South Africa is the subject of a three-part series of podcasts as part of A Glocal Energy Transition, the communication campaign by Enel Green Power that outlines our decarbonization strategy and looks at examples from specific countries. The Republic of South Africa, also known as the Rainbow Nation, is becoming increasingly green. Its revised industrial policy focuses on the green economy, and in particular, renewable energies, as a key sector in the sustainable industrialization of the economy and as a contributing factor in the country’s reconstruction plans and economic recovery following the pandemic. The government’s Integrated Resource Plan aims to install 17.7 GW of wind power and 8.2 GW of solar photovoltaic by 2030, explains Boitumelo Kiepile, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Enel South Africa. These changes to local regulations offer new opportunities for the development of renewables, improving the potential profit from investments and, more generally, fostering economic growth. William Price, Country Manager, explains how efforts are being concentrated on areas that have an abundance of resources, in particular the coastal areas where the best wind conditions for operating wind farms are, and where there are possibilities for interconnections. He also tells us about the promising forecasts for PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements). An important part of EPG’s work is also creating shared value with the communities in which we operate. In the third episode of the podcast, Lizeka Dlepu, Head of Sustainability, talks about the importance of creating strong relationships with local communities, with whom we work closely to identify priority programs for the development of the local economy. These include training and assistance for SMEs: for example, by providing mini-grids powered by clean energy in some areas. Numerous programs have been launched for the communities, ranging from sports to computer literacy, from education to extra-curricular activities: meaningful contributions to solving people’s real problems.
