Renewable energy and local development: seven lessons from the mining industry
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2017
TITLE AUTHOR(S): L.Marais, H.Wlokas, J.de Groot, N.Dube, A.Scheba
KEYWORDS: ENERGY SUPPLY, MINING AND MINERALS INDUSTRY, RENEWABLE ENERGY
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 10040
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/11300
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/11300
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Having long depended on fossil fuels for energy generation, South Africa is now investing in renewable energy. Like its mining operations, its renewable energy plants will have local implications. Renewable energy companies are therefore required by government to engage with communities to contribute to socioeconomic development. We present seven lessons we believe the renewable energy sector can learn from the mining industry. We argue that the new industry must: manage social disruption, understand community complexities, create responsive institutions and the capacity to support industry practice, employ trained community practitioners, be clear about the aims of local development, encourage economic diversification in remote areas and, importantly, in view of problems caused by downscaling in the mining industry, plan for the possible closure of projects. Renewable energy projects could then serve and shape local development.-
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