Lim women eager to take advantage of energy sector gap in the province
The recent workshop in Polokwane encourgared women to looked at new ways in which they can assist the country in meeting the energy demands.
Vella Nyoni
LIMPOPO – Women from Limpopo hoping to seize business opportunities available in the energy sector gathered for a workshop in Polokwane recently during which they looked at ways of how this could be achieved.
Approximately 200 women took part in the workshop. They hope to take advantage of business opportunities in the energy industry.
Speaking at the two-day workshop, Department of Energy, deputy minister, Thembisile Majola, high-lighted several key issues ranging from access to markers, funding and transformation.
Majola encouraged women not to be intimated by the energy industry. “I would rather that the women don’t look at this as something that scares them, but rather identify where the needs are,” Majola said, adding that the department has a successful programme in the energy sector, which it is running for independent power producers.
“Right now we are running a very big and very successful programme in terms of independent power producers. Women should look at that and look at those opportunities because we are saying we have a challenge when it comes to electricity. Women should be asking: ‘how can I play a role in that space?'”
Some of the most important discussions at the workshop centred on the role women can play to assist the country meet its energy demands. This is expected to boost the overall economy.
The biggest concern highlighted by women who attended the workshop is lack of information on where to access some of these opportunities. Tlangelani Ngobeni from Giyani in the Mopani district was one of these women who raised this concern. Ngobeni is eager to establish a wholesaling business in the fuel industry. According to her, the options to access funding is a problem. However, she said thanks to the workshop, she now has a better understanding of how women can penetrate the sector. “The workshop has been an eye opener; you meet with relevant people,” she said.
Women who are interested in starting businesses in the energy sector have been encouraged to visit the department to acquire more information. The department highlighted that it was ready to offer support to female entrepreneurs.
