Enel Green Power steps up for women’s employment in Northern Cape Province

Enel Green Power (EGP) is committed to improving the lives of people in the communities in which it operates and for this reason, as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSI) initiatives, we have partnered with the Lean Herbal Incubator Programme in the Northern Cape Province. The programme focuses on growing export-quality herbs to be used for various purposes, including cooking, beauty products, eco-friendly cleaning products and health products Achieving a better and more sustainable future for all To this end, our participation in the programme addresses the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, which are designed as a blueprint for nations to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. In particular, the programme focuses on SDG 7, “Decent Work and Economic Growth”: in other words, fostering sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth, and full and productive employment in acceptable conditions. "Partnering with the programme will increase employment opportunities in the region, particularly for women, through sustainable farming practices in the John Taolo Gaetsewe Municipality in the Northern Cape, which is close to our Adams Solar Plant.” Lizeka Dlepu, Head of Community Relations and Economic Development at Enel Green Power RSA Ensuring prosperity in the region The decision to partner with the Lean Herbal Incubator Programme was based on a Community Needs Analysis Study that identified agriculture, mining and tourism as the main economic drivers in the region. Subsequent to this, agricultural skills such as gardening and farming were identified as crucial for the sustainability of communities in the region. Furthermore, crop farming, processing, medical planting, harvesting and related activities were identified by the municipality as potential sectors that could be developed to ensure continued sustainability and prosperity in the region. Eradicating every form of extreme poverty With high levels of poverty and unemployment in the region, the Lean Herbal Incubator Programme has the potential to be a major socio-economic and self-sustenance stimulator by educating communities on how to produce food, while caring for the environment and focusing on health and wellness. “In doing so, we believe this will address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to eradicate every form of extreme poverty including the lack of food, and (SDG 6) clean drinking water and sanitation,” says Lizeka Dlepu. To achieve this, there is a strong drive to find solutions to new threats caused by a variety of events such as, for example, climate change. To this end, the goals focus not only people and communities living in poverty but also on the services these people and communities rely on. Driving skills development and overcoming irrigation challenges To date, the programme has empowered 21 female-owned cooperatives located in 15 villagesin the region. Participants have received management skills and herbal technical training to assist in growing their businesses, as well as seeds and seedlings to be planted at their respective project sites. In addition, EGP RSA has installed solar-powered boreholes at one of the locations to ensure that an adequate water supply is available. Lizeka Dlepu explains: “The cooperative with the installed solar-powered borehole pump is capable of pumping up to 2,500 litres of water daily, and where possible, the boreholes are used to provide water to the greater community as well.” Surviving weather fluctuations and water shortages The agriculture sector is important in driving South Africa’s economy. According to figures released in late 2020 by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors’ seasonally adjusted and annualized growth rate sat at 18,5%, valued at R79,4 billion, and contributed 0.6% to overall economic growth. The participants in the Lean Herbal Incubator Programme were hard-hit by extreme weather conditions and water shortages in the province in 2020, which saw many of the seedlings unable to survive the harsh conditions. National lockdown measures further exacerbated the challenges as many of the participants in the programme are elderly women with comorbidities. The programme aims to continue its mission by only planting herbs that can survive weather fluctuations and require limited water to survive. Based on the outcomes and recommendations of assessments that took place between October and November 2020, the next phase will see additional boreholes being installed and damaged boreholes being repaired. More about our Adams Solar Plant The Enel Green Power SPV, Adams Solar Plant, is located 21km south of Hotazel and 39 km north of Kathu, in the Northern Cape Province. The plant has an installed capacity of 82.5 MW and can generate more than 167 GWh annually. Northern Cape is close to Adams, the Enel Green Power solar plant located 21km south of Hotazel and 39km north of Kathu. It has an installed capacity of 82.5 MW and can generate more than 167 GWh annually. The plant, which was completed in January 2017 and connected to the grid on February 6 2017, has assisted in saving 40,000 tons of coal per year and has decreased emissions by more than 171,700 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. The Adams Solar Plant can generate a significant amount of energy, equivalent to the annual energy consumption needs of approximately 100,000 South African households.

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Enel Green Power steps up for women’s employment in Northern Cape Province

Enel Green Power steps up for women’s employment in Northern Cape Province