By Eamonn Ryan
Building a resilient cold chain in South Africa requires targeted interventions that address both energy reliability and operational efficiency. Evans Chinembiri’s research at the GCCA Africa Cold Chain Conference highlighted practical strategies for mitigating the risks associated with energy challenges and ensuring the sector’s long-term sustainability.
Chinembiri outlined six key recommendations for strengthening cold chain resilience:
Incentivise renewable energy investments – providing stronger incentives for solar power, battery storage, and other renewable solutions can reduce reliance on unstable grid electricity and lower operational risks.
- Suspend duties on solar and battery components: Temporarily removing import duties and VAT on solar equipment would reduce upfront costs and make renewable energy adoption more accessible to cold chain operators.
- Support technology solutions: Investing in real-time tracking and monitoring systems enhances efficiency and reliability, particularly for exporters of perishable goods. Public-private partnerships could make such technology more affordable.
- Streamline trade facilitation: Improving border procedures, particularly within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reduces delays and limits the risk of spoilage during transit. Efficient logistics at major border posts, such as Beitbridge, is critical.
- Use the cold chain as an energy storage resource: Through demand-side management, cold storage facilities can act as energy buffers, helping balance national supply while protecting critical operations.
- Reduce downtime from equipment failures: Investing in reliable equipment and improving maintenance protocols ensures operations continue despite energy instability.
Chinembiri stressed the importance of collaboration between government, industry and other stakeholders. “We need co-ordinated action to turn recommendations into results. Resilience is built through collective effort, not isolated initiatives,” he said.
The study underscores that energy challenges, while less severe than past crises, remain a pressing issue. Companies that proactively implement these strategies can not only safeguard operations but also achieve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and contribute to sustainability goals.
Cold chain resilience is no longer optional. From protecting perishable food to securing pharmaceuticals, robust planning, investment in alternative energy, and strategic collaboration are essential to maintain supply chain stability in the face of energy challenges.