Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Just Energy Transition

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    Coal and the Environment: Some implications for South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Makhombothi, Ntuthuko; Rangasamy, Logan
    South Africa’s coal industry faces an existential threat from the need to transition to a low carbon economy. This study analyses the implications of the Just Energy Transition (JET) on the coal industry of South Africa using mixed methods approach and secondary data from industry reports, government reports and academic sources. The study demonstrates the significant economic contribution of coal to the GDP, employment and energy security, while evaluating the JET framework against international principles. Although the JET framework is largely aligned with international principles, there are some areas for improvement. The decommissioning of the Komati power station illustrates the shortcoming in the distributive, restorative and redistributive justice. The findings suggest a need for a balanced JET that ensures economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability. Further research is required to develop transition pathways that mitigate against the negative socioeconomic consequences for coal dependent communities
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    Leveraging the Energy Transition for greater black entrepreneurial participation in the Liquid Fuels sector in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Tlou, Dineo; Soko, Milford
    Background: The Liquid Fuels Industry in South Africa is a key contributor to the economy and development agenda of the country. The industry has been dominated by large multinational and privately-owned companies that control and own some of the factors of production. Purpose: This study aims to examine how the energy transition can be leveraged for greater Black entrepreneurial participation in the liquid fuels sector in South Africa. Design, methodology and approach: A qualitative study was conducted, and primary data was collected using semi-structured interviews with 14 Black entrepreneurs engaged in the liquid fuels sector; primarily sourced through the National Energy Wholesalers Association of South Africa (NAEWASA) and the South Africa Petroleum Industry Association of South Africa (SAPIA) as well as 4 active and former Black business executives in the liquid fuels industry. A combined total of 18 interviews was conducted. The method of analysis employed was thematic analysis to allow for further probing of participants. Findings: The results indicate that Black entrepreneurs in the liquid fuels sector were aware of the energy transition, related activities as well as potential opportunities. They were, however, of the view that it was premature for South Africa considering the structural challenges. Business executives expressed a similar understanding of the energy transition but were aligned in that it needed to be paced for each country. Additionally, entrepreneurs experienced barriers to participation that impede their ability to be active participants in the sector. The results also indicate that the sector has skills requirements to enable entrepreneurial participation in the Energy Transition
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    The socio-economic impact of Eskom’s Just Energy Transition on the town of eMalahleni, Mpumalanga Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mamoleki, Maila
    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the need to reduce global warming by lowering temperatures. This involves the reduction in fossil power plants which are a major source of global warming. South Africa (SA) relies heavily on fossil power plants and Eskom is now transitioning toward the reduction of fossil energy generation. However, the impact of this transition is not yet understood fully. This calls for research into the socio-economic impacts of the transition, specifically in the town of eMalahleni, which is the largest source of coal in SA. Understanding these impacts will therefore assist in designing a transition which minimises the negative impacts and maximises positive impacts. The study adopted a qualitative approach with a case study to understand the socio-economic impacts of the Just Energy Transition (JET) in eMalahleni. Descriptive and thematic analyses were utilised. The study found that this JET would result in a loss of income and jobs, increase social ills and the expansion of ‘ghost towns’ in SA. The results suggest that this impact could be mitigated by using the gradual approach, upskilling plant employees, providing financial support and ensuring fairness between those who will lose their income and jobs and those who will gain jobs and income thus the losers can be compensated. It was concluded that the negative socio-economic impacts of the JET in eMalahleni are inevitable. People of eMalahleni are going to face the negative consequences from the energy transition. It was also concluded that there are positive impacts on the people of eMalahleni from the energy transition such as the improvement in the environment and health of people due to less carbon emissions. However, there are ways to mitigate these impacts, which are far outweighed by the positive impacts the change in power generation would bring. From the research, it is clear that a slow transition would ensure fairness and justice for all employees involved.