The acceleration of South Africa’s energy transformation to address current economic challenges and industrialisation opportunities for the country’s economic recovery will take centre stage at the upcoming virtual Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) 7th Biennial Conference.

The virtual two-day conference, which starts on Wednesday, 11 November 2020, will be attended by local and international experts in fields ranging from health, advanced agriculture and food, manufacturing, mining, defence, energy and many more. It will be held under the theme: “Touching lives through innovation”.

South Africa is relatively energy secure, but highly dependent on coal for much of its energy needs, and even more dependent on imported oil and liquid fuels for the transport sector. This discussion will be highlighted in a session on the acceleration of South Africa’s energy transformation and economic recovery.

Dr Clinton Carter Brown, Head: CSIR Energy Centre, will be joined in this panel discussion by Ms Nhlanhla Ngidi, Head of Energy and Electricity: South African Local Government Association; Mandy Rambharos, Head: Eskom Just Energy Transition office; Aalia Cassim, Director: Microeconomic Policy, Division: Economic Policy Analysis and Forecasting, National Treasury; Dr Jarrad Wright, CSIR principal engineer and Dee Fischer, Chief Director: Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, to unpack efforts to decarbonise the South African energy mix.

South Africans and their economy have been directly impacted by the national load-shedding that resulted in disruptive electricity supply curtailment and blackouts. The CSIR has performed an in-depth analysis of the South African power system to assess the extent to which load-shedding is expected to continue, the magnitude thereof, and most importantly, the options and solutions that are available to reduce and mitigate load-shedding. The webinar will provide a scientifically informed perspective on the likelihood and extent of load shedding over the next three to five years, and provide some practical options for mitigation.

The second day of the conference will see various other sessions and technology demonstrations including sessions on small, medium and micro enterprises as drivers of South Africa’s economic recovery, the creation of a smart, sustainable and circular plastics economy in South Africa, and the industrialisation of additive manufacturing towards the revival of the country’s manufacturing industry.

Members of the media encouraged to register and attend the event as follows:

Date: 11-12 November 2020
Time: from 08:00 am

NB: For more information and registration, please visit www.csir75.co.za.

All sessions are free to attend.

Issued by the CSIR Strategic Communication unit

For interviews and enquiries:
David Mandaha: CSIR Media Relations Manager
Tel: 012 841 3654
Mobile: 072 126 8910
E-mail: dmandaha@csir.co.za 

About the CSIR:

The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za

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