Co-generating our future

The Ilembe district could soon play a huge role in power co-generation, a process which has the potential to alleviate strain on the national power grid.

The Gledhow Sugar Mill hosted a workshop on May 13 which explored the opportunities of co-generation in the district.

The workshop aimed to clarify the requirements that co-generation stakeholders need to meet to become independent power producers (IPPs).

It also explored opportunities for Eskom and KwaDukuza municipality to set up long term power production agreements between municipalities and IPPs.

Paul de Robillard, executive board vice chairman of Gledhow Sugar Company, described the workshop as groundbreaking.

“It provided us with the opportunity to share with delegates our proposed energy generation project, a joint initiative between the sugar, pulp and paper industries and its significant benefits for the local Cane Growers Association,” he said.

He said the project not only allows for greatly needed capital investment but also ensures a more sustainable future for employment in the area.

“It also increases electricity availability in KwaDukuza, which will allow for other investment and future revenue opportunities,” said de Robbilard.

Trade and Investment KZN’s sector manager Nisaar Mahomed said the workshop had resulted in meetings being scheduled with role players from the sugar and pulp and paper industry to consider the manufacturing demands and investment opportunities that could accrue from a successful ethanol and co-gen roll out in the region.

According to Liesel Beires, green economy specialist at the KZN Department of economic development and tourism, the sugar industry gives the province the largest opportunity to diversify an energy supply base.

“It is a form of renewable energy that has the biggest job creation potential and as a province we need to take a holistic view of the industry and recognize its potential to change the economic, social and energy landscape of our province,” she said.

Ilembe Chamber of Commerce CEO Cobus Oelofse facilitated the workshop and believes the opportunity to have senior Eskom representatives, representatives from local and provincial government and independent power producing investors around the same table is truly unique.

“With a simple mandate of information sharing, this type of engagement is critical to pro-actively remind all role players of the job creation potential and the positive impact of co-generation initiatives on our primarily rural economy,” said Oelofse.

According to Pool Mahadeo, Eskom’s senior manager for key customers (KZN and the Eastern Cape), the key challenge locally and abroad is the adequate supply of electrical power as the main driver for economic growth.

“The challenge of a constrained power system is a South African challenge and everyone has a role to play.

“The choices we have are whether to use our energies in apportioning blame, or use our energies to find and contribute to solutions. This group is certainly the latter. Well done Ilembe Chamber and the sugar industry for taking the lead,” he said.

Siyabonga Khanyile, KwaDukuza municipality’s executive director of technical services, emphasised the partnership and contributory role that the municipality should play in exploring and realising the potential of co-generation.

Oelofse said the story of sugar cane in the Ilembe district is a significant one but is totally under emphasised.

“The financial and economic benefit of the cane plant, and its untapped potential as a renewable energy source, should be widely advocated.”