4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Just Energy Transition

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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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    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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    The Role of Social Impact Assessments in Skills Development and Sustainable Communities in South Africa’s Just Energy Transition from Coal: A Study of Carolina and Kriel Mining Communities in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-10) Chidzungu, Thandiwe; Wafer, Alex
    The study investigated the role of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) in addressing skill development needs and community sustainability issues in relation to a Just Energy Transition (JET) away from coal to the renewable energy sector in the Kriel and Carolina coal mining communities in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It had the following objectives: To explore the sustainability perspectives in the energy transition from coal to a low-carbon economy. Secondly, to examine the skill development needs within the energy transition from coal to the renewable energy sector in the coal industry in the two coal mining communities under study. Thirdly, to evaluate the potential of SIA as a strategy for assessing and addressing the social impacts of an energy transition from coal to the renewable energy sector on the two affected communities. Lastly, to recommend SIA as a policy entry point that the government can leverage in the Just Energy Transition policy framework in South Africa. A qualitative research approach, including quantitative techniques, was adopted. The primary data was collected through online and physical, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. A desktop study was used to collect secondary data. 230 participants, comprised of 60 experts and 170 community members, were engaged in the study. The participants were sampled using systematic, purposeful, random, and convenient sampling techniques. The researcher attended six webinars, two conferences, and two community forums on coal mining and renewable energy, where she gleaned some of her data and met some of the study participants. The Theory of Change was used as the theoretical framework. Findings on community sustainability issues in the two study areas reveal a lack of public participation, an increase in unemployment, and poor policy enforcement in land reform, affecting agriculture as the energy shift from coal to the low-carbon economy unfolds. They also point to cultural disruptions linked to possible internal relocations to make way for Renewable Energy (RE) infrastructure and gender disparities in economic participation that can threaten community sustainability. On a positive note, findings alongside the reviewed literature point to the growth of new economic opportunities linked to JET both in the affected regions and elsewhere, further creating employment opportunities. However, jobs created elsewhere may see relocations of the active group, affecting community stability and hence sustainability in the sending coal areas. Findings also highlight the perceived improvement in environmental sustainability linked to a reduction in pollution as clean RE technology is introduced, which improves health and agricultural yields as water, air, and soil quality are improved, thereby impacting community sustainability positively. With regards to skills development needs, the findings show low levels of educational attainment among the youth, a high rate of school dropouts coupled with poor school attendance, and a poor establishment of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, all of which will impact skill development during the energy transition. The study submits that the advocacy role of SIA can influence a rethink of curriculum design and fuel the creation of a skills needs assessment in line with the vocational system and Renewable Energy (RE) sector labour market demand. Moreover, it advocates for local action plans to support skills development through adult literacy centres for school dropouts and Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) to promote school attendance and the taking of STEM subjects targeted at females in schools and vocational colleges, who are disadvantaged compared to their male counterparts. With regards to the potential of SIA as an effective tool for addressing the social impacts of an energy transition, the study demonstrates that SIA can facilitate the identification of the social impacts and promote a deeper understanding of these impacts through its grassroot-level engagements. As well as facilitate the addressing of these social costs through sector-literate SIA teams, multi stakeholder collaborations, and community engagements. Furthermore, in the evaluation of developmental projects, SIA highlights the gender and age constraints of the social change process that need to be considered in JET’s socio-economic impact mitigation efforts. The findings further point to the consistency of SIA with the Grassroots Theory of Change, which articulates that change is made through collective action by communities regarding a problem or problems affecting their lives (Stachowiack, 2013). SIA is also demonstrated as a potential tool for strategic planning to identify current needs and opportunities that resonate with the "Policy Windows Theory of Change" by John Kingdon, which involves launching in-depth investigations of problems and providing constituent feedback as one application technique for advocacy (Coffman, 2007). All these attributes afford SIA the opportunity to fuel distributive, procedural, and rectificatory justice as the JET unfolds, making it better placed as an entry point to socially oriented policies. This positions SIA as a strategic tool that can assist with impact mitigation for JET-related social costs associated with skill development needs and community sustainability issues. The study, however, condemns the once-off process accorded to SIA and advocates for its use as an ongoing process as the JET unfolds to allow for continued monitoring and assessments and, hence, effective impact mitigation.
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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.