https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Nordic countries strengthen partnerships with sub-Saharan Africa

31st May 2019

By: Kim Cloete

Creamer Media Correspondent

     

Font size: - +

The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are strengthening their partnerships with sub-Saharan African countries to increase green electrification and water security.

The four countries are known for their expertise in developing viable and innovative energy systems, with a focus on effective system integration, grid stability and sustainable energy solutions. Delegates and Ministerial delegations from the Nordic countries met with their African counterparts during the Nordic Utility Days conference, held concurrently with the African Utility Week and PowerGEN Africa conference, in Cape Town, this month.

The delegation included Sweden’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Niklas Johansson, and Finland’s deputy director-general for Natural Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Kai Kaatra.

South African Energy Minister Jeff Radebe welcomed the interest shown by Nordic countries. Speaking during a business breakfast at the Nordic Utility Days conference, he said: “Nordic countries can assist African markets in combating the challenges in energy poverty, modernise information and communication technology solutions, create employment and generate investment. Moving towards clean and green renewables is crucial in achieving this goal.”

He emphasised that developing carbon capture and storage capacity would be an important contribution to greening the South African energy space and recognised the long-standing cooperation with Norway in this area.

During the conference, Danish ambassador to South Africa Tobias Elling Rehfeld also announced Phase 2 of the Strategic Water Sector Cooperation partnership between Denmark and South Africa.

This was a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding regarding water use and water resources signed in November 2015 by the Danish Minister of the Environment and Food and the South African Minister of Water and Sanitation.

“The solutions to reaching the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are there and we are anxious to work together to reach affordable water for all countries. SDGs apply globally; the Nordic countries want to be partners. We have political and regulatory technical solutions to act globally and create solutions locally for Africa,” said Rehfeld.

On energy, Johansson expressed Sweden’s commitment to developing relations as a contribution to reducing carbon emissions and helping Africa in its energy sector transition.

“It is possible to combine good economic growth and a reduction in emissions. These discussions are core and crucial to both opportunities and challenges that we face in addressing economic growth, climate change and employment.”

On the issue of water security, Kaatra pointed out that, “with planning, management and governance including cost recovery for water services, it is possible to alleviate water scarcity”.

The aim of Nordic Utility Days has been to demonstrate that Nordic countries have the policy regulation and technical solutions to provide cost-effective and climate-friendly water and energy solutions for South Africa.

Nordic investors are at the forefront of phasing out fossil fuels in their portfolios. Energy storage has also become a hot topic and was discussed during the week, as well as the Nordic experience in promoting smart cities and the deployment of smart grids. Water metering and monitoring, water reuse and alternative water supply were also on the agenda.

A range of exhibitors from Nordic countries displayed their products and solutions – from biogas, thermal hydrolysis and wind energy to water metering solutions and power quality measurement solutions – during the African Utility Week and PowerGEN Africa event.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Array

Showroom

Schauenburg SmartMine IoT
Schauenburg SmartMine IoT

SmartMine IoT has been developed with the mining industry in mind, to provides our customers with powerful business intelligence and data modelling...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Alco-Safe
Alco-Safe

An unmanned breathalyser that is made to be tough and simple to use. Can be used in any environment for operator-free breathalyser testing.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.042 0.089s - 137pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now