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Journals and Policy insights

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    National Union of Mineworkers Energy Policy Discussion Paper
    (Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2018-05) Sam Tambani Research Institute
    As the main union in the energy, mining, and construction sectors dedicated to the socio-economic emancipation of workers especially in these three sectors, it is the intention of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to pro-actively participate in the formulation of any policy that may have a bearing on the interests of its constituency. NUM is well aware that the energy policy that is being proposed by the South African Government will have far-reaching implications for the well-being of workers in both the energy and mining sectors. Moreover, the effects will spread to all workers across all sectors of the South African economy because energy is a key input in all productive activities of the country. The effects of the energy policy will include, but will not be limited to, job losses, increases in prices of goods and services, and general economic exclusion of citizens whose lives are at the margins of the mainstream economy. The energy sector is an employer in its own right; but it is also a catalyst of employment in all other manufacturing sectors of the economy. Downstream, the energy sector supports employment in the mining sector by sustaining the demand for coal. As such, changes in South Africa’s energy sector have far-reaching implications for employment, and for the well-being of people and communities across the country. It is, therefore, the revolutionary duty of NUM to be vigilant in engaging and coming up with an informed position on the country’s energy policy and energy mix proposals. The Union’s engagement with energy policy and energy direction is not a new undertaking. As far back as 2009 the Union, in its own capacity and sometimes as part of COSATU, has interrogated and made pronouncements on the country’s energy policy direction. In the NUM resolution of 2009 to the COSATU National Congress, NUM requested COSATU to re-debate and re-visit its anti-nuclear energy position to assess whether concerns pertaining to nuclear energy that motivated the position were still relevant. The resolution also highlighted the position that the coal sector, as a major employer, still has to play an important role in the country’s energy space; although given the concerns around coal’s impact on the environment, research on Clean Coal Technology should be prioritized.
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    Energy Mix Choices And The Protection Of Workers’ Interests In South Africa
    (Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2017-06) Sam Tambani Research Institute
    In March 2011, the South African Government through the Department of Energy (DoE) published the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010-30. The plan, according to DoE, was aimed at ensuring secure and sustainable provision of energy for socio- economic development of the country. Recommendations in the plan include diversifying power sources and broadening electricity supply technologies to include gas, nuclear, biomass and renewable energy resources (wind, solar and hydro), to meet the country’s future electricity needs. However, since the IRP release, a number of changes have taken place in the energy sectors, including changes pertaining demands and use of energy, hence the government has invited public comment and input to the IRP. The recent power shortages and subsequent load shedding experienced by the country, on one hand, and the increasing recognition of the climate change problem have brought home the fact that the South Africa requires a mix of all possible energy sources to meet its energy demand. Moreover, it has to do so while cutting down on its carbon dioxide emissions, emanating especially from coal burning power generation and whilst ensuring that the price of power remains affordable. Due to an increase in the consumption of electricity, which is expected to be twice the current levels by 2030, the country faces the challenge of establishing sustainable energy systems in the face of climate change (Kiratu, 2010). These pressures imply not only generating more electricity, but ensuring that energy efforts are steered towards a lower carbon future and underpinned by attention to issues of equity and justice. This discussion paper describes the current energy situation in South Africa, existing and emerging challenges and opportunities from labour perspective. It attempts to bring together available information on the current employment trends, health and safety implications, the costs and linkages to other sectors of different energy sources. The purpose of this paper is not to propose particular choices or solutions, but rather to make available to the National Union of Mineworkers some background information and analysis on the energy choices confronting South Africa and the possible effect to workers of specific choices. This paper’s information is drawn mainly from the presentations and discussions that took place at the NUM/SATRI Energy Symposium that took place in May 2017. Although the Symposium raised a very wide range of influences and pressures on energy choices, the paper maintains a focus on the more factual labour-focused issues underpinned by pursuing energy sources, not only for greater energy security and or environmental considerations, but also for the socio-economic development. The employment dimension of the energy sector is given ample attention.