The Chemical Industry Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) will hold high-powered discussions around the skills required to drive South Africa’s transition to a green economy at the Pan-African Hydrogen Skills Conference.
“We are keen to get industry perspectives on hydrogen manufacturing to understand the skills development perspectives from the supply and demand sectors to gain better insights,” says CHIETA CEO Yershen Pillay.
The high-powered discussions will form part of the Pan-African Hydrogen Skills Conference, a two-day event on 6 and 7 December at the Avenue, Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa. The conference is jointly hosted by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the CHIETA.
The Department of Science and Innovation and CHIETA will also host connected events related to the green hydrogen economy between 5 and 7 December. A Science Diplomacy for Economic Development through Hydrogen Roundtables inaugural workshop will be held on the side lines of the World Science Forum in Cape Town, aimed at establishing how hydrogen can be utilised as a lever for social justice in the context of South Africa’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
While the events are connected, CHIETA’s segment focuses on “Industry Perspectives, Experiences and Skills required for the Hydrogen Economy” at the conference on 6 and 7 December 2022.
A number of high-profile speakers taking part will be led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande. They will include international speakers from Ghana and Namibia, leading members of South African academia and industry leaders in the hydrogen economy and government departments.
Nzimande, who will open the conference, notes that: “It is essential to understand the skills required to bring about sustainable, green economic growth and development. In its efforts to create an integrated post-school education and training sector, the government acknowledges the centrality of industry in skills development, and I am glad that the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority’s Pan-African Hydrogen Economy Skills Conference is focused on the industry perspectives, experiences and skills required for the hydrogen economy,” he says.
“As an authority in skills development within the chemical industry, CHIETA has repositioned itself to innovate for impact – a vision that CHIETA endeavours to work towards – and we want to continue to provide leadership on skills development for the hydrogen economy to the sector and nationally in this regard,” Pillay adds.
To this end, CHIETA has partnered with Impact Hydrogen, the South African National Energy Institute (SANEDI), the Centre for Renewable & Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University and, recently, the National Business Institute (NBI) to unpack the opportunities of the hydrogen economy.
Pillay says investing in the hydrogen research and successful workforce planning for a hydrogen-ready South Africa is imperative, adding that the conference promises to draw from the diverse wealth of expertise and experiences of leading voices currently in the hydrogen economy, who will explore perspectives and recommendations on hydrogen economy skills supply and demand along the entire value chain.
“Through events like this, we can establish goals and ensure they are aligned with delivering on skills development, education and training through innovative solutions for sustainable livelihoods,” says Pillay.
After the conference, CHIETA will produce a consolidated report that will be shared with delegates and relevant stakeholders for skills implementation.
The entrance to the conference is open to the public. Details are available here.