President Cyril Ramaphosa engages with local technologies at CSIR
The President, who was hosted on Tuesday, 8 April, by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, toured a number of facilities at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), to gain first-hand insights into the research and development activities taking place at the institution.
“Today, I received a personal tour of the world-class facilities on this campus. I got to see the vast array of work being done across the CSIR’s clusters, in areas such as advanced agriculture and food, chemicals, health, mining, manufacturing, defence, digital transformation, human settlements and the built environment,” said President Ramaphosa. “All of this impressive work is firmly aligned to Government’s priorities of driving inclusive growth and job creation; reducing poverty and the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.”
Value chain analysis for identification of opportunities in solar PV and battery storage in South Africa
Speaking at the workshop, CSIR Energy Research Centre Manager, Dr Thabo Hlalele, emphasised the critical role of the partnership between the CSIR and AFD in supporting South Africa’s energy transition.
“As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, South Africa has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. This commitment will lead to an expanded deployment of renewable energy technologies, creating opportunities for South African enterprises to participate in the renewable energy industry and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. This collaboration between the CSIR and AFD represents a significant step towards understanding the challenges and opportunities South African enterprises face in the rapidly growing renewable energy industry,” says Dr Hlalele.