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JUST SA KwaZulu-Natal - Sindi Shozi · TIPS Podcast

• 0:05
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome to the Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies official podcast, Tips Talk, the show where we delve into the fascinating world of economics and its impact on global development.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_02: I'm your host, Tobanike, and today we are asking why is it important for local and provincial government officials to understand the impact of climate change and the imperative to decarbonize our economy as well as make the transition just.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_02: We are finding ourselves today in Durban, Guazuluna Town.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_02: We see how government officials can turn policy into action.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_02: I have a lovely guest with me today by the name of Cindy Shozi.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_02: Cindy, can you please introduce yourself to our listeners?
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Hi, Tobani.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Good day, everyone.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: My name is Usine Sil Shozi, and I am based at Teeguini, a municipality, and I'm my portfolio there as a chief engineer at Advanced Emitering.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: So basically, I'm a registered professional engineer, registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa, and I hold also a government certificate of competency and also a PMP certification, and also a member of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: And also I am an MBA candidate as well.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: So I've held this role since 2020.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: Prior to that, I was also a refurbishment engineer at ESCOM.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, that is basically me in a nutshell when it comes to my career.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_02: What does your day-to-day roles look like?
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: Basically, my day-to-day responsibilities they involve basically strategic planning that is formulating short-term and medium and long-term plans for meter engineering branch, and also technical leadership that is also providing guidance in terms of complex advanced metering infrastructure system, and also performing and monitoring, that is evaluating metering systems, making sure that data, performance, and energy yield targets are met.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: And also staff supervision.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure when you entered my office, you saw there were a group of ladies.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: So that is basically my technical staff.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: And also I do mentoring as well.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: We have some EIT, which is our engineers in training, as well as some technicians as well.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: And also I do financial oversights where I monitor expenditure as well.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: And also stakeholder engagement that involves contract appointments and also customer satisfaction.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: And lastly, also OSH compliance, making sure that all the projects that we do comply when it comes to occupational health and safety.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, basically, those are my day-to-day duties look like.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: All right, thank you, Cindy.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_02: So my next question is how do you infuse just transition policies into your work?
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: So now as a chief engineer in the metering infrastructure, I occupy a unique position at the intersection of energy access, data governance, and also service delivery.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: So basically, the just energy transition is not an abstract policy framework for me.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: So it shapes how I lead the projects and engage with communities.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: So this is how I infuse in, I'm gonna name like four ways that I infuse just energy in my work.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: Firstly, it is equitable access to smart metering technologies.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: So that is my advanced metering infrastructure, that is AMI.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: It's basically a gateway to demand side management and renewable energy integration.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I prioritize equitable rollouts of smart meters, ensuring that low-income and historically underserved communities are not left behind as Ateguini transition into a more smarter, cleaner energy systems.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: And also specifications, because I also develop specifications when it comes to the metering infrastructure.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: So the specifications that I develop they account for affordability and also usability across diverse socioeconomic groups.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: And also, secondly, the energy efficiency and demand side management.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: So my background in energy management is supported by formal training.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: That is, I did uh in UJ and also in Stellenbosch, just energy transition cause and also green hydrogen cores.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: So it informs our approach metering as an enabler tool for energy efficiency.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: So I advocate metering systems that supports, so we have what you call term of use tariffs and load management and also integration with renewable sources, of which they are the pillars of uh just and sustainable energy transitions.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: So, thirdly, is the skills transfer and women empowerment.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_00: So I understand that just energy transition demands that workers and community are equipped with skills relevant to the green economy.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm an active mentor when it comes to GWNets, which is where I am a mentor, and also I'm a part of women in electricity, where I advocate also for women as well, where I champion for inclusion of women and young professionals in the energy sector, ensuring that the transition is socially just, not only environmentally sound.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: And the fourth way that I infuse the just energy transition is also in terms of procurement and contractor governance.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: So through my role in terms of contractor appointment and equipment specification, I embed the sustainability criteria in terms of procurement.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: So processes that is includes a prioritization when it comes to the local suppliers, enforcing the OSH compliance as well as ensuring technology procurement that supports long-term maintenance capacity within the municipality.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: That is reducing it dependency and building, I mean, local expertise.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: So lastly, financial discipline and also strategic planning.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: That is, I also have my qualification when it comes to finance.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: So it enables me to align my decision when it comes to financial decision with long-term transition goals.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: So ensure that the budgets that have been put in place account not only for capital cost but also the life cycle sustainability and avoiding basically redundance when it comes to finances.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: So basically, that is how I infuse just energy transition when it comes to my work is day-to-day.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_02: So my last question will be: is it possible that you could share any just transition challenges or opportunities for your municipality or province that you see in the line of work that you do?
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: So, okay, I can mention a few challenges.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_00: Firstly, is the energy security and the infrastructure fragility.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: So we know that as Etawini, we are dependent on the national escomcrete.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: And the load shedding has been impacting our service delivery and the business continuity and also impacting the public trust to us in terms of delivering electricity continuity.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: So it transitioning to a diversified low carbon and energy mix, it requires capital investment.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: So that is one of the challenges that we are encountering.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: So it then remains an institutional capacity that remains constrained at the moment when it comes to capacity.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: Secondly, it's a socio-economical inequality and energy poverty.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: So AKZN has one of the highest levels of unemployment and poverty as well.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: So a transition that raises basically amateurs or displaces workers in fossil fuel adjustment industry without adequate social protection, then that becomes a challenge as well.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: So that just part of it, then it becomes a challenge when it comes to that.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_00: So it's one of the challenges that we basically see.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: So we need to also see how then we can put the just part in that sector as well.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: So another challenge is uh loss of revenue from traditional energy infrastructures.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: So as a distribution energy resources, that is the ERs and of solar panels.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: So we face a declining sales, as to say, because now people are moving more towards renewable energy.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_00: So now as a municipality, we also have to be innovative in terms of how now we get our revenue because now people are now have more alternatives.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: So we must also be innovative in terms of how then, because now we are experiencing a loss in terms of revenue now.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: People are moving to solar, basically moving off the grid, while we are depending on our grid.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: So now we have to be have innovative ways now as well.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe coming up with charges as well.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: So that's another way.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: So see how we can be able to gain our revenue as well.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: Skills gap as well in print technology is another challenge.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: So while we have a strong electrical engineering capacity, there's a skill deficit where in terms of better storage integration, green hydrogen, as much as it's gradually increasing, but we still have a skills gap there in PV's design, smart grid management.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: So workforce rescaling is both agent and resource intensive.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: So we need to also as a municipality be, I don't know what's the word, you will cut this English, yeah, Balea, but yeah, be Nazi on the lookout in terms of how we upscale our people and engineers and technicians in terms of being in the forefront when it comes to what the industry is now going towards.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a regulatory and governance complexities, because when it comes to policies and whatnot, there's still a huge gap there, especially when it comes to such.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: So navigating in that space is also a challenge.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_00: The bylaws, we need to also amend our bylaws so that we cater for what the changes that are happening within the industry as well, involving NERSA, Salka, and other frameworks that are the decision makers.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, those are the challenges.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now coming to the opportunities.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: So, like I said, EMI, which is an advanced missiling infrastructure, we have an opportunity there because that's where we monitor basically from when you get your electricity to how you basically absorb.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: So you monitor real time so you can see how much you are, as a customer, you are absorbing in terms of electricity.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: So it facilitates integration to those rooftop and into the grid.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_00: So this is a direct opportunity for us as I say, we need to accelerate the green energy ambitions.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: Secondly, an opportunity, women and youth agents for transition.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: So through platforms like WNets and also Women in Electricity, those are the platforms where there's a momentum where there's a rapid growth of young people and active architecture of energy transition, not just beneficiaries.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: So Etsy Guini can lead in such gender responsive in terms of just energy and planning of such so renewable energy procurement.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: So amendments to the Energy Regulation Act, and also I know that we've also been a beneficiary in terms of Section 34, where we've been granted our to be able to generate our own electricity through IPPs as well.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: So that's an opportunity.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: So I know construction is supposed to start somewhere later in the year as well.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: So those are the opportunities.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: Climate finance and also international partnership.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_00: So there's an opportunity there.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: So I know there's a Jets IP, so an international partnership like OEU and G7, so to unlock climate finance mechanisms.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: So Etaguini, as a South African largest municipality, is well positioned to attract our green bonds and development finance for a transition infrastructure.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, those are the opportunities as much as there are challenges, but there's also an opportunity for us to basically unlock what is currently happening in the industry when it comes to just energy transition.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much, Cindy, for your time.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_01: This was a lovely session that we had.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you as well for the opportunity to be able to contribute.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_01: Sure.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_02: A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their expertise and time with us, and also for attending this training.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_02: We hope you will continue to champion the mandate of greening the economy in a just and equitable way.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_02: And to our listeners, your support means the world.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you for joining the Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies official podcast.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_02: Remember, sustainable growth is not just a goal, but a path to a more resilient and prosperous future.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_02: Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and connect with us on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_02: Until next time, I'm Tobanike signing off.