Green Economy Journal Issue 48

Economy
G R E E N
journal
ISSUE 48 | 2021
BUILDING RESILIENCE
Food Systems
and Future Shocks
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY: Putting it in practice
FUNDING THE SUN: PPA vs Cash
SHEDDING THE LOAD: SA residential energy use

PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Dear Reader,
News this past week, ending Friday 10 September:
• RMIPPPP financial close date extended again
• DNG litigation postponement granted
• New litigation launched by local solar panel assembler
complaining of decisions by the DMRE and dtic resulting in an
unfair outcome.
We are so close to triggering these massive investments into
renewables, storage, and gas – and yet so far.
The key question is can projects, other than Karpowership’s
three projects that are named specifically as a respondent in the
DNG application, close in the presence of the DNG application not
having been resolved? Surely, the answer will be yes. Because if
they lose no one is affected, and if they win, it’s up to the DMRE and
Karpowership to appeal or act in accordance with the order. Why
should the other bidders be affected?
Meanwhile, the new Suntec matter is opening somewhat of a
pandora’s box for the DMRE and dtic. Preferred bidder IPPs would
all rather procure 100% Chinese-produced panels, because they
are cheaper than locally assembled panels.
As its widely accepted that the South African assemblers simply
cannot meet the full demand for solar panels under the RMIPPPP,
IPPs are staring each other down, to see who buckles first and places
orders with the expensive South African suppliers, and thereby use
up the full available capacity.
They are hoping that once local capacity is fully booked by others,
they will be allowed to go ahead and order from China.
Some people have argued that the DMRE should step in to
facilitate a solution. After all, it was their own government’s halt on
the REIPPPP that led to many local panel assemblers closing and
leaving the country, thus leading to a shortage on local capacity.
Suntec Solar now seeks the intervention of the courts, to address
what it alleges are unlawful exemptions giving rise to unfair and
uncompetitive outcomes between solar panel suppliers.
Gordon Brown, Publisher
EDITOR’S NOTE
Commentators are focusing on how governments go about
rebuilding their economies once the world has passed through
the Covid Crisis. Llewellyn van Wyk tells us The Economist analysts
caution that to focus on the quantitative changes only misses
something crucial, which is that there are important qualitative
changes underway in how policymakers manage the economy. On
these measures, the analysts note, the world is in the early stages of
a “revolution in economic policymaking” (page 8).
Sustainable finance is essential for inclusive growth, as it
encompasses both the concepts of green and socially focused
finance. Locally, at an intergovernmental level, the Treasury
approach is to integrate climate responsiveness into provincial
and municipal planning. Read Financing a Sustainable Economy
(page 12) and on page 14, we help to make sense of what
sustainability should mean in practice.
With the adoption of solar PV by businesses now mainstream, a
significant consideration for these companies is selecting the most
appropriate funding option for their solar project. See page 38 for a
comparison on PPAs and cash purchases for solar systems – and the
article will lead you to a good read on how solar PV affects the value
of your home. Please enter our Read Report boxes to find a wealth
of sustaining knowledge streams.
Enjoy!
Alexis Knipe, Editor
G R E E N
Economy
journal
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G R E E N
Economy
journal
4
6
8
NEWS & SNIPPETS
MOBILITY
Toyota RAV-4
goes Hybrid
THOUGHT
LEADERSHIP
How to put it back
together again
12 RESPONSIBLE
INVESTING
Financing a sustainable
economy
14
16
18
20
Making sense
of sustainability
SMART CITIES
Lanseria Airport: set
for new heights
Smart cities promote
best practice in
sustainability
Smart solutions
for people and
planet by Veolia
Services
22 WATER
Dams: half full or
half empty?
25 ENERGY
The role of women
in SA’s energy space
26 PRODUCTION
Meet NCPC excellence
in resource efficiency
28 AGRI-FOOD
Food security in SA:
people, plants and
planet
31
32
34
Swartland: use wood
and save trees
Quality testing for the
agricultural industry by
the Southern African
Grain Laboratory NPC
SMART MINING
To be ORE not to be
To path to being better
stewards of the earth
36
by SRK Consulting
38 ENERGY
Funding the sun
40
From bits to watts
41 POWER
Residential electricity
consumption in SA
42 CIRCULARITY
Waste heat to
electricity
44 WASTE
The road to
sustainability
46
SA prepares for
Clean-up and
Recycling SA Week
with Plastics SA
06
14
26
38
2 3

NEWS & SNIPPETS
NEWS & SNIPPETS
RIP NTOMBIFUTHI NTULI
SAWEA and the sector, at large, mourns the
loss of Princess Ntombifuthi Ntuli, CEO of
SAWEA. Fondly known as Ntombi, she leaves
behind two young children and an extended
family who will no doubt feel the full extent of
this loss.
Ntombifuthi has steered the wind power
sector in her leadership role. During this time,
she drew on her depth of knowledge and
talents, and crafted over more than 15 years in
the energy and related sectors.
Ntombifuthi’s leadership was defined by
her charismatic yet gentle nature, resilience
and determination to successfully steer the
industry towards playing a central role in
South Africa’s energy transition, while being a
uniting force.
She built strong bridges throughout the
energy sector, founded on her sound logic
JO JOs FOR JOZI
Joburg Water says its system is under severe
pressure, with water demand consistently
exceeding supply. Reservoirs are affected
across the Gauteng region. Spokesperson,
Eleanor Mavimbela, said that the intermittent
water supply would continue indefinitely.
“Citizens of the City of Johannesburg are
urged to use water sparingly as the city is still
under level one water restrictions.”
Courtesy: Eye Witness News
CITY CALLS CITIZENS TO CLIMATE ACTION
Cape Town has encouraged residents and businesses to join their climate action movement
following their recently released Climate Change Strategy. This is to adapt to the impacts of
climate change, mitigate climate change, significantly reduce carbon emissions and harness
opportunities of the green economy. A few of their mitigation efforts to reduce carbon emissions
include driving energy efficiency in municipal operations, moving towards net-zero carbon
buildings, procuring energy from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), reducing and diverting
waste and building an efficient transport network.
Courtesy: Cape Argus
THE BEST MEGAWATT
and ability to see the bigger picture. Her
lobbying efforts for the country’s transition
to cleaner power were underpinned by
supportive government policy and smooth
procurement, which will help to ensure the
sector’s exponential growth for years to come.
Her legacy will live on not only through her
successes, but also in the hearts of the people
that make up this industry.
“Ntombi changed the face of the wind
industry in our country. She made the industry
relatable with her ability to engage with the
most stubborn naysayer, helping them to see
her point of view and winning everyone over
with her charming smile and her calm strength,”
said Mercia Grimbeek, Chair of SAWEA.
Green Economy Journal extends our heartfelt
condolences to Ntombifuthi Ntuli’s friends
and family.
BY BARRY BREDENKAMP, SANEDI
As the country focuses on improved energy capacity, energy savings must not be forgotten. The IEA
regards energy efficiency as the “first fuel”, and we should strive to save every possible kWh before
adding new generating capacity. Companies must prioritise energy savings, not just self-generation.
While I agree that the new 100MW threshold is great news for the stability of supply and our
economic potential, I would like to see every installation targeting a baseline load of 110MW. My take
is that there is at least 10% energy savings potential on the demand side of the meter at virtually all
proposed installations, before adding additional supply-side capacity.
The more energy (consumption) we avoid or save, the smaller the size of the load required to
operate those end-use technologies. We urge project developers not to lose focus on first exploring
the energy efficiency potential, by setting an “internal” target to save 10MW of electricity for every
100MW of renewable power generation capacity installed.
All new build projects come with an environmental cost. Even clean energy projects come with
a carbon footprint. If you consider the manufacture and transport of every component required for
a solar farm, you can understand how this will add up when companies across the country adopt
generation plants.
Added to that, it is cheaper to save energy than to generate it. Building new generation capacity is a
big investment, regardless of the energy source. There are additional cost and environmental savings
to be gained by including energy efficiency in the overall mix. Regardless of how and where power is
generated, someone still pays for the megawatt consumed, whereas the avoided megawatt is “free”. In
my opinion, the best megawatt is the megawatt not used.
CO2 LEVELS AFFECT
DUNG BEETLES
A new study led by Wits University postdoctoral
researcher, Dr Claudia Tocco,
provides evidence that elevated CO2
levels directly affects the development
and survival of tunnelling dung beetles.
The study, published in the international
journal, Global Change Biology, presents a
possible explanation for the current “insect
apocalypse” – a global decline in insect
populations that is still not well understood.
“When raised under CO2 levels predicted
for the year 2070, a third fewer beetles
emerged and were 14% smaller in size when
compared to pre-industrial CO2 levels,” says
Tocco. Courtesy: Wits University
UCT AND SASOL: CATALYSTS FOR GREEN JET FUEL
THE BIG 4 ACCOUNTING FIRMS BALANCE ESG
The UCT and Sasol have made advancements in the use of commercial iron catalyst, produced
cheaply and at large scale at Sasol’s Secunda plant, which would enable conversion of unavoidable
or biogenically-derived CO₂ and green hydrogen directly to a variety of green chemicals.
The companies said in a statement that the collaboration had revealed that Sasol’s iron catalyst
could achieve CO₂ conversions greater than 40%, producing ethylene and light olefins, which could
be used as chemical feedstocks, and significant quantities of kerosene-range hydrocarbons (jet fuel).
“Conversion of green hydrogen together with CO₂, a process called CO₂ hydrogenation, is gaining
significant interest worldwide and is a promising way to produce sustainable aviation fuels and
chemicals which have a significantly lower carbon footprint,” says Dr Cathy Dwyer, the vice president:
Science Research at Sasol Research and Technology.
Courtesy: Business Report
PwC put the demand for ESG advice at the heart of a $12-billion investment plan it recently
announced that involves adding 100 000 employees and launching “trust institutes” to train clients
in ethics. Deloitte announced a “climate learning programme” for its 330 000 employees. KPMG’s
ESG work has included helping Ikea to analyse social and environmental risks linked to the Swedish
furniture retailer’s raw materials and advising on the first green bond issued in India. Alongside EY,
all four have been at the table as business groups try to thrash out new international standards for
measuring sustainability.
Courtesy: Financial Times
WHEN I GROW UP
This is a book about 21 people who are working
in clean energy; what they all have in common
is that they are passionate about their job, and
work on tackling the climate crisis. Meet Swarna
who studies the wind to put her turbines in the
best locations; Nicolas who flies drones to check
for cracks in the blades; and Jos who builds
playgrounds from old wind turbines. There are
people from all continents who will tell you
about their clean energy jobs, what subjects they
studied and the skills they needed to be able to
do what they do now.
SAWEA Chair, Mercia Grimbeek has contributed to
@WindEurope’s latest children’s book.
RENEWABLE POWER
The City of Cape Town is looking at options
to develop Athlone Power Station. Mayco
member for Energy and Climate Change,
Phindile Maxiti, said the site was considered
unsuitable for mixed-use residential purposes,
so the emphasis had shifted to looking at
uses in line with its existing permit, including
for energy and/or industrial use, particularly
considering the emerging energy crisis.
The power station was decommissioned
in 2003 as it was no longer economically
viable. Finance and Economic Opportunities
MEC David Maynier said the department was
collaborating with the City and welcomed its
announcement of a Request For Information
(RFI) for funding and financing instrument
solutions for its Renewable Energy Programme.
“This RFI is aimed at development banks and
multilateral development funds for projects
that the City will own and operate, located on
city-owned land and buildings (typically within
the City distribution grid), ranging in size from
less than 1MW to 100MW per project, with
the potential to explore larger-scale projects
connected to Eskom’s network.”
Courtesy: Shakirah Thebus, Cape Argus
4
5

MOBILITY
MOBILITY
This revolutionary powertrain technology debuted in 1997 in the
Toyota Prius. While the Prius has undoubtedly been the poster
child for Hybrid, Toyota has recognised the need to expand this
new energy technology to other mainstream model ranges – in pursuit
of greater Hybrid adoption and wider market appeal.
Recent developments in the global motoring arena have placed a far
greater emphasis on New Energy Vehicles (NEV) and alternative propulsion
technologies. With the continued development of new energy alternatives
and further advancements of battery technology, customers are seeking
more advanced drivetrain options and greater levels of efficiency without
compromising on their core vehicle requirements.
This is where Toyota’s NEV roadmap kicks in. Branded “Towards Carbon
Neutral”, this all-encompassing environmental strategy has as its goal, to
get to zero emissions by 2050, but with several intermediate milestones in
between. And here we’re not just talking emissions produced by a vehicle,
Toyota plans to be emission-free throughout the production process (not
just for Toyota but our suppliers as well).
To this end Toyota South Africa has an initial plan to roll out Hybrid
variants on most of its mainstream model ranges. The big news will be
the introduction of the locally produced Corolla Cross (in petrol and
Hybrid) as from November this year. This, however, is just the start of the
electrification programme – the full spectrum of NEVs will be launched
when there is sufficient demand and when the infrastructure can support
their introduction (watch this space).
The Hybrid pays dividends at the fuel pump too, as the model’s
fuel consumption index is listed at mere 4.7 l/100km with CO 2
emissions registering 107g/km. A remarkable consumption figure for
a 5-seater SUV.
One grade, one spec
The RAV4 Hybrid is offered in tweaked GX trim – which strikes a balance
between core convenience spec, value for money and luxury convenience.
The RAV4 Hybrid boasts LED head and taillamps complete with DRLs up
front, rain-sensing wipers, heated and power-operated side mirrors and
keyless entry. Occupants are well catered for with dual-zone climate
control, three 12-volt power outlets and multiple cupholders.
Driver convenience is boosted Cruise Control, an auto-dimming
rear-view mirror, multi-information display and a tilt and telescopic
steering wheel finished in leather and incorporating steering switches.
The infotainment system centres around Toyota’s touchscreen interface,
delivering sound output through six speakers while interfacing via three
USB inputs, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mediums.
Driver support systems include Park Distance Control (PDC), ABS, EBD,
VSC, Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Hill Assist Control (HAC) and Drive Mode
Select (Eco/Normal/Power). A full complement of airbags is present,
including side and curtain variants, as well as an anti-theft system.
The RAV4 Hybrid rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with 225-65-R17
rubber joined by a full-size spare wheel. Roof rails, a rear spoiler, blue
RAV4
Goes Hybrid
Hybrid: noun [hy·brid] a term introduced
to the automotive world
by Toyota to identify a dual-source
powertrain combining a traditional
internal combustion petrol engine
with a high-current electric motor.
Making Hybrid mainstream
With this change in customer behaviour, we are excited to introduce
Hybrid variants of two of our most popular passenger cars – Corolla
and RAV4. Both Corolla and RAV4 Hybrid are a first for South Africa and
combine all the virtues of their conventional namesakes with the added
performance and fuel efficiency of Toyota’s proven Hybrid system.
The RAV4 Hybrid
Based on Toyota’s angular fifth-generation sport utility, the RAV4 Hybrid
combines a punchy 2.5-litre Hybrid powertrain with the popular TNGAbased
5-seater SUV. The A25A-FXS engine is shared with other global
Toyota and Lexus stablemates, such as the Lexus ES and NX300h and the
acclaimed Camry Hybrid.
It boasts many of the same technologies shared by the Corolla Hybrid,
in a larger displacement four-cylinder offering. Featuring an “undersquare”
design with Toyota D-4S port and direct-injection, the Atkinson cycle
engine generates 131kW and 221Nm in “ICE” state.
The electric motor punches out 88kW and 202Nm (at maximum state of
charge) to deliver a total system output of 160kW. Power is transmitted to
the front wheels via a CVT transmission, which seamlessly integrates the
two drive sources – and delivers an ultra-refined drive. Smooth punchy
acceleration, low NVH levels and superb refinement, are some of the
standout features of the RAV4 Hybrid.
Toyota insignia, Hybrid badging and mud guards also form part of the
standard repertoire.
Colours and coverings
A total of eight exterior hues are available: Glacier White, Pearl White,
Chromium Silver, Graphite Grey, Caribbean Blue, Cinnabar Red, Urban
Khaki and Moonlight Ocean metallic. The interior is finished off in a
textured-black textile trim.
Pricing package
RAV4 GX Hybrid CVT: R555 300
The pricing has been set at a very competitive level in anticipation of future
government support on New Energy Vehicles (NEV). Toyota South Africa
Motors’ strategy is to make Hybrid models attainable and offer customers an
attractive product package – leveraging the benefits of Hybrid technology –
without paying significant premiums in order to experience it.
Peace of mind
A six-services or 90 000km service plan is standard with service intervals
pegged at 15 000km/12-months. Toyota’s standard three-year/100 000km
warranty is included and customers have the additional peace of mind of an
eight-year/195 000km Hybrid battery warranty. Service and warranty plan
extensions can also be purchased from any Toyota dealer (220 outlets).
6
7

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
How To Put It
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Four-score Men and Four-score more,
Could not make Humpty Dumpty where he was before
Samuel Arnold Juveline Amusements, 1797 1
BY LLEWELLYN VAN WYK, B. ARCH; MSC. (APPLIED), URBAN ANALYST
the world is in the early stages of a “revolution in economic policymaking”.
Central banks have in effect pledged to print as much money as
necessary to keep down government-borrowing costs. The European
Central Bank is promising to buy everything that governments might
issue thereby reducing the gap in borrowing costs between weaker
and stronger euro-zone members, which widened in the early days of
the pandemic.
Main Street assistance programme in the history of the United States”,
comparing it favourably with Wall Street bailouts a decade ago.
To that end the analysts note that governments across the rich world
are channelling vast sums to firms, providing them with grants and cheap
loans to preserve jobs and keep their doors open. In some cases, the
government is paying the wages of people who cannot work safely: the
EU has embraced this policy, while the British state will pay up to 80% of
the wages of furloughed workers. The American package includes loans to
small businesses that will be forgiven if workers are not laid off. Households
across the rich world are being given temporary relief on mortgages, other
debts, rent and utility bills. In America people will also be sent cheques
worth up to $1 200.
Most economists support these measures. Nominally they are
temporary, designed to hold the economy in an induced coma until the
pandemic passes, at which point the world is supposed to revert to the
status quo ante. But history suggests that a return to pre-Covid-19 days
is unlikely.
Humpty Dumpty is a character in an English nursery rhyme,
probably originally a riddle and one of the best known in
the English-speaking world. He is typically portrayed as an
anthropomorphic egg, though he is not explicitly described as such.
Its origins are obscure, and several theories have been advanced to
suggest original meanings. I thought it particularly appropriate to
describe the following article – what are the impacts of Covid on the
global economy and how does it recover.
Impact and Response
Many commentators and economists are focusing on how governments
go about rebuilding their national and city economies once the world has
passed through what Christopher Joye calls the Global Virus Crisis (GVC). 2
According to The Economist, policy response has generally been swift and
decisive. 3 Globally central banks have cut interest rates since January 2020
and have launched new and substantial quantitative-easing schemes
(creating money to buy bonds) while politicians are opening the fiscal taps
to support the economy.
In the US, America’s Congress passed a bill that boosts spending by
twice as much as President Barack Obama’s package in 2009. Britain,
France, and other countries have made credit guarantees worth as much
as 15% of GDP, seeking to prevent a cascade of defaults. On the most
conservative measure, the global stimulus from government spending
this year will exceed 2% of global GDP, a much bigger push than was seen
in 2007-09. Even Germany, whose fiscal rectitude is a cultural cliché, is
spending more. 4
The analysts at The Economist caution though that to focus just on the
quantitative changes misses something crucial which is that there are
important qualitative changes under way in how policymakers manage
the economy – the responsibilities they have assumed for themselves,
what is seen as a legitimate action and what is not, and the criteria used
to judge policy success or failure. On these measures, the analysts note,
The analysts note that politicians, too, are ripping up the rulebook. In
past recessions enterprises could go bankrupt and people too become
unemployed. Even in normal economic times, roughly 8% of businesses in
OECD countries go under each year, while 10% or so of the workforce lose a
job. Now governments hope to stop this from happening entirely. President
Emmanuel Macron reflects the view of many when he vows that no firm will
“face the risk of bankruptcy” because of the pandemic. Boris Johnson, Britain’s
prime minister, contrasts his government’s response with the one during the
last financial crisis: “Everybody said we bailed out the banks and we didn’t look
after the people who really suffered”. Larry Kudlow, the director of America’s
National Economic Council, calls America’s fiscal stimulus “the single largest
8
9

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Two lessons stand out. The first lesson is that governmental control
over the economy takes a large step-up during periods of crisis. The
second is that the forces encouraging governments to retain and expand
economic control are stronger than the forces encouraging them to
relinquish it, meaning that a “temporary” expansion of state power tends
to become permanent. 5
Road to Recovery
The extent of the economic damage and the time it will take for the
economy to recover is subject to a high degree of speculation, and new
models have been created to project a recovery trajectory. For example,
the recovery can be V-shaped (after the downward fall the recovery will
follow a straight line back to the original growth trajectory); U-shaped
recovery (like V-shaped but with a longer turnaround period); VU shaped
recovery (an initial pop, or sugar hit (the V), which is then superseded by a
second, much slower growth phase (the U) due to a huge increase in debt
repayment burdens and big creative destruction-induced output gaps
(or excess productive capacity) as the virus forces the global economy
to effectively rewire itself); Z-shaped (recovery follows the V-shaped
trajectory but overshoots the original trajectory due to pent-up demand
before falling back to the original trajectory); W-shaped (recovery begins
buts fall back before climbing back up again); and L-shaped (growth
recovers but ends up lower than that of the pre-C-19 economic growth).
In a survey of 106 economists and real estate experts conducted by
Pulsenomics and Zillow, 41% of panellists expect the US recovery to
follow a “U” shape, with the recession lasting several quarters before
returning to growth. 6 This prediction is in line with how the experts
expect the US economy to recover overall. Forty-one percent said
they think economic recovery will follow a “U” shape, and 33% say it
will be a bumpy, multi-year return to trend growth. Both patterns are
characterised first by a sharp decline and then match how experts see
transaction volume recovering, with the consensus generally being a
more gradual journey back to normal.
Whatever the final shape may turn out to be, Eswar Prasad and Ethan
Wu, writing for the Brookings Institution, warns, “The world economy is
on the precipice of its worst crisis since World War II. As the newly updated
Brookings-FT TIGER (Tracking Indexes for the Global Economic Recovery)
makes clear, economic activity, financial markets, and private-sector
confidence are all cratering. And if international cooperation remains at its
current level, a far more severe collapse is yet to come.” 7
A wide variety of economic and survey data suggest that the economy
will recover slowly even after the government begins to ease limits on
public gatherings and allow certain shuttered restaurants and shops
to reopen. Many economists and business owners say there will be no
rapid economic rebound until people feel confident that their risks of
contracting the coronavirus have fallen, either through widespread
testing or a vaccine. 8
Prasad and Wu argue that while the current extraordinarily sharp
downturn could prove to be relatively brief, with economic activity
snapping back to previous levels once the Covid-19 contagion curve
is flattened, there is good reason to worry that the world economy is
heading into a deep, protracted recession. In their view much will depend
on the pandemic’s trajectory and whether policymakers’ responses are
sufficient to contain the damage while rebuilding consumer and business
confidence. They do not believe that a rapid recovery is likely due to
ravaged demand, extensive disruptions to manufacturing supply chains,
and a financial crisis already underway.
They, like many other commentators, draw a distinction between
the 2008-09 crash, and Covid-19. Unlike the 2008-09 crash, which was
triggered by liquidity shortages in financial markets, they point out that
the Covid-19 crisis involves fundamental solvency issues for firms and
industries well beyond the financial sector. In addition, they note, the
current shock is simultaneous and universal. During and immediately
following the 2008 crisis, some emerging markets, not least China, and
India, continued to register strong growth, pulling the rest of the world
economy along. But this time, no economy is immune, and no country will
be able to lead an export-driven recovery. Today’s collapse has increased
deflationary and financial risks in the advanced economies and struck a
significant blow to commodity exporters.
On top of it all, oil prices are plunging even more than they otherwise
would, due in large part to Saudi Arabia and Russia flooding the market.
In their view all told, the economic and financial carnage wrought by the
coronavirus could leave deep, lasting scars on the global economy. While
they recognise that central banks are stepping up to the challenge, they
point out that central banks cannot offset the fall in consumer demand
or stimulate investment by themselves. With both conventional and
unconventional monetary-policy tools already stretched to the limit, fiscal
policymakers will have to do more.
They suggest that well-targeted fiscal measures can soften the blow to
consumers and businesses-especially small and medium-size enterprises,
which typically have minimal financial buffers-thereby helping to sustain
employment and demand. In these desperate times, such measures
should be fully embraced by all governments that currently benefit from
low borrowing costs, even if they already have high levels of public debt.
They also emphasise that low- and middle-income countries who
have inadequate health systems will need substantial support from the
international community, potentially including concessionary debt relief.
But there is an elephant in the room: unfortunately, the world’s inability
so far to forge a common front attest to the erosion of international
cooperation, which is further damaging business and consumer
confidence. They too, like many other commentators, call for this to
change. The world urgently needs honest and transparent informationsharing
by national leaders, coupled with aggressive steps to contain
the pandemic, extensive stimulus to mitigate the economic fallout, and
a carefully calibrated strategy to restart economic activity as soon as it is
safe to do so.
The embedding of Zoom, or cheap video
conference technology, may dissipate
the value of face-to-face meetings and
result in a permanent decrease in the
demand for expensive business-related
travel and accommodation.
Christopher Joye agrees with the sentiments expressed by Prasad and
Wu. Joye sees the global economy being burdened by a great deal more
public and private debt because of the enormous fiscal policy responses,
which will need to be serviced through tax revenue and corporate/
household earnings. This he argues will drag on future global growth
after the initial pop in activity as businesses restart and the working-age
population gets back into their day-jobs.
On the matter of whether this precipitates a sovereign debt crisis he
believes that ultimately the central banks can cauterise this problem by
continuing to do what they are currently doing: i.e., funding their domestic
treasuries by buying government bonds via quantitative easing (QE). After
all, he notes, central banks were originally created to fund governments
during times of war (that term again), and that is arguably where the world
finds itself now in terms of response.
On the question of inflationary shock, he expects the deflationary
impulse of the GVC via the huge sudden increase in labour supply to
overwhelm the inflationary impulse of the crisis over the short-to-medium
term (i.e., in the next year or two) noting that the near-term inflation
pressures obviously come through supply-chain rigidities as labour is
taken temporarily offline.
He does foresee a key consequence of the GVC as compelling much
greater internalisation of supply-chains, especially those that service
critical infrastructure and security-sensitive goods and services. In terms of
changes, it is suggested that the GVC will result in a permanent economic
damage akin to a form of creative destruction where the virus kills off
weak companies as well as unproductive employees. This he suggests is
because many businesses will come back looking different, shedding low
quality workers, and closing unprofitable activities/subsidiaries.
Some industries will be permanently changed in both positive and
negative ways, for example, entire communities are being forced to get
much more comfortable with online shopping and the associated delivery
process, reducing at the margin the demand for traditional retailing. The
cinema industry will be irreversibly damaged as consumption shifts away
from theatres to on-demand digital platforms like Apple and Netflix, which
will turn allow these distributors to capture more of the value-chain in the
same way Amazon did with bricks and mortar retailing.
The commercial property sector is also likely to feel this change as there
is a possibility of a permanent decrease in the demand for both office and
retail space. Many companies may conclude they can save overhead by
remaining disaggregated (i.e., not renting office space). This will result in a
decline in the value of commercial properties, and the risk associated with
commercial property debt could increase sharply. Commercial property
lenders’ LVRs might suddenly jump because of this. Indeed, he argues that
a lot of distress in commercial property debt portfolios can be expected
over the next 12 months.
The embedding of Zoom, or cheap video conference technology, may
dissipate the value of face-to-face meetings and result in a permanent
decrease in the demand for expensive business-related travel and
accommodation, adversely impacting airlines and hotels, as companies
seek to enhance their operating efficiencies. All this creative destruction
could result in unemployment rates not returning any time soon to
their pre-GVC levels which will, in turn, place downward pressure on
wages. Ultimately, he concludes that this will result in a battle between
the shock of the new – a virus that derails life as we knew it – and the
opportunities presented by the gigantic stimulus afforded by fiscal and
monetary policy. 9
As the world tries to deal with the ongoing challenges of Covid-19, it is worth reminding
ourselves that infrastructure investment and climate action are both urgently need,
and that with the right approach, both goals can be achieved simultaneously. This
article provides some indications of what the right approach may be.
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING ARTICLE
REFERENCES
1 Opie, J. and Opie, P., ed. (1997) [1951]. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-19-860088-6.
2 Joye, C. 2020. “Calling a ‘VU’ shaped recovery: and creative destruction induced by GVC.” Coolabah Capital Investments, 7 April 2020. .
3 Briefing, 2020. “Rich countries try radical economic policies to counter covid-19.” The Economist, Mar 26, 2020. .
4 Briefing, 2020. “Rich countries try radical economic policies to counter covid-19.” The Economist, May 26, 2020. .
5 Briefing, 2020. “Rich countries try radical economic policies to counter COVID-19.” The Economist, March 26, 2020. .
6 Olsen, S. 2020. “Experts: Spring’s missing home sales will be added in coming years. Zillow, June 3, 2020. .
7 Prasad, E. and Wu, E., 2020. “Anatomy of the coronavirus collapse.” The Brookings Institution, Monday, April 13, 2020. .
8 Tankersley, J. 2020. “Economic pain will persist long after lockdowns end.” The New York Times, 13 April 2020. .
9 Joye, C. 2020. “Calling a ‘VU’ shaped recovery and creative destruction induced by GVC.” Coolabah Capital Investments, 7 April 2020. .
10
11

RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
Financing a
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
Sustainable finance plays a pivotal role in enabling environmentally appropriate social
development and creating new economic opportunities in the green economy.
Treasury seeks to protect the economy and unlock opportunities that will
enhance the country’s adaptability to the rapidly changing climate and
realise socio-economic benefits from the transition to a lower carbon, greener
economy and build resilience to create a safer financial sector that better
serves South Africa. It is pursuing policies to ensure all financial institutions
embed and improve their capability for identifying, managing and disclosing
the environmental and social risks in their portfolios through strengthening
the regulatory framework and encouraging the uptake of leading practice.
Treasury capital appraisal guidelines, which are under review, will
incorporate climate resilience. Fiscal allocations to support ecologically
sustainable development through the Department of Environmental
Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries are complemented with funding for public
transport, clean energy and energy efficiency, water conservation and
demand management.
At an intergovernmental level, the Treasury approach is to integrate
climate responsiveness into provincial and municipal planning. This
includes ensuring climate change responsive budgeting through
guidelines for provincial medium-term expenditure frameworks and
built environment performance plans for metropolitan municipalities.
Through a progressive integration and system reform, provinces and
municipalities can create an intergovernmental project pipeline.
Accelerating the implementation of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement
requires clear financing strategies that work to mobilise resources
from both public and private sectors. Treasury is working with local
and international partners to leverage climate change funding. The
Department of Agriculture and Treasury is working closely with the local
insurance industry on an agricultural insurance product.
*Excerpt from Financing a Sustainable Economy report
The South African national greenhouse gas inventory highlights
that electricity generation from fossil fuels contributes some 45%
of South African emissions. It follows, therefore, that to address
climate-related risks in the country it is essential to reduce electricityrelated
emissions. The scale and reach of this problem is multifaceted
and requires financial resources, structural and socio-economic reforms.
Sustainable finance is essential for balanced and inclusive growth,
based on the identification and mitigation of risks as well as the search
for economic opportunities that are socially, environmentally and
economically beneficial. It encompasses both the concepts of green- and
socially-focused finance.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the OECD and others
have estimated that trillions of new dollars will be needed each year, up to
2030, for investments in energy, transport, water and telecommunications
infrastructure to sustain growth and mitigate climate effects. An additional
USD600bn a year would likely be needed to make these investments
compatible with holding the average global warming to 2°C.
The Climate Policy Initiative1 has estimated the South African economic
transition risks at an aggregated R2tn (of which 60% has already been
incurred) 2 . A further R362bn may result from infrastructure investments
currently being contemplated that may not be economically viable in a
low-carbon transition. Many of the transition risks identified result from
transitions in the global economy and cannot be prevented by any national
government but require rapid adaptation by all players public and private.
In 2017, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures3 published
recommendations to increase understanding of the financial risks related
to climate change. It recommended to the G20 that for financial disclosure,
global warming scenarios should be used to model the potential risks to
economic systems. Systematic and credible disclosure is needed to enable
improved pricing and risk distribution and the identification of economic
opportunities associated with climate risk mitigation and adaptation.
TREASURY APPROACH
Addressing both climate change and South Africa’s development agenda
will require the reallocation of capital, the mobilisation of new financial
resources and the strategic realignment of existing resources (public and
private) over the short, medium and long term.
Government has recognised the need for a just transition4 and
various government agencies and departments, including Treasury and
the National Planning Commission, are working to understand what
is needed and stimulate the creation of new jobs. By mobilising private
sector funding of new and more sustainable projects, such as through the
Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP),
Treasury facilitates the shifting of green infrastructure investment off the
national balance sheet into the private sector.5
The Climate Policy Initiative
has estimated the South African
economic transition risks at
an aggregated R2tn.
READ REPORT
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/the upshot
Environmental
and social
risks and
opportunities
FINANCING A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY | National Treasury
Technical Report [2020]
This paper sets out the research and resultant recommendations of a process to establish
minimum practice and standards about climate change as well as emerging environmental
and social risks. The study focuses on the need for South Africa to mobilise the financial
resources now to address this challenge, both for the benefit of its citizens and to meet its
global obligations.
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
To adopt the following definition of sustainable finance in South Africa:
Sustainable finance encompasses financial models, products, markets and ethical
practices to deliver resilience and long-term value in each of the economic,
environmental and social aspects and thereby contribute to the delivery of the
sustainable development goals and climate resilience.
This can be achieved by:
• Evaluating portfolio as well as transaction-level environmental and social risk exposure and
opportunities, using science-based methodologies and best-practice norms
• Linking these to products, activities and capital allocations
• Maximising opportunities to mitigate risk and achieve benefits in each of the social and
environmental and economic aspects
• Contributing to the delivery of the sustainable development goals.
08 09 11 16 49
SA’s climate
change
response
Barriers to
sustainable
finance
Defining
sustainable
finance
Conclusion
of report
WATCH NOW
12
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/watch
DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE | A Trade
& Industrial Policy Strategies seminaar on
the key priorities and challenges for a just
transition in Emalaheni and Steve Tshwete –
What does mining closure mean for workers,
their jobs and livelihoods? [August 2021]
REFERENCES
1 Climate Policy Initiative: https://climatepolicyinitiative.org
2 USD125bn at January 2019 exchange rates
3 Established by the Financial Stability Board at the request of the G20 finance ministers and central banks
4 Just transition accommodates the needs of communities, which may be negatively affected through the loss of jobs or activities because of a move to a lower carbon economy
5 Eskom power purchase agreements are an exception
SOUTH AFRICA’S GREENEST BONDS
The earliest green bonds issued in South Africa were for clean energy infrastructure and local government initiatives:
2012 The Industrial Development Corporation issued a R5bn bond for investment in clean energy infrastructure.
2014 The City of Johannesburg was the first local municipality to list a green bond on the JSE – a R1.46bn issuance to finance initiatives, such
as biogas-to-energy and the Solar Geyser Initiative. The City of Cape Town’s R1bn Green Bond will fund projects aligned with the City’s
Climate Change Strategy, including measures to secure long-term water availability.
2017 The Johannesburg Stock Exchange opened a Green Bond segment on the exchange. The first bond issuance, by Growthpoint, was a
R1.1bn bond for five, seven or 10 years.
2019 Nedbank became the first bank to list a green bond on the JSE, with proceeds ring-fenced for renewable energy. It attracted R5.5bn in bids
and increased the size of the issue from R1bn to R1.7bn.
2020 Standard Bank sold a 10-year USD200m green bond to the International Finance Corporation via the London Stock Exchange.
13

RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
WATCH NOW
Making sense of
SUSTAINABILITY
The “sustainability” term remains amorphous, so even after agreeing to address it,
innovative leaders still need to decide what it means and then set strategy for it.
BY LUX RESEARCH
Sustainable development is growth that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs. To help make sense of what sustainability
should mean in practice, we address three of the most common
questions on the topic. Asking and answering these questions lays the
groundwork for developing a sustainability strategy.
1. SHOULD YOU BOTHER WITH SUSTAINABILITY AT ALL?
Some company leaders do still wonder if the term is more a marketing
buzzword than a real strategic priority. The answer here is clear: Over
the past few years, numerous stakeholders have begun to demand
sustainability, showing that this trend will last and is not a passing fad.
Investors have shown increased interest in environmental and social
impact. In a presentation on quantifying megatrends, Director Cosmin
Laslau notes that “climate and sustainability” has become arguably the
most important trend for shareholders. Companies with the highest
environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores have seen aboveaverage
growth over the previous five years. Even more telling was
State Street Global Advisors calling out three companies for poor ESG
performance. With shareholders making these moves, business leaders
need to respond.
Consumer preferences have shifted from wanting sustainability
to demanding it, and these preferences have had major impacts on
established businesses. Fast fashion brand Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy,
in part due to its poor response to customers’ concerns about the waste
produced from “fast fashion.” Entire products can be upended – plastic
straws have been removed from many establishments after a video of a
plastic straw stuck in a turtle’s nose went viral in 2018. These issues matter
to consumers and are driving product choices, so many consumer-facing
brands are committing to sustainability goals – and pushing their suppliers
to do the same.
Employees now strive to work for more environmentally friendly
companies and are increasingly taking action to improve their workplaces
– amicably or not. Failure to hold to important values can lead to significant
backlash from employees – more than 300 Amazon employees protested
greeneconomy.tv
Amazon’s climate and social practices, even with a warning that they could
be fired for doing so. Attracting and retaining top talent requires taking
values like impact and inclusion seriously.
2. HOW DO YOU SET THE RIGHT GOALS?
Here, the answer is different for each organisation – ranging from the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastic Economy to utilities striving to reduce
methane emissions, to governments aiming to become leaders in Li-ion
battery and EV manufacturing. To determine your targets, consider these
key approaches:
• Use fewer resources. Cutting down on resource inputs, from water
to energy to raw materials, is a clear way to reduce impact. For instance,
while companies are taking a myriad of approaches to achieve sustainable
packaging goals, a simple strategy is to merely reduce packaging used.
Unilever, for example, aims to reduce its virgin plastic packaging used by
50% by 2025, targeting multiuse packs and “no plastic” products.
• Reduce emissions. Cutting back on releases of harmful by-products,
most notably CO2 and other greenhouse gases, is another objective.
Emission reduction can manifest in numerous ways: Light-weighting
results in fewer emissions from transportation; switching to renewable
sources makes energy use greener, and reusing materials or products
curtails the impact of manufacturing. However, sometimes changing the
process entirely moves the needle the most. Current ammonia production
is as energy-efficient as possible, but there is significant interest in altering
the traditional Haber-Bosch process, including adding carbon capture,
using green hydrogen, or switching entirely to electrochemical synthesis,
with big impacts on emissions.
• Reduce waste. Even with a reduction in resources used, there will
always be waste, which can have its own negative effects. Companies
can focus on reducing waste and developing a “circular economy” –
from increasing recycling rates for plastic packaging to using food waste
as a feedstock for feed and fertilising. However, the efforts to develop a
circular economy extend beyond consumer-produced waste like food and
packaging to addressing end-of-life issues with energy technologies, such
as lithium-ion batteries and wind turbine blades.
GET SWITCHED ON | The Circular Economy Show
Every Wednesday @ 1:00pm
Watch Gordon Brown, GreenEconomy.Media with Chris Whyte, African
Circular Economy Network uncover the circular economy.
Enable human connection
Listen to the voices that reason
Demonstrate your true value
GreenEconomy.tv delivers intelligent conversation about the conservation
of people, planet, and power.
3. HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY INTO
YOUR STRATEGY?
Taking action is important, but there still needs to be a business case for
the specific moves you make toward your goals. To develop a strategy
that aligns with overall business goals, consider the following options to
identify a value proposition.
• Make your operations more sustainable. All companies can work to
manage the impact of their factories, offices, and logistics, often finding
financial benefits in doing so. Much of the focus here is on reduced
emissions – can you use a low-carbon fuel, can you electrify, can you use
less material to reduce energy needs? Global delivery service company,
UPS recently announced plans to invest $450-million in deploying 6 000
natural gas vehicles (NGVs), reducing its carbon footprint through an
economically viable approach. The business value proposition here is in
cutting the operational cost associated with energy usage (and potentially
saving on a carbon tax bill).
• Help your customers become more sustainable. Another strategy is
less in operations and more in product development – more sustainable
solutions for customers that allow them to improve their operations
and products (for businesses) or reduce their own personal impact (for
consumers). Examples include offering bio-based and recycled materials
or selling consumer products in reusable packaging. The value proposition
here is to protect or grow market share – or even gain first-mover advantage
– as downstream demand shifts to prioritise sustainability.
• Tap into new business opportunities created by the sustainability
trend. Apart from improving existing products for existing customers,
there are opportunities to develop products for new markets that are
emerging due to the sustainability trend. These targets can range from
new battery materials for energy storage to alternative proteins that offer a
lower environmental footprint than meat.
READ REPORT
READ
REPORT
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/the upshot
Source: Lux Executive Summit Global 2019
Why address
sustainability?
Appeasing
investors
Serving
consumers
Attracting and
retaining employees
What sustainability
goals?
Using fewer
resources
Reducing
emissions
Minimising
waste
For this strategy, the value proposition is in the new top-line growth
opportunities it can generate. All told, this three-step process of assessing
the drivers of sustainability, selecting the relevant goals, and aligning to
business strategy provides a roadmap for companies looking to get their
heads around what sustainability means for their business – and focusing
on the substance of what it means for strategy.
The exact answers will be different for each organisation but asking the
right questions and taking a structured approach can place your team on
a solid path.
S&P 500’s growth from 2014 to 2019.
This article is an excerpt from MAKING SENSE OF “SUSTAINABILITY” Report by Lux Research
Lux Research uniquely combines technical expertise and business insights with a proprietary platform, using
advanced analytics and data science to surface true leading indicators.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, INTEGRATED REPORTING AND
ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURE: Evidence from the South African
Context | a Sustainability article by MDPI [June 2020]
Which sustainability
strategies?
Improving
operations
Helping
customers
Finding new
business targets
This research aims to investigate the influence of sustainability-related issues of a sample
of South African listed companies on the JSE regarding environmental disclosure, after the
mandatory preparation of integrated reporting.
Integrated reporting (IR) can be identified as an innovative form of corporate reporting
that seeks to combine financial, social, and environmental information. The movement of IR
is strongly linked to sustainability issues, as it can represent how an organisation creates and
sustains value and to bring together economic, social, and environmental factors in response to
the recent needs related to the global financial downturn, environmental goals, and the call for
greater transparency of corporate reporting.
In addition to sustainability reporting, IR promises to radically change the management
approach to business strategy and value creation.
14
15

SMART CITIES
Connecting the North-West
to the nation.
Get to the good part faster.
LANSERIA INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT: set for new heights
Lanseria is set to be converted into one of Gauteng’s first smart cities. The project will
include a business gateway, a three-tower precinct and a corporate estate. In addition to
new Gautrain routes connecting to Joburg CBD and OR Tambo International, state-of-theart,
multi-use smart facilities will stretch from Lanseria in Gauteng to Hartbeespoort Dam
in the North West.
(meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions or events) with smallscale
conferencing and wedding venues being common; and mining/
quarrying operations. Lanseria Airport has embarked on a strategy
of positioning itself as the future green international airport fit for a
smart city.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
GREEN INITIATIVES
We have a strong sense of community responsibility and believe we
are who we are because of the community that surrounds us. We have
developed a strong programme of community investment and play an
active role in developing the communities that surround us. Our focus is
primarily on health care and education with infrastructure development
as the main driver.
Our aim is to invest in young people, and we believe that a firm
foundation is needed for the future leaders and workforce that will take
the country forward. We have invested a sizeable amount of funds in early
childhood development programs (ECD) and primary schools.
At Lanseria International Airport, our upgraded facilities always ensure
a smooth trip. It’s why our convenient location puts you right at the
gateway of the North-West and The Cradle of Humankind, so you can
spend less time taking your trip and more time enjoying the destination.
Fly from Lanseria International Airport.
Joburg’s most convenient airport.
www.lanseria.co.za
With additional investment in road and freight infrastructure
development, the Lanseria International Airport Mega City
is set to become a manufacturing, logistics, and business
hub. Significant development over the past decade at Lanseria airport
– initially an executive airstrip for corporate travellers and now hosts
flights to Cape Town and Durban on a daily basis – has seen a marked
increase in industrial activity in the area in recent years.
Its near proximity to the country’s economic epicentre and the planned
mega smart city development, sets Lanseria on the path to being a
noteworthy and desired industrial and entrepreneurial node, with the
planned multipurpose residential development affording residents true
work-life balance with less time spent commuting.
A Regional Node ‘Provincial Area of Focus’ is identified for the
Lanseria Airport. This demonstrates the will for integrated economic
development and spatial restructuring at Lanseria, which includes the
addition of a future Gautrain station, BRT lines and the PWV5 as a road,
freight and public transport route.
The West Rand District Municipality will create new industries, new
economic nodes and a new city will be anchored around the Lanseria
Airport and the Maropeng World Heritage Site. It was precisely for this
reason that the wider Lanseria Airport area was ear-marked as a potential
nodal project that should be prioritised as a basis for creating more urban
prospect for these marginalised communities.
At present, the main economic drivers within the Greater Lanseria area
are Lanseria Airport; a widespread but uncoordinated agricultural sector;
a tourism and leisure industry based on the Cradle of Humankind, MICE
Water
Lanseria Airport appointed a service provider to abstract treated water
from the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) for irrigating its gardens.
A tanker is used for abstracting water from the WWTW for irrigation of the
garden at the fire department, security complex and parking areas.
Lanseria has a car wash for car rentals that uses recycled water. The
airport has installed a filtration system that recycles water for daily
car washes.
Worm farming
Lanseria Airport has embarked on a zero-waste to landfill policy. While
striving to archive this goal, we have introduced worm farming and we
also sort waste at source. Our food outlets are encouraged to separate
food waste from the rest of the waste streams to avoid contamination of
the worm feeds. The worm farm diet is raw vegetables, fruit peels, tea bags
and eggshells. The feedstock should not contain any acidic foods. We have
recently extended our worm farm from 4.5m to 6m long.
The Lanseria Airport worm farm has the following properties:
• Size: 6m long and 1.45m wide
• Fed on average 21.07 kg of food every week
• Feeding process takes an average of two hours every week
• The worm farm produces 5.55 litres of worm tea on a weekly basis
• The tea is used as a fertilizer
17

SMART CITIES
SMART CITIES
SMART CITIES
promote best practice in
URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
like centralising commercial areas, and even the concept of what a CBD
looks like. This might have a profound impact on what cities look like in
the future.
Another impact of Covid-19 has been the disruption of global supply
chains. What will be interesting to see in the long term is if governments
around the world – who anticipate more severe pandemics in future – shift
towards self-reliance rather than global imports. Therefore, governments
might consider reigniting primary and secondary economic sectors such
as mining, agriculture and manufacturing. “Should this happen, we could
expect shifts in urban migration that could impact planning requirements,”
predicts Talip.
A smart city is much more than a city that is digitally enabled and brimming with
technology. It is a city that leverages innovation to achieve its desired outcomes –
and here innovation does not necessarily mean only technology.
THOUGHT [ECO]NOMY
This is the view of Carshif Talip, expertise leader, urban planning
and land infrastructure at Zutari. “A smart city is a city where
opportunity, amenity, safety, resilience, inclusivity and prosperity
are imperatives, and innovation across financing, design, construction,
operations and governance is embraced by all stakeholders to achieve
these imperatives.”
President Ramaphosa announced in his 2021 State of the Nation
Address that the masterplan for the proposed Lanseria Smart City
had been completed in November last year. The project is a joint
initiative of the Presidency, the Office of the Gauteng Premier, Tshwane,
Johannesburg and Mogale. It is based on best practice in urban
sustainability and the principles underpinning the smart city concept.
The fact that innovation is such an integral part of smart cities makes
for a natural fit between smart cities and sustainability. The emphasis on
digital platforms also enables data collection, and the availability of large
data sets is one of the first steps towards optimisation.
Proper planning is the answer to rapid urbanisation, inadequate
infrastructure and polarised development. Equally important is an
integrated approach, as with the Lanseria Smart City. “A siloed approach,
whether that be across the various spheres of government, the private
and public sectors or even within a municipal entity itself, needs to be
eliminated if we are to be successful,” urges Talip.
Each stakeholder needs to have their role and contribution clearly
defined and have the necessary resources to deliver. Finally, a measure
of agility and fluidity needs to be built in. “Planning, in essence, is
designing a path based on a predicted future. If that future changes, and
one just has to look at how unpredictable 2020 was due to the Covid-
19 pandemic, the plan needs to be sufficiently adaptable to respond to
change,” stresses Talip.
In terms of the impact of Covid-19 on future urban planning
requirements, one positive outcome has been that flexible working
arrangements are now possible. “The need for large swathes of office
space will certainly be challenged, and tenants will demand more flexible
arrangements from their landlords,” notes Talip. While there will always be
a brick-and-mortar component to retail, there is certainly a move towards
online retail. These two phenomena could challenge planning concepts
READ REPORT
greeneconomy/report recycle
THE GREATER LANSERIA MASTERPLAN | Tomorrow’s sustainable city today
The brief for the Greater Lanseria Masterplan is to be a truly post-apartheid city based on best practice in terms of urban sustainability
and the principles underpinning the smart city. It is to be inclusive of the broadly defined South African socio-economic spectrum and
must stimulate a vibrant, mixed-urban economy.
Activity zones should be compact in their spatial extent; they must also be complex in their mix of urban uses. Living at higher residential
densities within patterns of more intense urbanity make it possible to achieve far higher levels of efficiency in terms of infrastructural services
and public transport systems. It increases the evenness and efficacy with which social services and amenities are provided.
The design of the inclusionary city starts with the importance of the public environment and the way a “responsive architecture” defines
the natural surveillance of that environment: the tenets of safe city design apply and a people-first, rather than a car-first mentality leads the
design process. Highly permeable, safe pedestrian and cycle systems need to be augmented with a comprehensive, street system defined less
by class of traffic function and more by networked connectivity that is future-proofed as urban mobility rapidly reinvents itself.
An important aspect of the city economy is its infrastructural investment, not simply in how it is funded but also the inclusion of myriad
upstream and downstream aspects of its economic chain. Much of the contemporary thinking regarding urban sustainability recognises this
as well as the more obvious aspects of energy-efficiency and the striving for carbon-neutral systems.
The inclusionary economy
It is necessary to see the design of the public environment as one of the most important generators for spawning economic cross-over. This means
embracing inclusion rather than simplistic models of separation and specialisation as has been the case. How the energies of one investment
into the urban system are harnessed through careful urban design to spawn other opportunities is a vital aspect of the layout and enablement of
activity zones, be this at the city-scale of, for example, an airport or a logistics hub, or the more localised scale of an open-air market.
While incremental delivery of service delivery must be paced according to residential demand, early-warning systems must be put in place
to ensure “just-in-time” delivery of comprehensively managed facilities.
An open-ended approach
An interdisciplinary planning approach proposes a group of new utilities to undertake:
• Waste-to-energy using pyrolysis
• Regional waste-sorting and recycling
• Biogas production
• Smart-grid power
• Instituting district cooling as a utility
• Harvesting fertiliser value from waste treatment
• Water treatment and polishing
• Waterless/less-water-based sewer systems
• Harvesting water at scale
• Replenishment of the ground-water system
• Augmenting energy production with water-pumping systems
• Instituting a variety of green industries
• Green building
• Renewable energy
18
19

SMART CITIES
SMART CITIES:
WHEN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
MAKES URBAN AREAS MORE
ATTRACTIVE AND COMPETITIVE.
SMARTER SOLUTIONS
for people and planet
The pressure of ensuring that cities remain attractive and liveable for citizens, while adhering
to sustainability principles, is creating considerable stumbling blocks for those in charge.
BY VEOLIA SERVICES SOUTHERN AFRICA
Relying on its worldwide expertise in water, waste and energy
management, Veolia utilizes cutting-edge technologies to
bring utilities to the next level.
www.veolia.co.za
info.southafrica@veolia.com
011 663 3600
The challenge of delivering acceptable levels of public services is
becoming increasingly difficult in Southern Africa with increased
urbanisation, a lack of clean water and decent sanitation, aging
infrastructure, and the spiralling costs of energy production (not to
mention its harmful effects on the environment). The current way of
existing in businesses, homes and cities is largely unsustainable and
indicates a recipe for disaster if it continues in this way.
The move toward a smart city aims to find solutions to increasingly
scarce resources while at the same time, addressing sustainability. At the
heart of the smart city is its users; citizens, businesses, local governments
and decisionmakers, who must be armed with the necessary digital tools
and innovation to create more sustainable cities.
As a partner to cities, governments and other civil organisations, Veolia
aims to assist with addressing these challenges through the provision of
innovative solutions. It is our belief that the use of technology and data
is an opportunity to make informed decisions about city resources and
ultimately, deliver a better quality of life for its citizens.
A smart city means smarter networks. Veolia’s solutions aim to address
the above challenges and simultaneously support the transformation
toward smart cities through infrastructure upgrades, technological
advancement and digital systems. Veolia can help on three levels of
integration in the move toward smart cities:
• Smart operations
• Smart services
• Smart ecosystem
With the African continent facing major water shortages, the re-use of
wastewater seems to be the most sensible and under-utilised solution that
will aid cities in becoming smarter. This means improving water efficiency
for the benefit of the city and its residents, using data and technologies
as enablers, increasing efficiency of potable water networks and irrigation
networks, to enhance the reuse of water, allow deferred investments
in water production plants and optimisation in pipe renewal, as well as
preserve resources (energy and water) by improving leakage management
and enabling demand response programmes.
With more than 350 proprietary technologies covering every key
stage in the water treatment process, Veolia is a globally recognised
player in the field. Furthermore, we’ve adopted a digital approach to
improving operational performance and customer satisfaction. We
have the capacity to measure, simulate and communicate in real-time
to ensure continued efficiencies, helping to contribute toward quality of
life and further development of the smart city through the delivery of
smart services.
Another smart solution that requires no introduction but is vital
for sustainability is energy optimisation. As with our water audits, we
have developed tools to conduct energy assessments as well. First, a
comprehensive energy audit will be conducted to determine any potential
savings in, for example, a large corporate building. A baseline will also be
determined and through these, the implementation of the actions will
occur. Veolia can assist with onsite operations and maintenance as well as
monitoring to ensure that set targets are achieved.
A clean city is a smart city, and Veolia’s waste expertise can assist
with sustainable changes in waste management. Responsible waste
management not only means adhering to the principles of the circular
economy – reducing, reusing and recycling, but providing services
that turn waste into value. Our solutions range from recycling services,
through to the safe treatment and disposal of hazardous waste. In recent
years, waste disposal has become a contentious issue for many large
corporations and Veolia has made it our business to assist with beneficial
reuse solutions and to maximise valuable by-product recovery from waste.
The implementation of smart solutions in the drive toward a smart
city may seem daunting, not to mention a seemingly expensive exercise.
It also requires the buy-in of all stakeholders to ensure its success.
Veolia’s unmatched knowledge, expertise and digital capabilities offers
value-added solutions that can protect both people and the planet.
21

WATER
WATER
DAMS
HALF FULL
OR HALF EMPTY
Unlocking water security in South Africa
SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY
The system’s capacity is already used to its limit but that is not generally
understood. When asked whether water supply is sufficient, most people’s
attention focuses on dam levels. But dam levels simply tell you how
much water is stored, not how long it will last. In this sense, dams are like
a household’s bank account. If wages are paid into the account once a
month, when the flow of money reduces, so too must the expenditures.
The water deposited in the reservoir is like the wages paid into the bank
– users must make sure that it doesn’t flow out so fast that there’s none left
before the next rains arrive. Enough must be kept in reserve in case there
is a dry year.
Two factors must be considered together to avoid water crises: technical
matters like rainfall, river flow and infrastructure; and human factors such
as the behaviour of water managers and users. South Africa’s climate is
relatively well-documented. The priority for water planners is to manage
the fact that rainfall is highly variable.
Planners work with hydrologists and climate scientists to estimate the
risk that there will be a succession of dry years. They calculate how low river
flows will go and how much storage is needed to keep supplies running.
That kind of information, used to plan the infrastructure of the Integrated
Vaal River System, has kept the region water secure for almost 40 years. It
also flagged the need to build the next phase of the Lesotho project.
That’s where the human factors intervene.
To meet the water needs of populations and economies, planned
investments must be made on time. And until additional supply is
available, water use must be kept within safe limits. This requires water
users to change their behaviour.
HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
Since the Gauteng population is growing at about 3% per year and supply
is fixed, consumption will have to decrease by 3% a year if the region is to
stay water secure.
The priority for water
planners is to manage
the fact that rainfall is
highly variable.
But if people see full dams, can they be persuaded to reduce their
water use? Some efforts are already being made. Rand Water, the bulk
water provider, has a critical role to play. It takes water from the Vaal
River system, purifies it and supplies across the region. Rand Water has
reached the limit of what it is allowed to take from the system and is now
rationing available water between its different users. Consumption targets
have been set for individual municipalities and Rand Water is restricting
supplies to those that don’t use their water efficiently.
Consumption per person in the region is around 300 litres per day – well
above global averages – so there is room for improvement. And almost
40% of the water supplied to municipalities is “non-revenue water” – either
lost through leaks or not billed and paid for and thus often wasted. At the
root of these problems is poor management and maintenance.
To cope with supply restrictions, municipalities face difficult choices.
Most are trying to reduce their “non-revenue water”. Some are delaying
new housing and industrial developments. Others are cutting supply to
selected suburbs for days at a time when they reach their allocated limit.
The region’s citizens have not yet been told the hard truth that for the
next six years, this supply squeeze will get tighter. Yet this information is
essential if communities and households are to play their part. People will
not change their behaviour unless they’re told what’s happening and how
to avoid a crisis.
Whether it was Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, Chennai in India,
Barcelona in Spain or São Paulo in Brazil, we have seen that, too often,
water crises occur because societies don’t take action until it is already
too late.
BY MIKE MULLER, WISA*
South Africa had that experience with its Day Zero crisis in Cape
Town. In the Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela Bay provides more
evidence. Despite being advised for more than a decade that its
supply infrastructure was inadequate, the municipality did not act. Now
the dams are almost empty.
The immediate question is whether the Gauteng province and surrounds
can avoid the same experience. The region gets its water from the Integrated
Vaal River System, of which the Lesotho Highlands Water Project is an
important part. Completion of Phase 2 of this project, which will increase
available supplies, is already nearly a decade late and water use is growing
steadily. Tenders to build the dam and tunnel for the second phase have not
yet been awarded. The earliest that they will provide additional water is 2027.
Department of Water and Sanitation
The study
area for the
reconciliation
strategy for
the Integrated
Vaal River
System –
Phase 2.
22
23

WATER
ENERGY
Watershed
boundaries of
the GCR
Click here for schematic
cross section
Watershed between
Vaal River and Limpopo
tributaries
Watershed between
Crocodile West Marico
and Olifants Rivers
Provinces
Rivers
Wetlands and dams
Urban areas
Schematic cross section of the
Witwatersrand Watershed in Johannesburg
The Witwatersrand watershed
Gauteng City-Region Observatory
WOMEN in SA’s
ENERGYspace
Mercia Grimbeek, Chair of SAWEA
Our national renewable energy sector recently called for the establishment of a Gender
Diversity Charter. The response was sector-wide.
BY SAWEA
The role of
The map depicts the different ways in which water systems serve as barriers within an urban system. Rivers are visible barriers in the landscape
and are often shown on a map as a boundary between two properties. Watersheds are a less visible kind of boundary but are important in
dividing one drainage system from another.
GOING WITH THE FLOW
A lesson from Cape Town’s Day Zero experience was that when people were
told about the problems, and about how the city and their neighbourhood
were performing, they reduced their water use. Cape Town showed that
people will take difficult actions when there’s a problem they can see
and understand. It has been suggested that Rand Water should publish
monthly reports on the progress made to achieve municipal savings
targets. That is politically delicate since national ministers are reluctant to
expose their local counterparts to criticism.
So, the technical dimension of ensuring reliable water supply –
READ REPORT
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/the upshot
managing the dams, treatment works, pumps and pipes – is difficult. But
even more challenging is the task of motivating human interventions,
from ministers down to households.
The measure of success or failure is whether the water comes out of
the taps when needed. And too often, it’s human behaviour rather than
infrastructure that fails us.
*Mike Muller is an advisor to the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu. He is board member
and technical director of Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) and an active member of other
professional associations including the South African Institution of Civil Engineers and the South African
Academy of Engineers.
Water Security Perspective for the Gauteng City Region. A report
prepared for Gauteng Provincial Government by Gauteng City-Region
Observatory. [August 2019]
Gauteng will only be water secure once there is affordable access to safe and reliable water
supplies as well as to safely managed and dignified sanitation services. This will not be
achieved by action in the water sector alone. Informal settlements present a particularly
difficult challenge.
The report outlines the sources of the province’s water and the systems on which it depends
(page 10). It considers how the province’s wastes are managed and the implications for the
surrounding region. It then reviews the current performance of the key institutions in the sector
(page 14) and identifies the emerging challenges that face Gauteng if it is to achieve and then
sustain its water security (page 16).
The Conversation/ Under Creative License
charter is intended as a framework with which the
industry measures itself and its commitments. But it is
“The
more personal than just a mechanism for impact, as this
Charter is being pursued by many of our members as a legacy for
our late CEO, Ntombifuthi Ntuli,” explained Mercia Grimbeek, Chair
of SAWEA. Hosted by the sector’s Gender Diversity Working Group,
this is a joint initiative between SAWEA and SAPVIA, the industry’s
leading associations.
Mercia Grimbeek outlines the industry’s vision
Why is there a need for a Gender Diversity Charter?
Gender diversity has become very topical in recent times, and we have
witnessed concerted efforts by many local companies in the sector
to address the gender gap. While this is commendable and certainly
encouraged, as an association we felt that assessing progress and impact
was rather subjective and not easily measurable or such that it could be
easily monitored. We have also witnessed the ravages of Covid-19 on our
industry and our economy, and this has further negatively impacted on
the work already done and future initiatives to progress gender diversity
within the industry.
As a Working Group we have heard so many examples in areas such as
recruitment, executive management and equal pay, to name a few, where
gender inequality is still rampant in our industry. We understand that this
is a global challenge, but it is time to find our local voice and facilitate
meaningful and impactful change.
What are the key objectives for the implementation of the Charter?
The aim is to launch the commitment statements on the anniversary
of the Working Group, which coincides with International Women’s
Day. This is after an extensive consultative process with leaders from
our member organisations. Due to their involvement, there is a shared
vision and ownership of the commitments to be made.
The key objectives will look at issues of representation, inclusivity, flow
of opportunity and support and accountability. We are looking forward to
the DMRE’s work with the newly launched Energy Sector Gender Ministerial
Advisory Council, which will inform the direction our charter takes.
How does gender diversity fit into the energy transformation agenda?
Gender diversity is a critical component of the agenda. The energy sector
remains one of the least gender diverse sectors, especially at decisionmaking
level. We are also mindful that the transition will require innovative
solutions and business models. Closing the gender gap will bring with it the
benefits of inclusive solutions as more women become decision-makers.
How important is it that the board reflects gender equality?
Robust discussions about industry challenges require deep insight,
multiple angles to be considered and collective experiences. A SAWEA
Board that is gender-balanced can harness these attributes to guide and
advise the CEO. When governance is good, it benefits the CEO as well as
the members of the association.
Hence, it is very important to me that the SAWEA Board reflects
gender equality. The Board represents the industry and is reflective of
industry goals and aspirations. Good governance calls for diversity in
the boardroom and in my opinion, this brings strength to the SAWEA
Board. A gender-balanced board brings with it different perspectives and
approaches to decision-making.
You were part of the Global Wind Energy Council women leadership
programme two years ago. Did it make a difference to your career?
The Women in Leadership programme was instrumental to my career
development. I was exposed to a plethora of strong, confident women
who shared knowledge and experiences. The programme allowed me to
take my learnings and implement them in guiding an industry association
and nurturing young talent emerging into the industry. Ultimately, it
encouraged me to take up a place in industry and become an ambassador
for the growth of the industry in our country.
06 18 20 36 48
SA’s national
water and
sanitation plan
Current
performance
and emerging
challenges
Bulk supply:
availability,
restrictions, climate
change and other risks
Strategic
responses
to emerging
challenges
Action
plan
and way
forward
It is time to find our local voice
and facilitate meaningful and
impactful change.
What advice do you have for other women in the industry?
Be honest and vulnerable about where you are and acknowledge your
part. Don’t see vulnerability as a weakness. Seek a mentor. There is always
someone older and wiser that is willing to share their knowledge. Learn to
step back and gain perspective when things get tough. Remember what
your goal is and reframe how you want to achieve it. Believe in yourself.
24
25

PRODUCTION
Meet excellence in
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
Excellent Meat is reaping significant financial and sustainability rewards from
industrial energy and water efficiency interventions, implemented with assistance
from the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa’s Resource Efficiency
and Cleaner Production Programme.
Supporting industry
to return to
business unusual
There is no better time to implement
changes that can make your operations
more efficient and sustainable.
As industry gears up, the National Cleaner
Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA)
is there to help and advise.
The 51-year-old family-owned supplier of quality Halaal products
to customers such as Woolworths, Pick n Pay, McDonalds,
KFC, Spur, Burger King, and Ethiopian Airlines, among others,
accrued monetary savings to the tune of R2 904 312 and energy savings
of 1 653 835kWh between 2018 and 2020. It reduced greenhouse gas
emissions by 1 654-ton CO2.
Excellent Meat invested R75 000 in electricity management initiatives,
which saved it more than R709 400 and 412 470kWh in electricity
consumption at two of its four sites. An investment of R360 958 in
water-saving initiatives effected total water cost savings between 2018
and 2020 of R1 500 312; water consumption savings of 29 931kL at
a total value of R809 346 and wastewater savings of 28 435kL with a
value of R690 967.
“The National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA), on
behalf of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, has over
the past three years supported Excellent Meat to explore infrastructure
opportunities that will enable continuous improvement projects within
its business. The company is committed to responsible production –
especially in the light of the severe drought conditions that have plagued
the Western Cape since 2015 – and has partnered with the City of Cape
Town, the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, and GreenCape to
address its resource and environmental challenges. In 2017, GreenCape
suggested that the NCPC-SA, hosted by the CSIR, gets involved,” explains
Andre Page of the NCPC-SA.
A Waterwise Workshop with other stakeholders followed, during which a
presentation was given on the Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production
(RECP) Programme of the NCPC-SA. Excellent Meat immediately expressed
interest and thus, in March 2018, a water assessment commenced and was
followed by an energy assessment in parallel with a lifecycle management
capability maturity model assessment by two independent service providers.
Page says, “The company implemented more than 14 projects, which
included identifying water leaks. Finding a leak under a 4 000sqm factory
proved a challenge, but once located, consumption was reduced by
almost 50%. Excellent Meat also invested in tracking tools such as watersmart
meters and electricity-tracking tools, and learnt how to set realistic
water consumption targets, considering the prevailing water situation
as well as the reality of a food processing facility’s stringent water-reliant
hygiene standards.”
The energy assessment recommended a change of electricity tariff.
It found that the operating hours of Excellent Meat aligned better with
a time-of-use tariff that has a lower maximum demand charge. In six
months during 2020, this effected a saving of R351 000.
“Excellent Meat is an RECP champion and a responsible corporate
citizen of which to be proud,” Page adds.
“Besides what it has already achieved, it continues its work with
GreenCape to assess green technology options targeting water
conservation. It has also established a sustainability team to monitor,
review and implement energy, water and waste policies and interventions,
while promoting greater awareness among all its suppliers and other
stakeholders by sharing information regarding its resource consumption,
corresponding greenhouse gas emissions, and improvement actions.
“The company’s commitment to continually improve its sustainability
performance, including optimising the use of materials and resources at
its sites and offices, and considering the entire life cycle of activities, will
stand it in good stead and is an example worth following.”
View the Excellent Meat Sustainability Journal on
Through the implementation of resource efficient and cleaner
production (RECP), companies can increase efficiencies and
lower utility costs. Assessing your operations or production
processes can lead to much-needed improvements:
• RECP stimulates innovation i.e. new solutions that have
substantive benefits
• Resource savings translate directly into a reduction in
production costs
• Sustainability initiatives open up new markets
• Quality and safety can be improved through systems such
as an ISO 50001 energy management system
• RECP implementation creates an opportunity to
streamline processes
If you are ready to embrace a new normal, contact us to take
the first step. Services are subsidised and advice costs nothing.
We are currently not all in the office so please email us on ncpc@csir.co.za
For more information, visit www.ncpc.co.za
The NCPC-SA is a programme that promotes the uptake and
implementation of resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP),
funded by the dtic and hoisted by the CSIR.
Industrial Energy Efficiency Project
AEE Energy Project of the Year 2020
the dtic
Department:
Trade, Industry and Competition
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
26
THA 31-2020

AGRI-FOOD
AGRI-FOOD
FOOD SECURITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
PEOPLE, PLANTS
AND PLANET
READ REPORT
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/the upshot
Covid-19 and the Food Safety/Environment Dilemma
Tetra Pak Index 2020
Covid-19 is the number one concern for consumers worldwide, evidenced in recent global
research. Against this backdrop, economic worries have seen a sharp upturn, reflecting
widespread uncertainty about the impact of the pandemic on the economy.
Food safety has quickly moved up the list of consumer priorities and is now seen as a major
issue for society. Consumers believe that improving food safety is not only the responsibility
of manufacturers, it needs to be their priority. Consumers are looking for transparency and
reassurance that this priority is being addressed. Many want to know everything they can
about a product’s provenance and production process – highlighting a communication
opportunity for brands.
Concern for the environment remains strikingly powerful. More than two-thirds of consumers
believe that we must change our habits quickly to mitigate further environmental impact. In this
context, sustainable packaging remains key, rated a top expectation from manufacturers.
[Excerpt from foreword]
08 19 30 35 39
The changing
interplay between
food safety and
environment
Food waste is
rising up the
agenda
Sustainable
packaging
matters
Convergence
is on the
increase
Factors
influencing
the future of
packaging
Our country is grappling with the challenge of how to enhance the resilience of food
systems to deal with sudden shocks like the pandemic and ongoing stresses like climate
change. Meanwhile, hunger persists despite high agricultural productivity that should
support every citizen’s nutritional needs.
THE CREAM OF THE CROP: Agriculture economy
BY MELISSA MOORE, FUTUREGROWTH ASSET MANAGEMENT
South Africa has a highly diversified, market-oriented agricultural
sector that extends across various product ranges. Overall
agricultural GDP growth is 13.1% year-on-year (relative to a
7% economic contraction for the country as a whole). This
outperformance is underpinned by high levels of agricultural output
following favourable production conditions; high commodity prices;
strong export demand and a favourable rand exchange rate.
FUNDAMENTAL FACETS
1. VOLATILITY. Instability influenced by climate and social change.
• Variable weather conditions and climate change cause a fluctuation
in yields, which impacts the local and global supply dynamics. This
creates volatility in volumes and crop prices.
• Geopolitical influences and government actions:
o Global supply and demand pressures emerge when governments
take actions to subsidise production or when they ban exports due
to concerns about domestic supplies. The US-China trade tensions
were a source of volatility for certain agricultural commodities.
o Locally, policy uncertainty around land expropriation has had an
impact on the ability to access capital investment in the sector.
o Changing consumer preferences.
2. COMPLEXITY. Agriculture is not homogenous. There are different
crops and food types, each with their unique and fragmented
28
supply chains. There is diversity within each crop, in terms of how,
where and by who it is produced. The complexity is intensified by
environmental factors that influence regional and yearly production.
3. SCRUTINY. Role players in the agriculture and food value chain are
under pressure to improve the traceability of the food we eat.
Agriculture that prioritises maximum
productivity by exploiting natural
resources will prevent us from meeting
our growing demand for food and fibre
on a sustainable basis.
Notwithstanding these complexities, agriculture is widely anticipated to
be a vital driver of economic growth worldwide. Within a troubled global
economy, the agri-food value chain sectors remain a strong outlier, driven
by population growth, urbanisation and the rise of the middle class.
EXPORTS ON THE UP
The South African agricultural sector remains a net exporter, with
exportable volumes of various commodities growing annually. In 2020,
South Africa’s agricultural exports hit $10.2-billion, a 3% increase from
the prior year and the second largest level on record. Simultaneously,
agricultural imports fell 8%, leading to a 26% annual increase in the
agricultural trade surplus, which widened to $4.3-billion in 2020.
Citrus, as a sub-sector, experienced a notable increase in demand due
to the pandemic-related demand for vitamin C. Citrus exports hit a record
high in 2020, with South Africa cementing its position as the secondlargest
exporter of fresh citrus in the world, after Spain. This follows a
period of citrus production growth in response to a spike in global demand
and the attractive investment returns and profit margins – expected to be
sustained beyond 2021.
THE MOMENTUM CONTINUES
Higher yields expected
• Favourable weather has resulted in increased summer crop plantings.
The country could export an estimated 2.8-million tons of maize in
2021/2022, the largest volume since 1994/1995.
• Wine grape production is expected to be larger than in 2020.
• The South African citrus industry should break all previous export
season records with an estimated 158.7-million cartons in 2021, up from
146-million cartons in 2020.
The high yields for the sector should curtail food and overall consumer
inflation – and enhance the sector’s contribution to GDP.
The logistics industry
The anticipated growth in agricultural exports will place pressure on
infrastructure, from handling facilities to transport and the shipping ports.
Industry players are concerned over the country’s logistics systems, after
struggling with port congestion and a shortage of refrigeration equipment
in recent years. The long-term prospects for this significant sector require
that we overcome current operational inefficiencies. We need an efficient
and cost-effective logistics industry that can facilitate the movement of
commodities, not only between provinces, but also to export markets. This
presents an opportunity for infrastructure investment in the sector.
OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND
In line with global trends to meet the rising food demand driven by
population growth, local agricultural research and development (R&D)
could contribute towards higher yields and lower post-harvest losses.
Many regions globally have reached their agricultural land expansion
frontiers, such that increasing agricultural output requires increased
productivity. Optimising yields through intensive input use, new cultivars
and better production practices will hopefully increase agricultural
sustainability and resilience in the longer term.
A growing focal area for R&D, according to agricultural economist Dr
Thulasizwe Mkhabela, relates to zoonotic diseases, food-borne pathogens,
and vaccine development for livestock diseases. There is scope for the
development of agri-tech, particularly those that address the needs of
smallholder farmers.
WATCH NOW
THREATS TO BIOSECURITY
Plant health is intrinsically linked to the survival of our planet and
all that live on it. If we care about the eradication of poverty, the
critical nature of food security, and the importance of nutrition,
then we care about plant health.
Watch The National Science and Technology Discussion
Forum on plant health in SA.
29

AGRI-FOOD
THE ESSENCE IS ESG
If unchecked, the negative impacts of agricultural development that
prioritises maximum productivity by exploiting natural resources while
disregarding the complex hidden costs (financial and otherwise) of food
production, will prevent us from meeting our growing demand for food
and fibre on a sustainable basis.
The long-term health of the agricultural sector relies heavily on the
sustainability of farming methods. Farming practices must not only ensure
profitable yields but also the wellbeing of the factors of production:
environment, workers and surrounding communities.
LAND REFORM
The general perception is that government’s execution of land reform
strategies has been poor, resulting in various failures. Without a clear land
reform policy framework that is well-executed, the inequalities of the
A more hands-on approach
can advance food justice in the
face of climate change.
past will continue to increase – and we run the risk that the core of the
commercial agricultural sector, a key driving force of the economy and
food security in the country, will collapse.
Robust and transparent criteria for awarding land is critical to create
confidence in a corruption-free process. For emerging farmers to access
capital to develop land, blended finance models need to be developed
between government and the private sector now. Strong public-private
partnerships will be crucial to the success of the reform initiatives.
THOUGHT [ECO]NOMY
Urban lockdown lessons for South Africa: INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEMS | Published by WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature. [2020]
READ REPORT
Covid-19 has brought the fragility of urban food systems into sharp focus. South Africa
presents an important case study to demonstrate the role of urban food systems in supporting
a more equitable global food system.
South Africa’s local government sphere has no discrete formal mandate to address foodsecurity
issues. The research provides a snapshot of the difficulties that come with this “absent
greeneconomy/report recycle
policy mandate” for urban responses towards the current and future impact of global climate
change on these systems (page 5).
Starting at city level is a good place to initiate a dialogue on food-system transformation. City
impacts are significant due to high poverty rates and burdens of chronic, non-communicable
diseases. The pandemic has shown that an inability to withstand stresses in the food system
is due to on-the-ground social inequality, no access to resources, poverty, poor infrastructure,
lack of representation, and inadequate systems of social security, early warning and planning.
If cities and towns are to develop in ways that are sustainable, climate resilient and equitable,
capacities and mechanisms are needed that will deliver information into complex technical and
political urban decision-making processes. The disruption of food systems due to Covid-19 has
foreshadowed the future impacts of climate change (page 15).
The innovative work in some of the large cities in South Africa showcases how adaptation
to climate change has been prioritised. The City of Cape Town, eThekwini Metropolitan
Municipality and City of Johannesburg metros have included food-system resilience in their
Climate Strategies and Action Plans. Although there is recognition of climate change by many smaller municipalities, evidence of action is
limited (page 27).
While being affected by environmental and economic externalities, the urban food system is also a driver of environmental change through
waste, emissions and ecosystem degradation linked to food production and input extraction. If unchecked, these feedback loops further
reinforce food-system instability and vulnerability to shocks (page 18).
Recommendations in the report address six fundamental challenges: food trade, value chains, health and the built environment, informality,
and climate change (page 20).
© Text 2020 WWF South Africa
07 13 18 20
considerations
Equity in
a climatecompromised
world
Features of
the urban
geography
READ MORE REPORTS
Food-system
governance
Report
Run by the universities of Stellenbosch, Cape Town and Witwatersrand, the National Income Dynamics Study
Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) surveys the impacts of Covid-19 in South Africa. Click this
box to download presentations.
USE WOOD, AND SAVE TREES.
The more wood we use, the more forests we will save. It might seem responsibly managed forests, where harvesting is strictly controlled.
contradictory, but it’s simple economics. Greater demand for wood Managed this way, forests become a renewable resource, and you
makes it more valuable to local communities, and less likely that
can choose our wooden windows, doors, garage doors and COL
whole forests will be cleared to make way for other crops,
products secure in the knowledge that the next generation
or other, potentially damaging activities, such as mining.
would be able to do the same. And if you take into account
As a leading building materials manufacturer, we have
the energy-saving benefits of wood, it’s simply the natural
a responsibility to monitor our environmental impact.
choice if you care about the environment. For more
That’s why we prefer to source our wood from
info call 086 110 2425 or visit www.swartland.co.za
30

AGRI-FOOD
QUALITY TESTING FOR THE
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY:
AN IMPORTANT LINK IN THE VALUE CHAIN
Informed business, economic and social decisions in the food and feed value are based
on information on the quality of the commodities being used as raw materials and that
of the final products. The quality can only be assessed when accurate measurements are
available that also ensure food safety, and finally support trade.
BY WIANA LOUW, SAGL*
The Southern African Grain Laboratory (SAGL) NPC, established
in 1997, has a Crop Quality and a Crop Protection division. Both
divisions are accredited under the international ISO/IEC 17025
standard and the crop protection division also complies with the OECD
Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (OECD GLP).
To confidently provide accurate, reliable, and comparable measurement
results, testing laboratories can implement a range of measures including,
but not limited to compliance with quality standards such as ISO/IEC
17025 for testing laboratories.
Globally, there is an increased emphasis on food security and food
safety with growing population numbers putting pressure on natural
resources to provide enough safe food and feed. As a result, the spotlight
also moved to reliable testing results as an integral part of improved
production, management, and early warning systems.
The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) conducts
surveillance audits at regular intervals to confirm the laboratory’s
compliance and during these assessments, new methods and technical
signatories are also evaluated to be added to the scope of accreditation.
Since 1999, the SAGL complies with this international standard
and received accreditation from SANAS. The SAGL uses measurement
standards or reference materials as prescribed in the standard to confirm
technical competence and to ensure international comparability and
demonstrates continued method performance through participation in
relevant proficiency testing schemes and the use of appropriate quality
control materials.
The Crop Quality Division performs national crop quality surveys
on wheat, maize, soybeans, sunflower and grain sorghum and offers
specialised analyses on food, feed and related products. Results of these
surveys can, for example, be used when recommendations need to be
made with regards to changes to regulations, such as grading regulations.
Globally, there is an increased
emphasis on food security and
food safety with growing population
numbers putting pressure on natural
resources to provide enough safe
food and feed.
It can also be used when value chain studies, with the purpose of
implementing improvements, are conducted.
The division’s scope includes grading of grains and oilseeds, nutritional
analyses, dough quality and baking tests on wheat flour, multi-mycotoxin
analysis (using LC-MS/MS), vitamin and mineral analysis and amino
acid analyses. The division also offers research support to industry for
product and method development, training courses covering theoretical
and practical laboratory training and proficiency schemes to local and
international participants. The grain and oilseed industry use reliable
quality data on agricultural commodities when marketing these products
locally, but even more importantly, to prospect customers in the rest of
the world.
Customers submit samples to the laboratory to support their internal
quality control processes and make use of calibration samples prepared at
the SAGL to evaluate the accuracy of their equipment and the competency
of their employees. They also participate in the proficiency schemes
offered by the SAGL.
The Crop Protection division analyses agricultural formulations and
technical material (5-batches) for registration and conduct quality control
analyses of plant protection products according to international standards.
The concentrations of the active ingredients and impurities are determined
using either Gas Chromatography (FID)/(MSD) or High-Performance Liquid
Chromatography (DAD). Other tests include water content, particle size
using laser diffraction, density, viscosity, pH and flash point.
An important goal of the SAGL is to continuously improve the
quality of the testing while increasing the sample throughput with the
implementation of new technology, training of the laboratory staff and
improved quality systems. We conduct investigative and research studies
to find solutions or suggest alternatives to current processes.
To access quality data on soybeans, sunflower, grain sorghum, wheat,
and maize, please visit the website or contact the SAGL where our friendly
staff will gladly assist you.
www.sagl.co.za
The Southern African Grain Laboratory NPC is an
independent ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, acting
as reference Laboratory for the South African Grain
Industry.
The Crop Quality Division focusses on grain and oilseed
quality analysis:
• Grading & Milling
• Nutritional analyses
• Rheology & Baking
• Vitamins, Minerals & Amino Acids
• Mycotoxins
The SAGL also have a Crop Protection Division with ISO/
IEC 17025 accreditation and OECD GLP Compliance for
analyses on plant protection products:
• 5-batch testing
• shelf-life testing
• treated seed
Grain Building – Agri-Hub Office Park
477 Witherite Street
The Willows
0040
Tel: +27 (0) 12 807 4019
E-mail: info@sagl.co.za
Celebrating 25 Years of
Excellence
*Wiana Louw is general manager at Southern African Grain Laboratory
32

SMART MINING
SMART MINING
To be
ORE
not to be
A low-carbon future will be mineral intensive
as clean energy technology needs more
materials than fossil-fuel-based generation
technologies. Ambition on climate change
goals requires more of these technologies
and will lead to a larger material footprint.
READ REPORT
Minerals by their production (how they are extracted) and by
their consumption (their wide use in everyday life) can have
both positive and negative impacts on different aspects of
sustainability. The negative impacts make it imperative that these
materials be responsibly sourced, to meet the wider sustainability agenda.
Raw materials are an important element of the sustainability debate.
According to the OECD’s Global Material Resources Outlook to 2060, the use
of material resources grew form 27-billion tons in 1970 to 89-billion tons
in 2017. The OECD forecasts that in the absence of new policies, material
resource use could reach 167-billion tons in 2060, with the largest increase
seen for metallic ores, followed by non-metallic minerals.
The mining sector accounts for approximately 2-11% of total global
energy consumption, while 70% of mining operations from the six largest
mining companies are in water-stressed countries (IFC and ICCM, 2017).
Adopting climate-smart mining practices would further reduce the overall
sector’s carbon and environmental footprints.
Low-carbon technologies
Solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and geothermal are more mineral intensive
relative to fossil fuel technologies. About 3 000 solar panels are needed for
1MW of capacity of solar PV. A 200MW solar project could be as big as 550
American football fields (Mathis and Eckhouse, 2020).
Production of graphite, lithium, and cobalt will need to be significantly
ramped up by more than 450% by 2050 to meet demand from energy
storage technologies. Production figures for base minerals, like aluminium
and copper, are significant, at 103-million tons and 29-million tons by
2050, respectively. Projections do not include the associated infrastructure
needed to support the deployment of these technologies (transmission
lines) or the physical parts (the chassis of newly-built EVs).
Demand risks
Cross-cutting minerals (copper, chromium, and molybdenum) are used
across a wide variety of energy and storage technologies and have stable
demand conditions. Molybdenum and copper are used in more than eight
technologies. Even with technological improvements, costs reductions,
and deployment of emerging technologies, there would be little impact
on their overall demand.
For copper, the greatest share of demand comes from solar PV and
wind, but demand may be underestimated as it does not include the
transmission infrastructure needed to connect these technologies to
electricity grids.
Concentrated minerals (lithium, graphite, and cobalt) are needed only
for one or two technologies. Technological disruption and deployment
could significantly impact their demand. These minerals are primarily used
in energy storage and have the highest demand figures.
Storage has the highest level of uncertainty post-2030 given the number
of sub-technologies currently at the R&D and pilot stages, as well as different
policy choices and market forces. Concentrated minerals have the highest
level of demand risk, particularly for producers of these minerals.
Certain minerals face higher levels of changes in demand from the shift
to a low-carbon future. Graphite and lithium demand are so high that
current production would need to ramp up by nearly 500% by 2050 to
meet demand.
READ REPORT
Demand for aluminium for 2050, makes up 9% of current production
levels, but aluminium is used across a broad range of technologies, making
it less susceptible to changes in deployment.
Understanding these demand risks is crucial for mining and energy
industries that must be adaptive to rapidly evolving energy technologies.
Demand shifts
Solar PV will account for most of the aluminium demand from energy
technologies (87%), while wind and geothermal will account for most
zinc and titanium demand, at 98% and 64%, respectively. Solar and wind,
combined, account for 74.2% of all copper demand, while battery storage
accounts for all graphite and lithium demand.
Substitution effects, such as efficiency improvements, could have
strong impacts on the demand for individual minerals, like indium, based
on which sub-technology ends up being most widely deployed up to
2050. Factors that drive substitution effects include market dynamics,
availability of minerals, technological improvements, and costs.
New technologies such as offshore wind, green hydrogen, or solid-state
batteries may change the shape of the future. These technologies require
different minerals and carry different demand implications but given that
they are generally more material intensive than their fossil-fuel-based
counterparts, overall demand for minerals will still increase. Their carbon
and material footprints cannot be overlooked.
While increasing the share of renewable energy is one of the most
effective ways of decarbonising the electricity sector, countries who have
committed to the Paris Agreement need to address the mineral intensity
of clean energy technologies. Emissions from the operation of renewable
energy and storage technologies are just 6% of coal and gas generation.
They account for 16 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e)
emissions up to 2050.
Aluminium, graphite, and nickel production for energy technologies
account for a cumulative 1.4GtCO2e up to 2050, nearly equivalent to the
total 2018 C02 emissions from France, Germany, and the UK combined.
Greening the power sector and battery production requires that upstream
and downstream emissions-related challenges from renewable energy
technologies be meaningfully addressed through policy.
The RE-SOURCING Project aims to build a global stakeholder platform for responsible sourcing in mineral value chains. The project addresses the
challenges that businesses, NGOs, and policymakers are facing in a rapidly evolving ecological, social, business and regulatory world.
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/the upshot
The International Responsible Sourcing Agenda: STATE-OF-PLAY
[April 2020]
This working paper provides an overview of the current state of responsible sourcing
practices related to the extraction of minerals and their processing (page 10). The report
outlines the challenges that have been identified in the economic, social and environmental
spheres and analyses the approaches to responsible sourcing that are attempting to address
these (page 11). It considers the role that key actors play in the uptake of responsible
sourcing practices (page 16).
In the second half of the document, the focus shifts to issues for responsible sourcing
in three key sectors: renewable energy (page 27), mobility (page 29) and the electric and
electronic equipment sector (page 33).
34
Excerpt from MINERALS FOR CLIMATE ACTION: The Mineral
Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition
LINK FOR ABOVE PLEASE
07 13 18 37 39
Sustainability,
raw materials
and resourcing
Global value
chains
Current
approaches
to responsible
sourcing
Resources
and circular
economy
Summary
of report

The path to BEING BETTER
SMART MINING
STEWARDS OF THE EARTH
European countries are working towards sourcing their
future minerals supply in a more responsible way, but the
challenge is to ensure that vulnerable stakeholders along
the value chain are not left out of the conversation.
BY SRK CONSULTING
The RE-SOURCING Project aims to promote responsible sourcing
through creating roadmaps for the renewable energy, mobility
and electronics sectors in the EU. Funded by the European
Commission under the Horizon 2020 project, RE-SOURCING is pursuing
its goal by building a responsible sourcing community among a range
of global stakeholders.
“On the strength of our historical involvement in the mining sector, SRK
Consulting has been drawn into the RE-SOURCING process, where our role
includes facilitating the engagement of stakeholders in Africa and Asia,”
says Andrew van Zyl, partner and principal consultant at SRK Consulting.
These zones, along with South America, are key mineral-supply regions
whose input to the consultation process is vital, adds Van Zyl, noting
that the areas have wrestled with a range of ESG issues that relate to
responsible mineral sourcing, such as artisanal mining and community
engagement. “A significant amount of mining best practice is in fact
emerging from developing countries that host mining sectors, which is
what we are looking to feed into the RE-SOURCING process,” he explains.
Key among the concerns of the responsible sourcing agenda is
environmental degradation, carbon emissions and climate change. The
recent United Nations IPCC report on climate change – which confirms
the severity of global environmental impacts – certainly raises the
urgency around the achievement of concerted world-wide action to
reduce global warming.
With most of the mining – that is, upstream activities in the mineral
value chain – conducted in emerging economies, and a significant portion
of downstream beneficiation and manufacturing occurring in wellestablished
economies, the stakeholders on different sides of this divide
can often have differing interpretations of “responsibility” in the sourcing
process. According to SRK principal consultant ESG Lisl Pullinger, this
means that charting an optimal path to the future requires the voices not
just of the primary mineral consumers but among the producing regions.
“A representative spread of stakeholder voices will help ensure future
policies do not unintentionally remove value along the value chain of
mineral production,” says Pullinger, “Especially where livelihoods may be
more vulnerable to changes introduced by new standards or hurdles to
market participation.”
Mindful of the complexity of finding common ground for progress,
RE-SOURCING is a multi-year process that works towards harmonising of
concepts in search of a global definition of responsible sourcing. This will
involve joint learning from innovative business cases around the world.
Bjanka Korb, senior engineer at SRK Consulting, highlights that hearing
different perspectives was an essential aspect of the current process – so
that all the implications of future responsible sourcing frameworks are well
considered before decisions are made and plans rolled out.
“There is undoubtedly a resounding call for action on global threats
like climate change and any proposed actions need careful thought in
Above, Lisl Pullinger.
Left, Andrew van
Zyl and Bjanka Korb
from SRK Consulting.
terms of their impact on vulnerable groups,” said Korb. The danger that the
RE-SOURCING process is working to avoid, is the development of a path
towards a green economy at the cost of those in the mineral supply chain
who are most vulnerable, says Pullinger.
“The terrain of the responsible sourcing discussion includes a range
of complexities around historical economic development trajectories,
making many stakeholders weary about who will benefit most from the
policy outcomes,” she says. “It is, however, a necessary engagement if we
are to find shared solutions to global challenges like climate change and
economic inequality.”
The current reality of environmental degradation, says Van Zyl, results in
large part from many countries “consuming cheaply” in the past – shifting
the externalised costs onto future generations. “That bill has now come
due, and the cost of the externalities needs to be addressed – which
includes becoming better stewards of our planet going forward,” he adds.
Among the planned events of the RE-SOURCING initiative is a Roadmap
Workshop on the Mobility Sector, to be held virtually in October this year;
Roadmap 2050 focuses on the key value chain steps of the Li-ion battery:
mining, cell production and recycling.
RE-SOURCING Virtual Conference: ON THE ROAD TO RESPONSIBLE
RESOURCING – How to achieve lasting impact
8-10 NOVEMBER 2021
The conference will provide you with the latest on responsible
sourcing through a mix of expert presentations and panel discussions.
REGISTER FOR EVENT HERE
37

ENERGY
ENERGY
As years of mismanagement at energy utility Eskom results in continued power outages
and
industrial
energy tariff increases
and
across
commercial
South Africa’s industrial and
businesses
manufacturing sectors;
domestic businesses are increasingly looking to renewable energy alternatives to power
their commercial operations.
38
FUNDING THE SUN
Solar PV financing options for
Rooftop solar PV systems are progressively being considered the
most readily accessible off-grid energy solution in South Africa.
According to the DFFE, South Africa’s solar resource is one of the
highest in the world, with an annual 24-hour global solar radiation
average of about 220W/m2. When this is considered alongside the 300%
increase in domestic electricity prices over the last thirteen years, the
growing trend towards solar for businesses appears inevitable.
According to renewable industry organisation GreenCape, rooftop
small-scale embedded solar generation systems remain the dominant
renewable energy technology in South Africa due to price, technical
maturity and ease of implementation. The installed capacity of solar PV
rooftop systems in South Africa has increased from 387MWp in 2017 to
approximately 1.35GW in 2020/21.
On the back of such significant market growth, numerous financial
mechanisms to fund larger commercial and industrial solar PV installations
and operations have emerged in recent years, including Power Purchase
Agreements (PPAs), fixed-roof rentals, lease or rental agreements, upfront
capital investment, and bank financing options.
With the adoption of solar PV systems by commercial and industrial
businesses now mainstream, a significant consideration for these companies
is selecting the most appropriate funding option for their solar project.
POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS
PPAs are a popular choice among commercial and industrial consumers,
since the installation, operations and maintenance of the system are
fully covered by the solar services provider. Most often, this funding
mechanism includes insurance and performance guarantees, with the
biggest advantage being reduced electricity costs from day one. This
allows business owners to enjoy the benefits of clean energy from a solar
PV system installed at their premises, at no upfront cost.
“A PPA includes the installation of a fully operating solar system but
removes the hassle of having to maintain, monitor, operate and clean the
system for years to come. Business owners can now enjoy solar energy
and the savings it will generate with zero capital expenditure or operating
risks,” explains SolarAfrica chief investment officer, Charl Alheit.
Following the signing of a long-term agreement, a solar tariff is billed
monthly, based solely on the amount of energy the business produces.
This tariff increases annually at a fixed escalation, allowing businesses to
accurately predict future energy costs. “This tariff is up to 40% cheaper
than the national grid, providing significant savings each month and
over the lifetime of the agreement,” Alheit adds. Businesses that use large
amounts of daytime power and operate five to seven days a week are likely
to generate the highest savings from this funding model.
While ownership of the solar system will remain with the service
provider until the end of the agreement, business owners have the option
to purchase the system during the term of the agreement. Various exit
options are available should a business owner wish to end the agreement
earlier, while any damage to the solar system will be fully covered
by insurance.
FIXED ROOF RENTAL
Fixed roof rentals have become a favoured choice for the owners of
commercial shopping centres and strip malls, as a long-term roof rental
agreement monetises their previously unused roof space. The solar
services provider pays a fixed monthly payment to the property owner for
the use of the building’s roof space, which also produces solar energy for
the property.
The property owner pays the solar services provider for the energy used
based on Nersa or municipal rates, while all other costs, such as system
maintenance, operations and insurance, remain with the services provider.
EQUIPMENT RENTAL
Under a solar lease agreement, also known as an equipment rental, the
installation, maintenance and management of the solar panel and its
components is paid for by the solar PV provider, while the business pays a
fixed monthly lease payment for the duration of the lease term.
The monthly payment is determined based on the estimated annual
production of the solar system.
A lease agreement is unlike a PPA in that the consumer pays a fixed
monthly amount rather than agreeing to purchase the power generated
READ REPORT
Comparison of costs between a PPA and a solar system cash purchase.
by the system at a set price per kilowatt-hour. “Your monthly solar lease
agreement payments remain the same throughout the year, and the risk
associated with the volume of solar energy produced and consumed
resides with the property owner,” says Alheit.
UPFRONT CAPITAL INVESTMENT
Companies able to fund their solar PV project from existing cash reserves
may find the upfront costs startling but the benefits appealing. A mediumsized
commercial system of 200kWp currently costs between R1.9-million
and R2.1-million, excluding battery costs. Benefits to cash-funded systems
include VAT deductions, as well as Section 12b tax benefits and carbon
credits, which can result in additional cost savings of up to 28%.
“However, the business is also solely responsible for all ongoing annual
costs, such as installation, insurance, performance monitoring and
management, which can amount to a minimum of R88 500 per year, along
with exposure to the performance risk of the system,” explains Alheit.
BANK FINANCING
Responding to increased interest by industrial and manufacturing energy
consumers in solar PV solutions, several local banks have structured
innovative finance agreements. Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank and FNB
all offer loans for solar PV installations, with primary instruments being
term loans, instalment sales agreements, asset and property finance,
mortgage-backed business loans and access bonds. The lending period
for commercial installations ranges between five and 10 years, while the
collateral requirement for the debt funding is often taken against the
underlying property and the system.
“The challenge with receiving finance from the banking sector is that
since they don’t specialise in solar PV ownership, the solar production
risk will remain with you and your monthly repayments will be fixed,
irrespective of the system’s performance. Further, you could be using up
valuable credit lines with the bank,” concludes Alheit.
SOLAR PV AND THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME
Read this article for a new perspective on the potential long-term
value that you can create by installing a solar PV system in your home.
KEY TAKE-OUTS
- Why the reliability, affordability and sustainability of solar PV makes it
a viable and valuable addition to your home
- Trends in the South African residential property market
- Current challenges caused by Eskom’s service
- Saleability and sales premium of adding a PV system to your home
39

ENERGY
POWER
FROM BITS TO WATTS
According to The Global Carbon Atlas, South Africa is the 12th biggest emitter of greenhouse
gases on the planet. It is clear that the country needs to reduce its carbon emissions and
accelerate the growth of renewable energy across the region to ensure an affordable and
reliable energy supply.
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY
CONSUMPTION IN SA
DMRE, SANEDI and UCT recently published a ground-breaking report on residential energy
use. The study assesses the impact of energy efficient appliances on electrical energy
consumption in South Africa.
“In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 50% of the population still
don’t have access to electricity,” said Huang Su, CEO of South
Africa Digital Energy Business, Huawei. “Beyond that, thousands
of hospitals and schools don’t have a stable power supply. This can
easily become disastrous.”
While South Africa is the leading power on the continent when it comes
to power generation, Su points out that it’s currently unable to meet all its
electricity demands all the time. “There is still a massive gap to be bridged,”
he says, “We have to ensure we provide sufficient electricity to every
African household.”
To achieve this, Huawei is backing renewable energy coupled with
technology-driven data and intelligence. As Su points out, renewable energy
is much cheaper than fossil-fuel-based options, with a kilowatt-hour of solar
power costing less than a rand in South Africa. It is clear then, that solar power
should – and likely will – play a large role in the world’s future power mix.
That is just one of the reasons why Huawei has invested heavily in
smart photovoltaic (PV) solutions. By integrating AI and Cloud, Huawei
has incorporated its ICT expertise with PV for optimal power generation.
This allows for the construction of highly efficient, safe, and reliable solar
power plants with smart O&M and grid supporting capabilities.
“Huawei is already a household name in the ICT world,” Su says. “All
ICT requires power supply and Huawei has always provided that to
one degree or another. Our efforts in the solar PV space are simply an
extension of that.”
“Over time, Huawei will deploy more and more scalable power stations,”
he adds. “These power stations can be managed and maintained online,
further reducing their carbon footprint.”
“We are uniquely positioned to bring electricity, power supply, and data
management together,” he concludes. “The journey from bits to watts is
accelerating and we plan on leading it.”
On a global basis, the residential sector consumes one fifth
of the world’s energy (IEA 2018:2) and has a large untapped
potential to benefit from the multiple positive economic and
social impacts of energy efficiency. These benefits include increased
disposable income, poverty alleviation, improved health and wellbeing,
better energy security and macro-economic benefits.
Improved energy efficiency means that less energy is used while
maintaining the same level of service or increasing service levels
while maintaining energy use. In the residential context, efficiency
improvements may be affected both by investments in technical
interventions and by changes in behaviour.
According to StatsSA, the residential sector in South Africa comprised of
approximately 16.9-million households in 2016, of which about 86% were
electrified. Electrified households consume roughly 17% of the country’s
total grid electrical energy to provide energy services (DOE 2018:47), the
most significant of which is resistive water heating. During peak periods, the
residential sector accounts for up to 35% of national electricity demand.
South African households are heterogeneous, and electricity use is
not well characterised by averages. Appliance ownership, age, utilisation
patterns and monthly spend on electricity all varies with household
income. Poverty remains high and limits household electricity and
appliance purchases. Almost 55.5% of the population were living below
the Upper-Bound Poverty Line.
The study found that South Africa’s Standards and Labelling
(S&L) Programme was effective in achieving meaningful savings in
appliance energy consumption between 2015 and 2020. The S&L
Programme provides information about an appliance’s energy efficiency
with an easy-to-read label displayed on the front of the appliance.
The initiative will continue to provide energy savings into the future as
appliances reach their end of life, and consumers purchase newer, more
modern and energy efficient appliances. The highest energy savings were
seen in refrigeration by a hefty margin, especially in low- and middleincome
homes.
In 2018, Berkeley Lab developed the South Africa Energy Demand
Resource (EDR) model in The Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP), in
collaboration with the DMRE, SANEDI and the UNDP. The EDR provides a
comprehensive forecast of the energy savings and emissions reductions
that could result from the implementation of minimum energy
performance standards.
DEBATE BUSTERS
• While dishwashers are likely to be more energy efficient than
handwashing, this is only true for a fully-loaded dishwasher.
• Induction stoves often consume large amounts of standby power and
ultimately may consume more energy than an equivalent thermal plate.
• A washing machine’s energy efficiency is typically measured based on
energy used during its longer cycles, which is rarely used in practice.
The more popular shorter and convenient cycle times tend to be less
energy efficient.
READ REPORT
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/the upshot
TOP 10 TRENDS OF DIGITAL POWER | Power Digitalisation, Creating New
Values | Whitepaper released by Digital Power Industry Work Group, Huawei Technologies
With the rapid development of the digital world, the number of data centers and sites are
increasing rapidly. Digital and intelligent technologies can effectively improve power generation,
maintenance, and energy efficiency, helping to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.
In the coming decade, digital power will be a vital component in the evolution and upgrade of vast
domains from ICT to electrical vehicles and solar power. Digital power modernisation will be at the
foundation and will be applicable to large diaspora from rural, suburban, and diverse industries
such as mining and smart factories.
In December 2020, a number of authoritative experts and scholars in the digital power industry
established a workgroup to discuss the energy digital transformation, and jointly released the
Whitepaper on “Top 10 Trends of Digital Power” to provide strategic reference for the transformation
and upgrade of the digital power industry.
09
READ REPORT
[ECO]NOMIC THOUGHT
greeneconomy/the upshot
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Research Project Report by SANEDI, DMRE and UCT [May 2021]
In this study the electrical energy consumption of low-, middle- and high-income households
is characterised within a South African Residential Sector LEAP model. Within each of these
income groups, appliance penetration rates together with appliance average annual energy
consumption estimates are used to approximate the national annual electricity consumption
of the sector.
The disaggregation of energy services and appliances within the model, expands upon those of
the EDR model, and includes lighting, cooking, refrigeration, dishwashers, washing machines,
tumble dryers, water heating, space heating, televisions, pool pumps, air conditioning and other
plug loads.
28 61 63
Survey
findings
LEAP
model
structure
Assessment
of the S&L
programme
Key
recommendations
40
41

CIRCULARITY
CIRCULARITY
Circular Economy in Energy:
WASTE HEAT TO
ELECTRICITY
In this article we highlight the opportunities in a waste stream
often overlooked – waste heat. While not a traditional commodity
we would think of under the waste label, it is nonetheless just
as important to recycle and perhaps even more economically
viable to implement.
BY CHRIS WHYTE, ACEN*
This waste stream is found in multiple sectors like water,
energy, manufacturing and agriculture. Waste heat is a vast,
underutilised, and sustainable source of energy that has been
largely overlooked in the past due to technological constraints and
financial barriers. Heat sources can vary from waste heat escaping up
flue stacks from coal-fired boilers through to hot water or steam from
diesel engines in ships, mining applications, steel furnaces, boilers, and
manufacturing industries.
Heat is an essential ingredient to many processes and the key
industries contributing the greatest emissions and carbon footprint are
those associated with the bulk of our electricity from burning coal, the
petrochemical industries, steel manufacture, cement production and
other manufacturing industries. Huge energy reserves are used to create
the heat required for these processes, so it simply makes sense to catch the
waste heat off the end of the process and get it back into the grid.
The latest technological innovations and systems are extremely efficient.
When we think of the extremes of waste heat production one visualises
the old ’80s movies of mid-western steel workers in the USA sweating over
furnaces of molten steel. The reality now is that escape temperatures as
low as 70°C can be harvested for conversion back to energy and this would
service most conventional manufacturing facilities.
Also, recent innovation and development in the application of organic
Rankine cycle (ORC) and axial turbine systems allows for smaller-scale
systems that can have modular energy outputs of anything from 75kW to
500kW with a return on investment at 36-48 months producing energy
cheaper than current coal-based electricity. Benefits are that this energy
is more reliable than renewables (the sun does not always shine, and the
wind does not always blow) and provides reliable base load electricity.
Companies looking for clean
affordable power that have a
waste-heat source should consider
implementing these systems for their
power generation.
The additional extension of this technology is that one can integrate
these systems with your own heat source from incineration of problematic
waste streams such as agricultural and forestry residues, plastics, and tyre
waste. ORC systems can be used as small-scale concentrated solar power
plants thus dramatically reducing the capital expenditure of the larger
systems conventionally deployed globally.
Simply put, the organic Rankine cycle and axial turbine systems capture
waste-heat from different manufacturing processes and like a steam turbine
turn this energy into electricity. As the ORC system uses a refrigerant gas
that boils and expands at very low temperatures, the system will operate at
temperatures between 70 and 150°C, which is a fraction of the heat required
for conventional Rankine cycle and steam turbine systems.
Another great feature is that this is a closed loop system so no
contaminants can enter the system, and this extends the life of the
plant. ORC systems produce emission-free clean power from waste-heat
– it’s as simple as that. The waste-heat-to-energy market is set to exceed
$30-billion by 2025 and yet the uptake is still low. This is largely due to a
lack of knowledge of available technologies and the incorrect perception
that this is only applicable to large-scale waste heat applications like steel
manufacturing and coal power.
The Rankine cycle is a thermodynamic cycle that converts heat into work.
The heat is supplied to a closed loop, which typically uses water as a working
Energy efficiency will always
play a role in combatting climate
change because no matter the process,
the more efficient it is, the less impact
it has on the planet.
fluid. The Rankine cycle based on water provides approximately 85% of
worldwide electricity production. Steam-to-electricity has been around
since modern industrialisation, but even ORC systems have been around for
over 100 years. However, the latter have only really been deployed at any
scale since the turn of the century.
A resurgence of interest in the research and development of ORC as a
viable small-scale solution for electrical production developed after the
successful completion of the 1MW APS Saguaro PT plant in Arizona, USA
in 2006. Since then, our 21st century engineering skills have continued to
refine and develop these systems to the current applications where we can
harvest low-volume, low-heat outputs with compact modular units with a
footprint as small as 4m2 and outputs of up to 75kW.
As the ORC and axial turbine systems use this waste-heat, it adds to the
cooling of the hot water or air, and this helps the industries where they
need to cool processes and less heat will go into the atmosphere. Coolingto-power
is an effective means of increasing energy efficiency due to these
systems consuming the waste heat as fuel, which significantly reduces the
cooling load (70-100%). This means, in addition to generating emissionfree
power, the parasitic cooling load also is reduced or even eliminated,
further reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Companies looking for clean affordable power that have a waste-heat
source should consider implementing these systems for their power
generation. Being modular, this decreases financial risk and allows for
scaling. Some companies that I work with will provide free evaluations
and even financing options allowing the customer to avoid any initial
capital cost with the ability to buy the power from their own waste heat at
cheaper rates than grid-based options.
Increasing energy efficiency is the single easiest step in pursuing a
carbon-neutral future. Using an existing resource – heat – to provide
power and cooling reduces fossil fuel consumption and reliance on the
grid. ORC and axial turbine power generation is a sustainable technology
that reduces the amount of energy consumed (fuel) and energy wasted
(heat). Energy efficiency will always play a role in combatting climate
change because no matter the process, the more efficient it is, the less
impact it has on the planet.
With the reliability and cost-effectiveness of modern systems, wasteheat
recovery solutions such as cooling-to-power are both profitable and
practical. With the world eyeing ways to shift toward clean energy and with
the help of incentives promoting sustainability like the local Carbon Tax
(Act 15 of 2019), cooling-to-power is primed to be a disruptive technology
in the energy efficiency and commercial cooling market – effectively
changing the way corporations see and use waste-heat.
Don’t miss The Circular Economy Show every Wednesday at
1:00pm. Chris Whyte discusses all things circular with Gordon
Brown and guests. Each episode provides an in-depth discussion
based on sectoral topics.
* African Circular Economy Network
42
43

WASTE
WASTE
THE ROAD TO
SUSTAINABILITY
The use of waste materials in
South African road construction
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has recently been
involved in several new research initiatives geared towards providing
alternative waste material products, specifically to be used by the
asphalt pavement industry in South Africa.
The research focus of the CSIR has been centred around creating
a more inclusive and sustainable approach to future road
construction, particularly through increasing the potential for job
creation, increasing economic benefits, producing better performing
roads and trying to resolve South Africa’s environmental challenges.
One of the CSIR’s recent successes has been around the adoption of
locally produced waste alternatives (opposed to importing costly
conventional road and waste products).
CASE STUDY ON THE SUSTAINABLE USE
OF RECYCLED TYRES
Construction of a road section in Roodepoort, Gauteng
In 2019, the CSIR in collaboration with Much Asphalt (Pty) Ltd successfully
constructed a road trial section in Roodepoort using locally available
micro-fillers and recycled tyres. The project came to fruition when both
products under development were successfully paved into a controlled
road trial section, after a year of combined laboratory development and
rigorous evaluation.
The 200m long trial section includes a 60mm modified enrobés à
module élevé (EME) base layer and a 40mm modified bitumen-rubber
asphalt layer that was constructed over a cleaned gravel base. This layer
was treated with a SS60 tack-coat prior to paving. The location of the
trial section specifically allows for continual performance monitoring,
which includes up-to-date details on the distribution and volume of
traffic that moves across the section.
Georges Mturi, CSIR’s project manager speaking on the success
of the project: “During both the development and trial phase, several
performance characteristics were evaluated as predictors of in-situ
performance, which served as the baseline for the performance
evaluation that were set to run on a three-month basis for a period of
one year after construction.” In this regard, he adds “The evaluations
and visual inspections have shown that after nine months of traffic and
environmental exposure, the layers are performing as expected.”
44
Construction of road trial section made
from recycled tyres.
To date, no edge breaking is present where heavy vehicles are moving
onto and off the surfacing, no permanent deformation is present on the
surfacing (particularly at stopping locations and where regular vehicle
turning takes place) and, lastly, there are no signs of any deflection or
temperature-induced crack formations taking place.
Joanne Muller, regional laboratory manager at Much Asphalt says, “The
developed and trialled technologies aimed at improving the performance
properties of standard 10/20 based EME, while also acting as a viable
replacement product for standard styrene-butadiene styrene (SBS)
modified A-E2 binder, without detracting from pavement performance.
These are deemed effective as they can assist industry practitioners in
their endeavour to provide long-lasting pavements to society.”
Overall, the project is aimed at assisting bitumen users, asphalt
manufacturers and other intermediary bitumen suppliers. It is expected
that the technology will enable the correction of poor bitumen to
pass performance specifications. Additionally, the technology may
also improve the performance of standard bitumen from one grade to
another, especially in the event of national bitumen shortages. It is also
important to highlight that a major benefit of this invention would be an
increase in the recycling rates of waste tyres in South Africa, which will
ultimately lead to better-performing roads and a greener environment.
CASE STUDY ON THE USE OF WASTE PLASTIC
Construction of road sections on Road P159/1 (R80) in City of Tshwane, Gauteng
The CSIR, along with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI),
as well as the plastics and roads industry, have recently worked on a
demonstration project in South Africa to evaluate the feasibility of using
waste plastic in road construction. The project aimed to identify lowvalue
plastic types and evaluate their potential usage in asphalt road
surfacing in accordance with South African road design standards and
environmental conditions.
The culmination point for the project was the construction of
Gauteng’s first “waste plastic” road trial section, currently located on
Construction of road trial section
made from waste plastic.
the R80. This trial section was used by the CSIR’s Smart Mobility Cluster
for proof-testing plastic-road technology in South Africa. The CSIR
has to date successfully completed a full-scale research investigation
and laboratory programme that was validated through Heavy Vehicle
Simulator (HVS) testing.
The project’s sponsors and key stakeholders from the DSI, Roadmac
Surfacing (Pty) Ltd (Raubex Group) and Much Asphalt were crucial in
supporting the CSIR’s project team throughout construction.
Although technical findings from the project are still currently being
published, the CSIR’s project team stated: “The project has successfully
showed potential in using specified waste plastic materials to design
rut resistant asphalt mixes without compromising on other asphalt
performance requirements. The approach requires the adoption of
necessary criteria to establish a consistent source of waste plastic.”
The research project highlights the need to understand the
mechanism that improves rut resistance to ensure that this benefit
is realised through controlling performance criteria and handling of
the asphalt mix. The research identified requirements for measuring
additional asphalt properties that would quantify the contribution of
the asphalt layer to safety, health and environmental sustainability.
Project team included: Georges AJ Mturi, Johan S O’Connell, Imraan
Akhalwaya, Theresa George, Vincent O Ojijo, Tladi Mofokeng, Nonzwakazi
Ncolosi, Michandre Smit and Linda Godfrey.
The end of the road
Feedback from these case studies is aimed at encouraging government
and road industry stakeholders to adopt the use of waste materials for
environmental benefits, as well as for the improved performance of road
surfaces. The technologies will require the development of application
guidelines to promote a better understanding of the suitability of waste
materials for road projects and therefore lower the risk of premature
failure of roads.
45

WASTE
SA PREPARES FOR
CLEAN-UP & RECYCLING SA WEEK
Plastics SA is calling on South Africans to participate in the annual Clean-Up & Recycle SA week from
13 to 18 September. Highlights of this week will be River Clean-Up Day (15 September), National
Recycling Day (17 September) and the International Coastal Clean-Up Day (18 September)
BY PLASTICS SA
Apart from raising awareness and supporting clean-up initiatives
by donating refuse bags, gloves and other equipment needed,
this will also be the 25th year that Plastics SA will be coordinating
South Africa’s participation in the International Coastal Clean-Up Day –
the world’s biggest volunteer effort for ocean health.
“Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week has become a highlight on our country’s
environmental calendar. This annual public awareness week is supported
by all the packaging streams in South Africa and encourages citizens,
corporates and municipalities to help remove all visible litter from our
country’s neighbourhoods and streets, rivers, streams, beaches and
oceans,” explains Douw Steyn, Plastics SA’s sustainability director.
Plastics SA is hoping that this year will see a repeat of the huge success of
last year’s Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week. Even though Covid-19 restrictions
prohibited the large groups at public clean-ups and gatherings that have
become synonymous with this public awareness and volunteer effort, the
spirit of camaraderie, positivity and willingness to make a difference in our
environment, definitely made this one of the most memorable years.
“Like last year, we are once again advocating that South Africans be
eco-warriors in their own neighbourhoods by picking up any litter on our
beaches or strewn in streets, rivers, streams or canals. Where community
clean-ups are planned, we urge the organisers to adhere to safety
protocols by limiting the numbers of volunteers participating, ensuring
that participants wear their masks, checking that they maintain social
distancing and that enough sanitising stations are in place,” says Steyn.
Highlights of the 2020 Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week included the launch
of the Inkwazi Isu (Fish Eagle Project) by the KwaZulu-Natal Marine Waste
Network South Coast and the participation of Barbara Creecy, Minister
of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in a
beach clean-up at Dakota beach, Umbogintwini in KwaZulu-Natal, where
697 bags were collected with a weight of over 2.4 tons.
In the Cape provinces, several hundreds of kilometres of the country’s
coastline were cleaned in more than 72 audited clean-ups, while several
more non-audited, informal clean-ups took place during the week. Fifteen
4x4 clubs hosted their clean-ups, as did several diving groups who hosted
underwater clean-ups. In the Cape provinces, twenty tons of litter were
removed, separated and sent for recycling on International Coastal
Clean-Up Day.
“South Africa and the rest of the world continues to go through a very
difficult period in our history as we are still trying to beat the ravaging
effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns, riots and public disturbances.
However, each year the Clean-Up & Recycle SA week manages to restore
hope as South Africans of all ages and walks of life unite their efforts and
volunteer their time and energy to help make South Africa a brighter,
cleaner place for all,” Steyn concludes.
Like last year, we are once
again advocating that South
Africans be eco-warriors in their own
neighbourhoods by picking up any litter
on our beaches or strewn in streets,
rivers, streams or canals.
C
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For more information about Clean-Up & Recycle SA week and where organised clean-ups will take place during
September 2021, visit www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za or www.plasticsinfo.co.za
46

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