Wits Business School (ETDs)

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    Implications of the just energy transition for employees in the South African coal mining sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Njokwana, Zukiswa
    South Africa’s economy is heavily reliant on coal-fired power which greatly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, hence the country’s commitment to shift to renewable energy by 2030 as per the Paris agreement. However, this shift has the potential to leave employees in the coal mining sector uncertain of their jobs, thus, the need to implement the Just Energy Transition (JET) which aims to institute a just and fair transition for coal mining sector employees and affected communities. This research explored implications of the JET for employees in the South African mining energy sector in Mpumalanga province. It assessed employment benefits and challenges of the JET, and also examined forms of organisational employee support for employees in the coal mining sector in South Africa. Ten participants were interviewed and the collected data was analysed using thematic analysis. The data incorporated evidence from participants which revealed that there are employment benefits and challenges of the JET for employees in the coal mining sector in South Africa. The data further exhibited that coal mining sector organisations can play a role in supporting employees in the transition process. In conclusion, the study contributed in revealing the JET implications on the South African coal mining sector employees related to employment benefits and challenges, and organisational support mechanisms. Another revelation is that there is a lack of strong awareness about the JET among employees which implies inadequate organisational communication to employees about the JET. This is a threat to the implementation of a just transition for employees
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    The successful implementation of LNG aggregation for market development
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Moodley, Letitia Anthia; Young, Bruce
    In the context of the global transition towards sustainability, most countries still grapple with energy security issues and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels as an energy source. Natural gas is proposed as a significant source of energy within global future efforts to diversify the energy system. The development of the natural gas market is therefore imperative to achieve the global energy transition goals as LNG has been identified as an ideal transitionary fuel (Hafeznia, Pourfayaz, & Maleki, 2017; Mohammad, Mohamad Ishak, Mustapa, & Ayodele, 2021; Safari, Das, Langhelle, Roy, & Assadi, 2019). This research report assesses the types of LNG aggregation implemented by countries and the effectiveness of the implementation of LNG aggregation as an energy policy instrument. The determinants of the identified criteria, based on the 4-As framework, were collected, and normalised via the unitization method. Multi-criteria analysis was utilized for the aggregation of the determinants, allowing for the analysis of the function which, in this research report, is the success of LNG aggregation implementation as energy policy. The analysis provides for the top performing country based on the indicators identified for each criterion of the 4As framework, from which, the success factors of LNG aggregation are unpacked. Sixty-four countries are identified as trading in LNG, of which, eleven were identified as having implemented LNG aggregation strategies. The criteria of the 4A’s framework, affordability, availability, acceptability, and applicability, are utilised to define a set of indicators which allowed the eleven countries to be ranked based on a performance score. The United States, ranking first, implements a block aggregation strategy which has been complimented by the country’s success factors. The country has a mature legal environment which has provided reassurance to the global market and resulted in the attraction of investment, transforming the country into a net exporter of energy. The United States has flexibility in its policies which allowed for the production of non- conventional Shale gas. Russia, ranking second, implements single buyer and brokerage aggregation strategies which has enabled the country to become a significant participant within the global LNG market. This successful implementation of the aggregation strategy is underpinned by the vertical integration of the state-owned gas company. The third ranked country, Trinidad and Tobago, has successfully implemented a single buyer, single seller aggregation strategy which allowed the infant market to develop over time. The country strives towards the ease of doing business for global participants, provides Created by Terri Carmichael at Wits Business School; terri.carmichael@wbs.ac.za iii government support and the ability to absorb market fluctuations. Lastly, Singapore implements a single-buyer aggregation strategy. The success factors, of which, have been the countries complimentary incentives for investment and trade, government support, policy driven incentives, a well-developed legal system and agility within policy