- One SANEDI initiative is a taxi retrofitting into a 100 per cent electric vehicle.
- Other highlighted initiatives SANEDI undertook included using renewable energy and hydrogen fuel cells to power agricultural systems.
South Africa’s Mineral Resources and Energy Deputy Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has emphasised the need to invest in science, technology and innovation to grow the country’s economy and address well-documented energy challenges. She spoke this week on the first day of the South African National Energy Development Institute’s (SANEDI) first yearly energy conference in Johannesburg.
The CEO of SANEDI, Dr Zwanani Titus Mathe, said this conference was the first step on a long journey. SANEDI needs local and international private and government entities to partner with it to tackle the challenges. He also indicated that the conference would serve as a platform to showcase some of SANEDI’s work in the energy space. Nkabane agreed that tangible outcomes must emerge from the conference, with progress measured at next year’s event.
Meanwhile, one of the SANEDI initiatives showcased on the day was a taxi retrofitted into a 100 per cent electric vehicle, traversing all of the country’s provinces to demonstrate the viability of this mode of transport. Some of the other highlighted initiatives SANEDI undertook included using renewable energy systems and hydrogen fuel cells to power agricultural systems, training young technical and vocational education, and training college graduates on business development and running these technologies.