drives the dealer environmental programme for Toyota SA.

The ultimate driver of this programme is the Toyota Environmental

Challenge 2050 which was launched globally in October 2015 and aims to

make Toyota the most environmentally responsible motor manufacturer

in the world. Here in South Africa, the requirements and solutions are very

much homegrown to suit local conditions and resources with the aim of

continued positive results.

The main tool used to manage progress is the Dealer Environmental

Risk Audit Programme (DERAP), where dealers have to undertake

Bins used for waste separation at the Dealer.

self-audits twice a year to monitor compliance. This process involves the

dealer evaluating five fundamental points comprising of 16 assessment

points to demonstrate compliance. The Toyota field staff provide an

additional checkpoint at each dealer to verify conformance.

Dealers are encouraged to voluntarily implement action plans to

reduce pollution and natural resource usage, specifically in terms of

energy generation, water consumption and waste-to-landfill generated.

Dealers are urged to precisely measure and evaluate the impacts of their

activities on the environment and the outcomes of actions to improve

the situation.

Toyota uses the carrot instead of the stick to encourage enthusiastic

involvement by the dealers in the environmental projects and this strategy

is working. The rewards include incentive bonuses with the ultimate yearly

prize for best dealer carrying with it an overseas trip.

Halfway Toyota in George is the current holder of this title, which

followed the relocation of the dealership to new premises that included

a number of design elements and installations to minimise energy

consumption and dependency on the municipal water supply.

Installation of 288 solar panels on the roof is capable of supplying

more than enough power for the dealership. LED lights are used in the

workshop, while louvres in the roof permit natural light, thereby reducing

electricity use substantially. Three large tanks collect rainwater, while

recycled water is used for the car wash, which has a sophisticated filter

system that permits in excess of 50 cars a day to be washed.

“We continue to make significant progress in terms of decreasing

Toyota’s environmental footprint in all aspects of our business and the

latest programme changes will help us retain our reputation as a caring

company,” concluded John Thomson.


greeneconomy.media

11

ECONOMY

Rising adoption of

sustainable finance

will boost South Africa’s green economy

BY NIGEL BECK, HEAD OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND RENTIA VAN TONDER,

HEAD OF POWER FOR STANDARD BANK

South African companies are showing unprecedented interest in sustainable finance

solutions – a trend that will give further impetus to the country’s green economy.

Globally, sustainable debt issuances surged 60% to a record high

of US$415bn in 2019, according to Bloomberg data. While green

bonds still account for more than half of all issuances, green

loans and sustainability loans are starting to gain traction.

For the time being, South Africa is behind the curve when it comes to

the adoption of sustainable finance. But we are seeing a sharp increase in

interest from corporate clients, who are considering new opportunities to

initiate and implement renewable energy projects, ensure their buildings

are ‘green’, and to launch water- and energy-efficiency initiatives.

Opportunities abound in every sector. A 2019 study by advisory firm

Consulting for Sustainable Solutions found that in the property sector,

there is much-untapped potential for sustainable finance. In the residential

segment, R216bn worth of property in South Africa currently meets the

Climate Bonds Initiative’s requirements for certification, while R4.7bn

worth of commercial property meets those requirements.

However, as per the green-building principles, more than R100bn worth

of commercial property could qualify as green buildings. There are already

more than 500 certified green buildings in South Africa, according to the

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ECONOMY

Green Building Council of South Africa. Collectively, these buildings are

yielding significant water and electricity efficiencies, easing the strain on

our natural resources.

In response to heightened demand from clients for sustainable and

impactful investment expertise, Standard Bank Group recently formed a

sustainable finance business unit. This unit has raised a US$200m green

bond, which it will use to finance eligible green projects – renewable

energy, energy efficiency, water efficiency and green buildings.

Renewable energy comes to the fore

We are currently seeing a surge in demand for decentralised renewable

energy projects, where clients can reduce their reliance on the national

grid through self-generation.

This trend has been boosted by Government’s positive comments

towards support to unlock the regulatory environment to allow companies

to produce their own power – one of several steps underway to open up

the market. There is a strong demand for renewable energy within the

mining industry, which is on a drive to raise environmental, social and

governance (ESG) scores as investors promote the sustainability agenda.

Thanks to sharp cost declines, solar power solutions are more attractive

than before, and costs are still coming down. There are now numerous

providers of modular solar technologies, and the industry is benefiting

from global learnings and best practices that have been developed over

the years. And while the accompanying energy storage units remain

relatively expensive, these costs are declining with technology becoming

more bankable.

Further, demand for decentralised power is being partly driven by

continued instances of load-shedding and steep tariff hikes for companies

tied to the national grid, which is expected to continue for at least another

18 months (in the case of South Africa).

Industrial firms too are expressing a renewed interest in off-grid solutions,

particularly rooftop solar installations, focusing on the reliable and

sustainable supply of power. In most cases, hybrid solutions are considered,

contracted over a 10- to 15-year period to support price certainty.

While South Africa remains Africa’s biggest market for renewable

energy, neighbouring countries including Namibia, Mozambique and

Botswana are following a similar path, as are others across the continent.

There is pent-up demand for sustainable finance that unlocks these

projects, and we believe the market is set to grow rapidly now that more

funding solutions are being brought to market.

Government playing its part

The Government is also taking steps to stimulate the green economy.

In his budget speech, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said the carbon

tax will bring in R1.75bn over the next few months, and that this will be

complemented by more focussed spending on climate change mitigation.

The carbon tax is aimed at encouraging a shift towards cleaner sources

of energy and is underpinned by the fact that the urgent need to address

climate change need not be at the expense of economic growth.

The first phase of the carbon tax’s implementation, which runs to 2022,

is about sensitising the market to the pricing of carbon emissions and

involves relatively modest tax rates. However, with rates set to increase in

phase two, companies need to be as prepared as possible.

A business-as-usual scenario is no longer an option and we must take

appropriate action to help transition our economy onto a low-carbon

growth path, as articulated in South Africa’s National Development Plan.

The carbon tax is one of the policy instruments in play to nudge the

economy onto a sustainable trajectory.

We see the next two to three years as being a critical window for

the green economy – a period in which many far-reaching policy and

investment decisions will be made.


greeneconomy.media

Climate change is one of the

greatest issues of our time,

and banks have an essential

role to play in reducing the

carbon-intensity of the

world economy.

Encouragingly, the world-renowned renewable energy independent

power producer programme (REIPPP) is gaining fresh momentum.

Minister Mboweni said bid window four of the programme is being

accelerated, while the rapid decline in renewable energy prices bodes well

for the next round of bidding.

A large number of international and local groups are gearing themselves

up for future bidding rounds, and the local banking sector is positioning

itself accordingly.

Government has also launched a Request for Information (RFI) for

the procurement of emergency power through a Medium-Term Power

Procurement Program (MTPPP) for 2-3GW. The Department of Mineral

Resources and Energy (DMRE) will communicate next steps in due course. At

the same time, it will soon be possible for financially healthy municipalities

to buy electricity directly from independent power producers.

The budget document shows that of the 91 active renewable energy

projects, 64 are already operational – adding about 4 gigawatts of power

to the national grid. The 27 projects that are currently under construction

are expected to add another 2.4 gigawatts to the grid.

As the next round of bidding gets underway, and as private companies

move towards decentralised solutions while municipalities procure their

own power, renewable energy is set to account for an increasingly larger

portion of South Africa’s energy mix.

Alongside the trend towards green buildings and the adoption of

water- and energy-efficiency initiatives, this augurs well for South Africa’s

green economy.

Broad approach needed

All organisations should be considering green initiatives and finance

solutions as investors increasingly shift their mandates towards

sustainability. A focus for Standard Bank will be looking at opportunities

aligned to its sustainable bond framework. These include renewable

power projects – including wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, biogas and

geothermal projects – and initiatives to replace refrigerants with loweremission

alternatives.

Climate change adaptation projects – for instance, the expansion or

maintenance of flood defence systems – could also qualify, as can initiatives

to increase the resilience of agribusinesses against climate change.

Energy efficiency projects, green buildings, green transportation and

pollution-control initiatives could also qualify.

These initiatives will help to ensure sustainable economic growth and

the safeguarding of our natural environment. Climate change is one of

the greatest issues of our time, and banks have an essential role to play in

reducing the carbon-intensity of the world economy.

As Africa’s largest bank by assets, Standard Bank fully recognises the

importance of its role. The bank considers itself as bound by Article 4 of

the Paris Agreement, and has published restrictive policies on the funding

of coal-fired power projects and coal mining projects. The group also

recently became a founding signatory to the United Nations’ Principles for

Responsible Banking.

This bolsters our commitment to Africa’s green economy.

13

ECONOMY

Are you Ready?

A Checklist Approach to

Carbon Tax Submissions

BY Lodewijk Nell, EcoMetrix Africa

Businesses and government organisations, across a wide range of sectors beyond heavy

industry, are well-advised to prepare now for the first-ever carbon tax submission deadline

on 31 July 2020 – just weeks away.

The carbon tax submission process is complex and intricate, and

a step-by-step checklist approach is recommended to ensure

all the requirements are met in full and on time. To simplify

the process, our carbon professionals use these questions to assist

businesses in monitoring and assessing their progress to successfully

meeting the tax deadline, while also minimising tax exposure – now

and in the future.

1. Certain your business is not liable?

Verify if your business activities are liable by checking against the tax-free

thresholds in Schedule 1 of the Act, bearing in mind that a limited number

of relatively small equipment combined can easily result in exceeding a

threshold. For example, three 1MW back-up generators with 30% electrical

efficiency together count for a combined thermal capacity of the 10MW

equal to the common threshold for fuel combustion activities.

Taxable activities include fuel combustion in power and manufacturing

plants, as well as transport by rail, domestic aviation and shipping. Road

transport and moving equipment are excluded. Process emissions and

fugitive emissions from activities such as waste treatment or chemical

processes, have their separate thresholds and must also be included.

2. Registered or licenced?

Only license or register as a Customs and Excise Manufacturing

Warehouse including the relevant facilities when emission generating

activities exceed the thresholds.

3. Consumption and activity data captured correctly?

The common basis of your tax assessment is the Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

emissions reported to the Department of Environment, Forestry and

Fisheries (DEFF) on 31 March.

Consumption and activity data for every emissions facility must be

captured, with checks and balances for data accuracy and completeness,

to avoid harsh penalties. Record-keeping requirements include archiving

all data, reports, algorithms, procedures, submissions and technical

references used to estimate emissions for at least five years.

A monitoring and reporting system to manage consumption,

production data and related emissions are instrumental for

record-keeping compliance, while also providing useful technical

performance information.

4. Data correctly aggregated, converted and submitted?

The consumption and activity data must be aggregated and converted per

facility into GHG emissions data as per technical guidelines. Applying the

most beneficial emission factors and calorific values allowed can reduce

your exposure significantly. This GHG emission data must be submitted

to the DEFF in the prescribed format by 31 March each year. While you

register online, report submissions still need to be done by email.

5. Is the Carbon Tax liability correctly calculated and optimised?

Well-informed and positioned taxpayers can reduce their effective tax

rate by a maximum of 90-95% and thereby reduce the effective tax rate

to 6-12 R/tCO 2.

In addition to the fixed tax-free allowances which can reduce taxable

volumes up to 70-75%, there are also flexible allowances depending the

company’s performance, such as a trade exposure allowance up to 10%;

a performance allowance up to 5%, and offsetting through Carbon Tax

Offset (CTOs), allowed for 5-10% of the gross volume of emissions.

The first batches of carbon credits are in the process of being traded

for future use and procedures to convert international carbon credits

into local CTOs are pending. The price range currently expected by

traders is R70.00 - R90.00 per tonne CO 2e.

6. SARS carbon tax forms completed and submitted with payment?

Carbon tax submissions to SARS is due on 31 July of the year following

the tax period, along with payment of the calculated carbon tax levy to

SARS by 31 July.

7. Ongoing monitoring and management of GHG emissions in place?

Ongoing monitoring and management of GHG emissions and the resulting

tax liability are crucial to avoid tax surprises and last-minute deadlines,

while also revealing reduction and mitigation opportunities and providing

additional value in terms of general performance management.

It also allows strategic planning for the long-term. The South African

energy sector will drastically reform over the next decade. The current

Phase 1 (2019 – 2022) is only the start of the carbon tax journey. After

Phase 1, allowances may be strongly reduced and the headline rate may

be substantially adjusted upward. If over time, the carbon tax indeed

would be followed up by a carbon budgets system, the anticipated flat

rate is 600 R/t when exceeding your budget.

It is important, however, to realise that the carbon tax forms part of

South Africa’s international commitments in respect of the fight against

climate change. South Africa is a carbon-intensive country, ranking no.

16 in the world (WRI, 2017). Carbon tax is an incentive to proactively

change business-as-usual to play our part in the global solution by

managing and reducing emissions to sustainable levels.

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INFRASTRUCTURE

Decoupling growth

from environmental harm

BY GRAHAME CRUICKSHANKS, GBCSA

It has been said that South Africa is unable to help reduce global warming and that it would

be economically unfeasible. But the potential implications of having this mindset are so huge

that doing nothing would be a serious mistake.

Even though we are behind the northern European countries, we

must remember that they have had the opportunity to plan for

longer, have already completed their industrialisation, and are on

a different economic cycle to us. This is no reason why we should not

implement SA’s well-documented climate change commitments.

South Africa has a long-term dependency on fossil fuels, and these are

declining in their ability to deliver. Our economic downturn is suppressing

energy demand, but the nation is still increasing its carbon emissions

every year. What South Africa needs to link itself to is a peak-plateaudecline

trajectory and we haven’t initiated the plateau yet.

By weaning itself off fossil fuels, South Africa’s economy will liberate

itself. We have one of the best solar climates in the world. And so we need

to see a ramp-up of large-, medium- and small-scale renewable energy

systems coming online.

And the single step of implementing feed-in tariff and net metering

systems will encourage this meaningful crowd-sourced participation of

the private sector. This will unlock the capacity of PV installations of all

sizes by having them feed in any extra electricity generated into the grid,

he explains.

It will greatly assist in implementing our national commitments

towards helping to keep the global warming range below 2˚C above preindustrial

levels. This average rate of temperature change will determine

the likelihood of South Africa’s future ability to compete in the global

economy as an increase of 2˚C translates up to 4˚C for South Africa by the

end of the century.

Prevention is better – and far cheaper than cure – and so separating South

Africa’s carbon footprint from electricity generation and implementing

other effective mitigation measures will reduce South Africa’s inevitable

What South Africa needs to link itself to

is a peak-plateau-decline trajectory and

we haven’t initiated the plateau yet.

environmental impact and so make it easier to adapt to a climate that is not

as hot, dry or erratic.

Eskom is separating out its three functions – the generation, distribution

and transmission of electricity – into different companies. Transparent

processes and management protocols will be required to allow other

power generators to share transmission infrastructure and create healthy

competition required to drive down the price of electricity.

Beyond guarding against the day of insolvency or technical failure at

Eskom that threatens to cripple the country, civil action organisation,

OUTA, rightly points out that these measures will significantly contribute

towards limiting price increases, avoiding rolling blackouts and allow

municipalities to buy directly from independent power producers.

Effective competition to generate and supply electricity will accelerate

the decoupling of South Africa’s economic growth from harmful

environmental impacts. And this may well usher in a plateau period

of carbon emissions, followed by a decline, and all the while a clean,

cheap supply of electricity will lower the cost of doing business and fuel

economic growth and job creation. The GBCSA represents South Africa’s

green building sector and is on hand to assist all stakeholders to transition

towards a sustainable operating environment.

*Grahame Cruickshanks is the managing executive: market engagement at the

Green Building Council of South Africa.


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15

Thought leadership

So, what is this Circular Economy?

BY CHRIS WHYTE

What do the buzzwords in our sector actually mean? Cradle-to-Grave, Cradle-to-Cradle,

Green Economy, Sustainability, Restorative, Regenerative, Closed Loop, Performance

Economy, Industrial Ecology. These trending themes lead to Circular Economy, or is that

where they started?

This is an evolution of dialogue and we all feel compelled to be

in-the-know and on-trend. It all leads us down the same path to

changing the way we do business and how we live to ensure that

our children and their children have a planet to live on.

The activists amongst us argue that capitalism is the root of all evil, but

is socialism the answer? We argue that there are capitalist models that

embrace the green argument, and this certainly can be the case whereas

the activists will relent to this simply being the lesser of two evils.

What I can say is that the conversation is going in the right direction,

regardless of what you want to call it. The problem with the complex

rhetoric and evolving language is that we tend to spend more time talking

about it and less time implementing it. I believe this is complicated further

by feeling the need to just simply keep up. Here’s my suggestion – let’s put

away the thesaurus and just start doing stuff.

The definitions themselves complicate or halt progress. If I relate this to

the waste sector, I have been frustrated by the purists who may state that

a technological or innovative application is not truly Circular Economy and

then impede development based on semantics.

Surely half a circle, or three quarters of a circle, is better than no circle?

We need to take a step in the right direction, even if it’s not perfect. End the

discussion, implement it. This is the same argument as “I am not going to

buy that smart phone because the technology is developing so fast. I will

wait for the next upgrade version.”

No matter what you call it, make

it a Circular Economy.

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Thought leadership

We need to acknowledge that our tech will never be 100%, but more

importantly we need to start progressing.

I often revert to some of the older terminologies to describe what I am

doing, like my old favourite of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). Not perfect, but

simple. It’s not that I criticise the use of Circular Economy – far from it. I

am currently the country leader for South Africa for the African Circular

Economy Network, ACEN, which has over 100 members in 23 countries

– although we have some academic purists in that bunch, this is largely a

gathering of people who are just getting on with it.

What I am doing in the waste sector regarding the LCA approach is

just a simpler manner of calculating all the inputs, outputs and impacts

that people often overlook; and that is essentially all related to Circular

Economy. All too often in my sector, Circular Economy is seen in terms of

materials and resources and their related offsets of virgin materials and

resource management or reuse. Yes, this is a key element of what we are

doing, but circularity includes all elements impacted by this, including

the social and environmental impacts. Let’s illustrate this by manner of an

example:

Glass recycling is limited to the issue of logistics in getting bottle glass

to the manufacturers whose facilities are based in Johannesburg and, to a

smaller extent, Cape Town. Logistically, particularly with the huge increases

in fuel costs over the past, it is becoming less viable in provinces that are

remote from the processing facilities. Consequently, glass recycling does

not make economical sense in areas such as Eastern Cape, Northern Cape

and KwaZulu-Natal.

With recycling not economically viable, we need to look at innovation

and alternative markets where we can unlock the value of the commodity

in different ways. There are over 30 different applications for glass, so let’s

just consider two: water filtration and sandblasting grit.

We mine sand from our rivers for water filtration, which has negative

impacts on biodiversity, water yield and water quality. Each of these

has a value, and with water this is an extremely valuable resource in our

climate. Not to mention that most of our mined sand in this country is

done so illegally. If we can work with users of this commodity to change

from unsustainable mined sand to processed glass, we develop a chain

of events.

The first is that we create a local market for collectors in the informal

sector where the value of collecting glass can again sustain incomes and

livelihoods. This has a social impact in both creating incomes, but also

removes this waste from the environment where there are also negative

We need to work with government and

corporates to drive the market through

material specification, green procurement

policies and supply chain management.

health and safety impacts. This needs to be valorised. The environmental

benefit is less impact on water quality, yield and biodiversity that also

has a value.

Economically, we are diverting materials from landfill where municipal

landfill airspace is a valued commodity. Next, we create positive economic

outcomes through the development of enterprises that can be supported

to not only collect, but also to process the waste into alternative products

for the filtration market. The unintended consequence is that glass is a

better filtration medium that reduces water pressure and thus electricity

and maintenance costs to run pumps.

Backwashing is more efficient and quicker leading to less water loss

from general maintenance. Glass also lasts much longer than sand as a

filtration medium, and after its useful end can be processed again into

smaller fractions that can be used for other applications.

Sandblasting grit is used in massive quantities in the local market, yet

few people realise that the large majority of this is just glass and is imported

from China at a price 15-20 times the value of what we can produce locally

from a commodity that either is dumped in the environment or landfilled.

The impact of this is that we are throwing away our own resource at cost

to either landfill or the environment, and then negatively impacting our

balance of trade by importing a product at substantially higher costs than

we can produce locally.

We need to work with the government and corporates to drive the

market through material specification, green procurement policies

and supply chain management. A simple task that would have multiple

benefits for the economy (water, waste, energy, jobs, manufacturing, etc).

This simple example illustrates the benefits of Circular Economy. Now

imagine the butterfly effect if it is applied as an underlying principle in

other processes. No matter what you call it, make it a Circular Economy.

*Chris Whyte is the Founder of USE-IT

The circular economy is a new way of creating value, and

ultimately prosperity. It works by extending a product’s

lifespan through improved design and servicing and relocating

the waste from the end of the supply chain to the beginning.

This circular approach, in effect, uses resources more efficiently

by using them over and over, not only once. Recycling is a key

part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural

resources. – Leon Grobbelaar, President of Institute of Waste

Management of southern Africa


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17

Profile

NCPC-SA contributes

towards skills development

in South Africa

Through the South African Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) Project, the National

Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) continues to heed Government’s call

to fast-track skills development by training South Africans to become experts and trainers

in resource and energy efficiency. The IEE Project training recipients were applauded for

completing their respective courses at the recent Industrial Efficiency Conference hosted

by the NCPC-SA.

The IEE Project’s expert and trainer programmes were the first of

their kind to be established through the United Nations Industrial

Development Organisation (UNIDO). “When UNIDO speaks about

South Africa’s project, there is always fondness,” says Gerswynn McKuur,

Energy Management Working Group Coordinator for UNIDO

For the past six years, the IEE Project has trained and developed

competent individuals whose skills are in high demand both nationally

and internationally. They provide training on resource efficiency and

cleaner production (RECP) and energy management systems (EnMS). The

training is recognised by UNIDO as the blueprint for similar projects that

have since been established world-wide.

“Many of the people that have been trained as experts in South Africa

now train others on behalf of UNIDO in other countries,” Gerswynn

disclosed to the programme graduates.

“Our quality manager has high standards, she ensures that if you are

here today, you deserve to be,” Julie Wells, NCPC-SA Communication

Manager, assured the graduation recipients who received certificates for:

• RECP level trainers programme

• Energy management 101

• Qualified experts programmes in:

- Energy management system

- Pumps experts level

- Fan experts

- RECP experts

Further to the training, the NCPC-SA empowers companies to implement

resource efficiency and energy management at their respective plants.

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BIOENERGY

Wasted food

Wasted water

BY EVENTS GREENING FORUM

It is estimated that one third of all food produced globally is wasted. This applies

to South Africa and means that of the 31-million tons of food we produce annually,

approximately 10-million tons go to waste.

Agriculture is the single biggest consumer of fresh water, using

70% (or more) of all freshwater withdrawals from rivers, lakes

and aquifers. So: wasted food is also wasted water. South

Africa is a water scarce country, and this kind of loss can have very real

implications for our society. Agriculture is responsible for a significant

amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimate that lost and wasted

food accounts for about 4.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide each year, which

is a little less than emissions from road transportation. The Council for

Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) estimates the financial loss of

wasted food in South Africa to be R61.5 billion a year.

The damage happens along the entire food production chain – from

pests and poor harvesting methods at production, to challenges around

transportation, storage and packaging, not to mention retailers discarding

food reaching its sell-by date, pervasive over catering in the food service

industry, and also waste at home.

SA Harvest collects and redistributes quality surplus food to hungry

South Africans through feeding schemes, homeless shelters, schools and

more. Andrew Wilson, the Cape Town manager of SA Harvest, says, “It’s not

too complicated. We need a few days’ notice of the event so that we can

organise the rescue logistics with the event organiser.”

Regarding health and safety issues that could arise, Wilson says, “The

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BIOENERGY

main concern is that the cold-chain should not be broken and so, overall,

our most important criterion for refrigerated or warm surplus is that we

must collect it asap after the event for delivery direct to our beneficiaries,

where we have made arrangements to deliver any time if necessary.

“Catered events are a magnificent source for contributing towards

ending hunger in South Africa, and we will welcome anyone involved in

the events sector to contact us if they have any questions about how they

can get involved.”

Closing the loop

For food that is not fit for human consumption, there are many options to

explore. Sending it to landfill (rubbish dumps) should not be one of them.

When organic waste is sent to landfill it releases methane, a greenhouse

gas with a global warming potential 21 higher than carbon dioxide,

and leachate, a toxic liquid which poses the risk of contaminating our

underground water supplies.

Some venues opt to send food waste to pig farms. (Interestingly, food

is still considered lost or waste when fed to farm animals, because of

the resource inefficiency of producing meat this way.) There are risks

in dealing with food waste this way, says Gavin Heron, the director of

Earth Probiotic. The biggest is that you could feed pork to pigs (especially

when dealing with scrapings from plates), which is against all food safety

policies. Another significant risk of feeding pigs untreated swill is you

could potentially cause an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF).

As a result, the Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984 outlines the following: “No

feeding of swill is preferable, but in cases where swill feeding is practised,

any item that originates or was in contact with animals (including any

kitchen refuse of animal or vegetable origin originating from any dwelling,

hotel, motel, restaurant, eating-house, airport, harbour or any place where

food is being prepared for human use) has to be cooked (boiled) for at

least 60 minutes or sterilised before it may be fed to pigs.”

“In short, there is a high legal and financial risk if any ASF breakout

is in an area where food waste is being disposed of through pig farmer

collections,” says Heron.

He adds that another unpleasant consideration is that bones, cutlery and

toothpicks often end up in the swill, which can seriously injure the pigs.

A better option to deal with organic waste is to compost it. And yes,

cooked meat and bones can be composted, for example using bokashi.

Earth Probiotic uses this for its onsite composting service; their Earth

Bokashi has been inoculated with beneficial bacteria and fungi, which

enables it to break down organic waste that is not easily composted (such

as cooked and uncooked meat, dairy and seafood), while also eliminating

odours. The Vineyard Hotel uses this solution for plate scrapings, and then

gets this back as compost for their garden as required.

Fly farms also present an efficient way to break down food waste, as

done by AgriProtein in Cape Town. Black soldier flies feed on the (treated)

waste, grow and breed rapidly. The larvae are harvested to provide a

sustainable, high-quality, natural alternative protein to fishmeal. Typically,

farmed fish are fed wild-caught fish – and as much as 25% of wild-caught

fish is used to create fishmeal (although 90% of these fish are fit for human

consumption). Given how overfished and depleted our oceans are, this

isn’t sustainable.

At the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) kitchen

waste is sent to fly farms, while food waste that is unpackaged and

leftover, as well as any horse manure and straw (usually obtained from

the Cape Premier Yearling event) is sent to their composting contractor,

who distributes the waste for use in Bokashi. This, combined with careful

planning in the kitchen, meant that in the 2018/19 financial year 86% of

the CTICC’s total waste was diverted from landfill.

Another way to deal with kitchen scraps is feeding them to worm farms

(which produce a compost and worm tea, both of which can improve soil

fertility). However, the worms can be quite selective in their tastes and

they don’t like citrus or garlic.

In South Africa 90% of waste

goes to landfill, which means

there is a massive opportunity

for diverting organic waste.

A bio-digestor is an option for composting waste. It does this without

oxygen, and the result is the release of biogas (60% methane and 40%

carbon dioxide) which can be combusted to provide heat, electricity or

both. To be truly effective at generating electricity, bio-digestors need to

be done on a large scale.

In South Africa, 90% of waste goes to landfill, which means there is a

massive opportunity for diverting organic waste and creating useful

things – like compost, fishmeal and electricity. Each ton of food waste

prevented, saves 4.2 tons of CO 2

equivalent. Heron adds that businesses

can also expect to benefit financially from reducing food waste – given

that wasted food is also wasted money.

*The Event Greening Forum is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainability

within the business events sector, through hosting educational sessions for industry

and lobbying government in an effort to implement sustainability principles into the

daily operations of the events industry.

The legislation

“If you do not choose to divert your organic waste from landfill now, you will soon be legally obligated to,” cautions Grace Stead, the director of

sustainability consultancy Steadfast Greening. This is because the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has a ten-year

plan in place to divert all organic waste from landfill. “It is motivated by the fact that landfill is the default destination for most organic waste, where

it poses environmental and health risks. The price tag to manage these risks is significant, while waste diversion provides additional benefits,” explains

Stead. The plan was launched in 2017, with the target to halve the amount of organic waste being disposed of this way by 2022, and to achieve a

landfill ban by 2027.


greeneconomy.media

21

EVENTS

CTICC into

The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) considers

sustainability a strategic imperative, placing great importance on

integrating economic, social, and environmental sustainability

every aspect of its operations.

Corporate Sustainability BY THE CTICC

Globally, consumers and event organisers are demanding that

companies follow sustainable business practices and processes.

At the CTICC, clients are assured of a venue that focusses on

waste management, energy consumption, local sourcing and water

conservation as key priorities for sustainability.

The CTICC aligns itself to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

guidelines, of which the centre is a member, and is always seeking new ways

to mitigate its impact on the environment while advancing its people and

providing them with new opportunities to grow within the organisation.

The UNGC focuses on a company’s value system in respect of its

responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anticorruption,

and contends that in upholding these basic responsibilities, a

company also sets the stage for long-term success.

Environmental sustainability was integral in the design of the CTICC

buildings, from the maximum use of natural light, to the incorporation of

energy-efficient lighting and emission-minimising climate control, the CTICC

design as a venue is green at heart.

The innovative design of CTICC 2 earned the centre a 4-star Green Star

rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa in 2017. Its design features

includes electrical sub-metering, energy-saving devices, waste management

and water conservation processes.

CTICC has maintained four internationally recognised managementsystem

certifications (ISO 9001, 14001, 18001and 22000) for the 2019/2021

financial year, by leading the way for improved systems, functionality and

sustainability.

Driving the centre’s triple bottom line sustainability objectives is its Nurture

Our World (NOW) committee, which has implemented various practices and

raised awareness around sustainability.

One of the CTICC’s sustainability initiatives was the installation of the

centre’s reverse osmosis plant, which went online in 2019 and has already

proven to be a highly effective water-saving intervention.

Purposely designed to cater to all the centre’s daily water consumption

needs by being able to produce 200 000 litres of drinking water in a 24-hour

cycle.

The centre also harvests greywater and rainwater for use inside and outside

the building and have introduced a number of other initiatives to save water.

The Building Management System, combined with other energy

alternatives, has resulted in a steady decline in electricity consumption and

over the past five years, the CTICC has achieved an average annual saving of

12.84% in kWh measurement.

CTICC further supports clients by giving them opportunity to ‘green’ their

events and reduce their own environmental impact and carbon footprint,

either through the donation of excess food or consumables to the centre’s

local community partners, as well as, donating to the NOW fund in aid of social

sustainability initiatives.

The centre supports local community partners and engage with their

communities in various ways including educational and income-generation

initiatives, as well as feeding schemes and urban gardening projects.

The CTICC has continuously improved its environmental sustainability

performance over the years, and seeks to increase its energy and water

conservation metrics, while also providing for the safe disposal of waste and,

where possible, providing recycling or upcycling opportunities.

Learn more on how to green your events at the centre or contribute to

the CTICC’s local community partners by visiting our website, cticc.co.za, or

contacting an events executive or mail the centre’s sustainability officer at

NOW@cticc.co.za.

22


greeneconomy.media

THE FINE ART OF

CONFERENCING

Designed to connect businesses and people, the CTICC offers flexible floor space

of over 140 000m 2 , encapsulated within its mirror-like glass façade. In addition,

this architectural masterpiece is ideally located in the heart of Cape Town, one of

the world’s most vibrant cities.

Discover endless possibilities with a curated event experience complemented by

scenic views of Table Mountain, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Rest

assured that Africa’s premier multi-purpose, sustainably conscious conferencing

centre is the venue to take your event from the abstract to the surreal.

Call +27 21 410 5000, email sales@cticc.co.za or visit cticc.co.za

ENERGY

Green jobs

are the green light

for our economy

BY NTOMBIFUTHI NTULI, CEO of South African Wind Energy Association

Photo by SAWEA

South Africa’s energy transition is poised to unlock economic growth and deliver

thousands of much-needed new jobs, at a time when the country faces staggering

unemployment rates that threaten to continue well into the new decade.

Kangnas Wind Farm.

Despite the approved 2019 IRP, which was gazetted in October

last year the industry continues to wait for a Ministerial Determination

to give the green light for the next round of wind farms

to be built, which will result in thousands of local jobs being created.

The positive impact of continued wind farm construction on the

economy, over the next ten years, cannot be overstated considering that

the energy plans promise 14 400MW of wind procurement. Once we

get the go-ahead the country can directly benefit through jobs that are

intensified during the construction phase of wind energy projects that

have a significant impact on different parts of the value chain.

Twelve wind farms are currently being constructed across the country

achieving thousands of jobs as well as high levels of local content, which

is in line with Minister Gwede Mantashe’s stated imperative that the

renewable energy sector, wind stakeholders included, increases its local

content efforts.

Perdekraal East Wind Farm, the Western Cape’s largest BW4 wind farm, is

currently under construction and is an example of localised job stimulation.

The project is providing local employment to community members of

Ceres, Nduli, Bella Vista and Prince Alfred Hamlet and has exceeded its

obligation for local content of the total project value as stipulated by

the Department of Energy’s renewable energy programme, Renewable

Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REI4P).

It is expected that an average of 17 new wind farms will come on stream

each year, for the next ten years, as outlined in the resource plan. Should

this stay on track, South Africa will see the local manufacturing sector

helping to boost economic growth and job creation, two priorities across

the African region.

Tower manufacturing facilities are already set up in the country, with

additional capacity and facilities awaiting the government’s next bid

round as part of the REI4P.

So, if we are looking specifically at the manufacturing sector, this

industry is poised to create jobs to deliver the 640 individual towers

and 1920 wind turbine blades required to meet the annual capacity of

1600MW each year.

The existing local tower manufacturing facility in Atlantis, on the Cape’s

West Coast, currently produces 150 towers per annum and has created

340 direct jobs and 200 indirect jobs. Therefore, manufacturing 640 towers

locally can potentially create 1360 direct jobs and about 800 indirect jobs.

What our country can’t afford is a repeat of DCD Wind Towers’ fate.

What was once a successful manufacturer of local components in Nelson

Mandela Bay, closed its doors in April last year, which resulted in the loss of

over 100 direct jobs due to the stop-start renewable power procurement

that saw the industry halted for over two years. The plant had the potential

to manufacture up to 300 towers and create 142 direct jobs but failed to

find an investment partner.

Additional potential exists, should wind tower blades and other

components such as drive trains be manufactured locally, the number

of jobs could easily scale up to the 8700 estimated by the Council for

Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) analysis.

The CSIR analysis indicates that for 1.6 GW per annum roll-out, the wind

energy industry can contribute to the creation of more than 16 000 direct

jobs per annum in the South African economy during the construction

phase alone, given that the aggregate level of localisation of about 50%

is realised.

This equates to about 6400 direct jobs in the construction sector,

8700 direct jobs in the manufacturing sector, 820 direct jobs in the

transportation and logistics sector and 640 direct jobs in the finance,

professional and business services sector.

Despite the past setbacks, we continue to look forward to delivering

wind power to boost the country’s economy, as outlined in the 2019

Integrated Resource Plan and thereby deliver thousands of jobs for a

decade to come.

24


greeneconomy.media

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Green Economy Journal Issue 39

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