Electricity + Control April 2015

COMMENT

I t seems very hard to hear good news. The manufacturing industry has been contracting for some time, the economy is not set to grow in leaps and bounds – although we need to be quite frank and accept that a fraction of this (less than 0,5 %) can be attributed to the current situation at Eskom. Wehavealsodrivenourselves intoapredicament where we assume the worst before stepping back and contemplating where we are. Sub-saharan Africa has some of the fastest growing economies. It is home to some of the greatest mineral reserves and to remarkable reserves of hydro energy – all waiting to be tapped and appreciated. Recently a network of Research Active African Universities was established and there is a move to rationalise and prioritise research on the continent. This means what to our industry? Well, if we want to get anywhere on the world stage, we need to remember that we require a commitment − not only to basic education − but to drive an agenda of excellence in higher education and research. Whereas our mining industry is well known for innovation in many spheres, it is not that obvious that we play leading roles in other areas as well. Possibly this should be the topic of a future comment. What has struck me is how fertile our continent is as a place for world-leading research. While this is not often acknowledged – consider this. We have a significant number of people in the sub-continental region who have very good basic education. Certain surveys and assessments suggest that they are generally better educated than South Africans. But South Africa has, without doubt, an excellent university sector. Allied to this are some of the current challenges we face. These include the significant migration of people to cities – cited as the largest migration of people in the history of the world. Then there are the associated challenges of our modern cities. Some, like Johannesburg, Gaborone and Harare, do indeed look like cities – they have the infrastructure, the suburbs,

the finance houses and the industry. Others, like Bushbuckridge, look nothing like a city – although they are, without doubt, cities. How do we deal with this? How can you add infrastructure, effectively, after the fact? How do you establish a sustainable community in an area that was once a mine? How do you develop a manufacturing industry around a community – and make it sustainable? These are profound questions, and questions that we need to be able to answer. I believe that South Africa is a laboratory for the world. In addition, when we consider a national grid that is under strain, make no mistake – the same challenges are creeping up in many other parts of the world. The reasons may be different, but how to tackle themwill be similar. What better place is there to play with solar energy – and crack the wicked problem of getting alternative energy onto a grid? We all know the challenges with that. When one considers society, and the need to employ people… how do we construct communities with a sense of community? Communities where self-actualisation becomes the norm, and not the exception? Howdoes one construct the future that the nation deserves? I have often considered what South Africa may look like within the decade – and truth is, I do not see anything that resembles an African country. I see something completely different?

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Quarter 3 (Jul – Oct 2014) Paid circulation: 35 Free circulation: 4694 Total circulation: 4729

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What do you see?

Ian Jandrell Pr Eng, BSc (Eng) GDE PhD, FSAIEE SMIEEE

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, SAAEs, SAEE, CESA, IESSA or the Copper Development Association Africa

April ‘15 Electricity+Control

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