Electricity + Control August 2019

COMMENT

ON THE COVER

Stick to the rules and we can resolve our problems

N ow obviously one must be measured, and one must never give away too much. But of late I have been sensing one or two glimmers of light in a period that has been rather dark (to say the least). The other day I visited the campus of a multinational outfit that covers multiple hectares, and got to better understand the vision they have. It reminded me of times I’ve spent in other countries that were, by all accounts, down and out. Yet, for someone not at the coalface, opportunities were obvious. Unless you were at the coalface. I do worry that we have become conditioned to be introspective and cautious – although with good reason. I am of the view that anyone can learn to play within the rules – providing the rules are clear. And, more importantly, providing the rules do not seem to keep changing. I have no doubt that much of our inability to see over the horizon is due largely to all the dust in the air, and the glare in our eyes (as they water). But establish the rules, and we can all optimise the game plan. Keep on mucking about with the rules, and there is no chance of any local team actually becoming competitive. The game is our economy, and that is our coalface. Listening to a foreign view, and speaking with folk who have seen success in emerging economies (with all the troubles one associates with those environments), provides a perspective that there may well be something better over the horizon than we imagine right now. It seems that we have been ground down to the point where few are seeing that. But it is there.

In as much as it is easy to be an armchair coach, a number of things are slowly but surely changing. We all know the challenges at Eskom, but right now an increasing number of people who can do something about it are becoming aware of the actualities of those challenges. There is value in removing the veil of secrecy around the issues that affect us all, and dispelling the view that it may all be a media attack with no basis. More and more issues are surfacing that leave us in no doubt about the problem, but at the same time, allow many who can, to begin to think through likely ways of resolving the problem. Fighting shadows is tricky; fighting a known and understood problem is that much easier. I am confident that in many areas we have allowed the problems to emerge from the shadows for all to see. And more importantly, that we have the resilience, finally, to allow that process of resolving those problems to begin. Now that is worthy of recognition. Think of that as we muddle on into calmer waters. Then, I am certain, we can begin to resurrect failing industries and struggling enterprises – and begin to be competitive as we should be as a nation. The wave is building – our challenge is (as it always is for us) to be ready when it hits.

FEATURES: · Control systems+ automation · Electrical protection+ safety · Power quality, standby+ back-up · Temperaturemeasurement+ instrumentation · Transformers+ substations

energy + information in industry

ECAug 2019 cover.indd 1

7/24/2019 11:41:27AM

ACDC Dynamics is introducing the Danfoss VLT ® range into its already comprehensive range of Danfoss VACON ® VSDs. (Read more on page 15).

Editor: Design & Layout: Advertising Managers:

Leigh Darroll Adél JvR Bothma Helen Couvaras

Heidi Jandrell Karen Smith

Circulation: Editorial Technical Director: Publisher: Deputy Publisher:

Ian Jandrell Karen Grant Wilhelm du Plessis

Circulation

Circulation: Quarter 1 (Jan – Mar) 2019 Total print circulation: 5 192

Publisher of the year 2018 (Trade Publications)

Contact

Published monthly by:

Crown Publications cc Cnr Theunis and Sovereign Sts, Bedford Gardens PO Box 140, Bedfordview 2008 Tandym Print

Ian Jandrell PrEng IntPE(SA) BSc(Eng) GDE PhD, FSAAE FSAIEE SMIEEE

Printed by:

Telephone: E-mail:

+27 (0) 11 622 4770 e-mail: ec@crown.co.za admin@crown.co.za www.crown.co.za

Website:

www.electricityandcontrolmagazine.co.za

Website

Electricity+Control is supported by

Electricity+Control Magazine

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of thepublisher, theeditor,SAAEs,SAEE, CESA, IESSAor theCopperDevelopmentAssociationAfrica

Bi-monthly Newsletter

Online Edition