. Mpho Mookapele, chief executive officer of the EWSETA said, “We are honoured to partner in such an impact-driven capacitation programme that will provide the much-needed skills and support in the energy sector and drive inclusive economic participation of SMEs in the energy value chain. The Programme will also provide an opportunity to empower women and persons living with disabilities, to realise our inclusion objectives”. However, the current challenges many SMMEs face when entering the energy industry, are inadequate skills and support (predominantly renewable technologies) and the EISP will seek to address these challenges.

Bernard Magoro, head of the Independent Power Producers Office, a procurement vehicle for delivering on the national renewable energy capacity-building objectives, said, “This exciting EWSETA/CSIR initiative, aimed at developing SMMEs to participate in our country’s energy transition, is timely and welcomed. It was wonderful to see so many SMMEs in attendance today and to see first-hand the benefits of this new initiative, one that the IPP Office would be proud to partner with in the future”. This collaboration between CSIR and EWSETA will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects of providing capacity-building opportunities and access to technical capacity in the renewable energy sector. This will assist South Africa in meeting its commitment to reduce its carbon emissions under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.