More research was needed into the design of incentives that could stimulate the adoption of energy- and water-efficient technologies in South Africa and the rest of Africa, Eskom senior GM Nandu Bhula said at the 2013 African Energy Indaba, in Sandton, on Wednesday.

His comments came amid growing concern over the increased pressure to be placed on Africa’s water resources should large-scale energy-mineral deposits be extensively exploited.

Further, the introduction of carbon capture and storage could also increase the exposure of the energy sector to water supply constraints.

The cost of currently available water-efficient solutions was considered to be prohibitive, while Bhula indicated that the incentives to facilitate adoption were either absent or insufficient.

Co-panellist, Thabani Myeza, who is business development executive at Sembcorp, added that overcoming the challenge of competing demands for water could not be solved in isolation, nor by the Department of Water Affairs alone. Partnerships with industry, including the mining and agricultural sectors, were required to find integrated solutions.

Such collaborative models would also be more effective, as it would allow for risk sharing.

Hatch environmental and sustainability director Max Clark also stressed the need for cross-industry collaboration to ensure the best use of water, while guaranteeing energy-supply security. Such collaboration should be supported by sound policies and legal frameworks.

"South Africa's industrial sector is relatively undeveloped and development can be negatively impacted by water- and energy-supply problems in the country. We need to work together to find solutions," Clark urged.

South African Institute of International Affairs researcher Agathe Maupin told Engineering News Online that work, which could result in the adoption of a 'water-energy nexus' approach to policy development, was currently under way. These efforts were being led by the South African Water Research Commission.

She stated that such policies would offer benefits in the form of increased efficiency in water and energy use, reduced trade-offs, increased synergies and improved governance across sectors.