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Towards a low-carbon, climate resilient KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The feasibility and sustainability of technologies aimed at developing a low-carbon and climate resilient development path in KwaZulu-Natal were analysed at a workshop held at the Umfolozi Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, in Durban, in March 2018.

The Climate Technology Centre Network (CTCN), through the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the United Nations Environment Programme – Technical University of Denmark Partnership, has been requested to analyse the feasibility and sustainability of specific technologies for the energy and water sectors to allow for a low-carbon and climate resilient development path in KwaZulu-Natal.

The request was made by the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Department and the iLembe District Municipality. At the workshop, the most feasible technologies were selected and teams commenced with the development of technology roadmaps and project concept notes.

“One of the objectives of this initiative is to form a relationship with the Umfolozi TVET College in the hope that it will consider the training as part of its modules in the energy efficiency space in the future,” said Masupha Mathenjwa of the iLembe District Municipality.

Mathenjwa said that, through the technical assistance offered by the CTCN, the Umfolozi TVET College has a unique opportunity, beyond the scope of this project, to have its relevant personnel professionally trained and accredited by the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) and to offer modules in Energy Efficiency and Energy Management systems. “This will go a long way towards capacity development in the iLembe District, as well as the KwaZulu-Natal Province,” he said.

The workshop is one of the main activities aimed at building capacity in the area of energy for the provincial government, district municipality and the Umfolozi College.

 “As a consortium partner to the CTCN, the CSIR is delighted to be involved in this initiative and hopes to be part of the process of implementing projects and programmes in the iLembe District and the KwaZulu-Natal Province at large, considering the status of the iLembe District as the renewable energy hub in KwaZulu-Natal”, said Dr Oscar Mokotedi, the CTCN project manager at the CSIR.