OVERVIEW Energy Fuel
OVERVIEW Energy Fuel cells are in the spotlight. Sector Insight The Platinum Valley Special Economic Zone will encourage renewable energy. Image: North-West University One of the key focus areas for the planned Platinum Valley Special Economic Zone (PVSEZ) is the promotion of renewable energy. The PVSEZ is in the Mogwase industrial area in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and has already attracted the interest of nine investor companies. Five companies are currently operating on the site. Most of South Africa’s energy requirements are met by Eskom’s coal-fired power stations but the drive to start producing renewable energy is growing, and researchers and companies in the North West are investigating several options. Big mining companies are among the biggest users of energy and many belong to the Energy Intensive Users of Southern Africa. Bioethanol, biodiesel and methane gas from waste and renewable resources are among the types of biofuels under discussion. Sunflower seeds and sweet sorghum are suitable for converting into biofuel and bioethanol. The South African Energy Resource Institute (Saneri) Chair in biofuel research is held by a professor on the Potchefstroom campus of North-West University (NWU). Silversands Energy is a North West company that produces ethanol fuel for an ethanol-powered bus made by Scania South Africa for the City of Johannesburg. The North West normally has about 300 days of sunshine per year, so solar power has great potential, and there is a programme aimed at converting bush that is encroaching onto arable land into biomass in the form of biocoal (TOR) or briquettes. The Engineering Department of NWU regularly competes in an international solar car challenge. South Africa’s nuclear-research centre is located at Pelindaba Online Resources Energy Intensive Users of Southern Africa: www.eiug.org.za South African Renewable Energy Council: www.sarec.org.za Southern African Alternative Energy Association: www.saaea.org Southern African Bioenergy Association: www.saba.za.org near Hartbeespoort Dam and is run by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. The NWU Nuclear Engineering Department is the only one of its kind in the country, and the National Department of Science and Technology has allocated a chair in Nuclear Engineering to the university. The head office of the Minerals Council South Africa is powered by 40 ounces of platinum and natural gas. A fuel cell at the Johannesburg site of the national mine owners’ association is South Africa and Africa’s first base load installation. Finding new uses for platinum provides good news for the North West which has huge numbers of people employed on mines. Several companies are working on fuel cell technology. The mines and smelters around Rustenburg and the industrial plants in Brits use a lot of energy. They are served by Transnet Pipelines, which has recently made a big investment in the New Multi-Product Pipeline. The NMPP is built to pump three-million litres of product per hour over a distance of 715km, from Durban to the industrial hub of the country. ■ NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2020/21 38
LISTING North West Provincial Government A guide to North West Province’s government departments. Visit www.nwpg.gov.za Office of the Premier Premier: Professor Tebogo Job Mokgoro Garona Building, South Wing, 3rd Floor, Dr James Moroka Drive, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 388 3040 | Fax: +27 18 388 3008 Website: www.nwpg.gov.za Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC: Desbo Mohono Agricentre Building, Cnr Dr James Moroka Drive and Stadium Road, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 389 5111 | Fax: +27 18 392 4377 Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation MEC: Tsotso Tlhapi House No 1, Lowe Complex, Modiri Molema Road, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 388 4494 | Fax: 086 651 7885 Department of Community Safety and Transport Management MEC: Sello Lehari Tirelo Building, Albert Lithuli Drive, Mahikeng 2745 Tel: +27 18 200 8401 Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs HOD: Phihadu Ephraim Motoko NWDC Building, cnr Provident House and University Drive, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 388 2891 | Fax: 086 620 7825 Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism MEC: Keneitswe Mosenogi NWDC Building, 1st Floor, Cnr Provident Street and University Drive, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 387 7700 | Fax: +27 18 384 9440 Department of Education MEC: Mmaphefo Lucy Matsemela 2nd Floor, Garona Building, Dr James Moroka Drive, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 388 2970 | Fax: +27 18 384 5016 Department of Health MEC: Madoda Sambatha Cnr 1st Street and Sekame Road, Mahikeng 2745 Tel: +27 18 391 4000 Department of Public Works and Roads MEC: Gaoage Oageng Molapisi Ngaka Modiri Molema Road, Old Parliament Complex, Provincial Head Office, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 388 1435 | Fax: +27 18 388 4021 Department of Social Development MEC: Boitumelo Theodora Moiloa Provident House, University Drive, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 388 2000 | Fax: +27 18 494 1213 Provincial Treasury MEC: Motlalepula Rosho Garona Building, East Wing, 2nd Floor, Cnr James Moroka and University Drive, Mmabatho 2735 Tel: +27 18 388 4441 | Fax: +27 18 388 1901 39 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2020/21
