LIMPOPO – Sixty entrepreneurs from across the province will take part in a three-day Master Class focused on renewable energy, hydrogen, nuclear and other opportunities in the Just Energy Transition.

The African Women in Energy and Power (AWEaP), in partnership with the University of Limpopo, is bringing its Just Energy Transition (JET) Skills Development Programme to the province. The programme is taking place from August 18 to 20, where 60 entrepreneurs will take part in an intensive Master Class designed to help them turn South Africa’s energy transition into real business opportunities.

South Africa’s energy landscape is changing fast. New markets are opening in renewable energy, hydrogen, nuclear, natural gas, energy efficiency, artificial intelligence and clean technologies. The AWEaP JET Entrepreneur Master Class was created to make sure entrepreneurs aren’t left watching from the sidelines.

“The Just Energy Transition is creating entirely new markets. Our responsibility is to ensure that entrepreneurs are not observers of this transition, but active participants, innovators and business owners. Through this Master Class, we are building entrepreneurs who understand where the opportunities are, how to access them and how to develop businesses that contribute to South Africa’s economic growth and energy future,” said Bertha Dlamini, AWEaP Founding President.

3rd province to host the programme

Limpopo is the third province to host the programme after successful runs in Gauteng and Mpumalanga. By the end of the Limpopo cohort, AWEaP will have trained more than 160 entrepreneurs nationally to participate in the JET economy.

What participants will learn

The three-day programme is practical and hands-on. Participants will explore:

• South Africa’s JET policy environment and the Electricity Regulation Act
• Technical and market insights in renewable energy, hydrogen, nuclear, natural gas and artificial intelligence in energy
• Project finance and investment readiness
• Personal branding

The programme will conclude with participants presenting business ideas to an industry expert panel for feedback on commercial viability and market entry.

Expert facilitators

The expert facilitators include:

• Dr Silas Mulaudzi (Sustainable Energy Specialist)
• Solly Kgopong (interim CEO of Fetakgomo Tubatse SEZ) – speaking on Limpopo’s Green Hydrogen Facility
• Ruse Moleshe (Energy Project Finance specialist)
• Princy Mthombeni (founder of Africa4Nuclear)
• Hillary Campbell (GM: Renewables and Energy Storage at NEC XON)
• Timothy Maurice Webster (international personal branding expert)

SANEDI’s role

The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is the programme patron and will deliver specialised lectures on natural gas and hydrogen energy aligned to the country’s Hydrogen Society Roadmap.

University partnership

Victor Kgomoeswana, Marketing and Communication Executive Director at the University of Limpopo, said the partnership reflects the role universities must play in regional development.

“The University of Limpopo is proud to partner with AWEaP on this important initiative. By bringing together academia, industry and government, this Master Class will help unlock opportunities for Limpopo entrepreneurs and strengthen the province’s contribution to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition,” he said.

The AWEaP JET Skills Development Programme will continue rolling out nationally, with upcoming cohorts in KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Northern Cape.

About AWEaP

African Women in Energy and Power (AWEaP) is a Pan-African non-profit founded in 2018, with 32 chapters across Africa. AWEaP works to accelerate the participation of women, youth and entrepreneurs in Africa’s energy value chains. To date, the organisation has reached more than 20,000 women entrepreneurs and energy professionals.