With energy an integral part of the economy, women must provide practical solutions in this sphere, nuclear scientist Senamile Masango said during opening remarks at the inaugural Women in Energy conference, hosted by the Senamile Masango Foundation, which she founded.

She said that, with participants ranging from government representatives and academia to engineers, the skillsets and capabilities were available to leverage practical solutions to the benefit of the country’s energy industry.

Moreover, the diverse group brought together at the conference, held on August 29, to collaborate, network and share challenges and solutions, was integral to the aim to bridge the gap between the industry and academia, Masango pointed out, calling for academia to present solutions to the energy challenges and for engineers to implement these.

She said that, as the country navigates the just energy transition, it would be crucial for women to participate and bring practical solutions from across the industry, be it in clean coal, nuclear, renewable energy or storage.

Addressing Deputy Minister in the Presidency Pinky Kekana, Masango said women wanted to provide practical solutions, and have the capacity to do so.

Kekana, in turn, said the inclusion of women in the country’s economic agenda was wholly and fully committed to by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the National Development Plan and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan and especially at the Africa Union, by declaring the next decade as one of financial and economic inclusion for women.

She said this commitment engendered projects that the Presidency supports, with a notable one being the Prieska Power Reserve Project – a pioneer, catalytic project that will start producing green hydrogen and ammonia in 2025.

Kekana lauded the project for being founded and developed by an African black women-led company, Mahlako a Phahla, in partnership with the Central Energy Fund the Industrial Development Corporation.

“This is an example of what happens when women are fully included in the country’s economic agenda, especially in sectors that will define the future of the country – like the energy sector,” she said.

Kekana also lauded the conference for creating dialogue and engagement from three perspectives, namely women in energy, women's emancipation and energy in general.

She called for women in all areas of life to come together to disrupt the sector, in alignment with the foundation’s mandate of no person being left behind.

Kekana said that, as the country marked Women’s Month, it was important to note that democracy was not actualised for as long as women were not included in the economic agenda of South Africa, in all aspects.

She highlighted that energy was a fundamental aspect of the economy and that sustainable energy was critical to the country’s future development.

She emphasised that there were serious gender inequalities that had to be addressed in the energy industry, with the government ready to work with the private sector and industry at large.

She noted that government was driving transformation, which included the inclusion of women, across all levels and at State-owned entities. While the energy sector had not yet reached an acceptable rate of transition in this regard, she said significant strides were still being made, and that this had to be bolstered.

Kekana said that, further to this, however, was the need to push for this in the private sector, as this fuelled the economy.

Speaking from a financial perspective, University of Pretoria Department of Economics Professor Roula Inglesi-Lotz said it was not a question of if, but rather when and how the just energy transition would happen.

She emphasised that women would play a key role in this, as they would bring a new perspective, with the climate change strategies up to now not being enough.

She said the capital for the just energy transition was there, but that decisions had to be made about how to use that appropriately and efficiently.

She called for a move away from focusing on only public or private funds, and instead, for a combination of these.

Further to its monetary participation, she averred that the financial sector could encourage government to undertake reforms and pursue different policies.

She also indicated the need for a change in mindset, with existing financial structures no longer feasible.

To attract investment, she outlined the need for long-term policy continuity in the energy sector.