As this new year opens, South Africa is gearing up to host the G20, which will see working group meetings and other discussions taking place throughout the year – with a focus on what the country has determined as the key themes: solidarity, equality and sustainable development. President Cyril Ramaphosa has pointed out that the G20, a leading forum for international economic cooperation, is being hosted on the African continent for the first time, marking a significant moment for South Africa, the African continent and the world.
The president has outlined what South Africa aims to achieve during this year of its G20 Presidency. He shared these intentions with world leaders gathered at the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos at the end of January – and extended an invitation to all those gathered there, whether they will be participating in the G20 meetings or not, to take the opportunity to visit the country and see for themselves the opportunities it offers.
Many of these opportunities lie in the development of new infrastructure, in rebuilding the manufacturing sector to serve that development and meet the needs of markets at home, across the continent and around the world, and in meeting the continuing demand for green energy as South Africa progresses its energy transition to become a low-carbon economy.
In this January-February issue of Electricity + Control we look at some of the perennial concerns of industry: streamlining automation and control systems, selecting the right drives and motors for respective applications, improving energy efficiency at all levels of operations, scoring the benefits of digitalisation in accurate process monitoring and measurement, and safety – always. Experts share their insights in all these areas, with the overriding aim of assisting plant operators to manage costs efficiently and optimise output.
In Control systems + automation, Stratus reminds us of the importance of cybersecurity spanning OT and IT systems. We also share a selection of new products designed to advance automation.
In Drives, motors + switchgear, Adrian van Wyk of Referro Systems highlights the importance of checking CIV ratings on motors to ensure you choose the right motor for any given application. SEW-EURODRIVE presents the possibilities of its drive automation software, and WEG flags the need to size soft starters correctly.
Looking at Energy management + energy efficiency, a recent report from the IEA indicates that, globally, we need to accelerate the pace of progress in improving energy efficiency if we are to meet the goal established via the UAE consensus to double the rate of energy-efficiency improvements by 2030. This is a key aspect of reducing emissions to counter climate change and limit the earth’s temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.
Zadok Olinga, President of the SAEEC spoke to Electricity + Control about the incentives available to industry in South Africa to improve energy efficiency in their operations – and the scope of benefits this offers.
Forbes Padayachee of Yellow Door Energy points out how South Africa’s transition to clean energy will help the manufacturing sector – and others – to overcome the hurdle of carbon taxes, locally and in export markets.
Vertiv notes energy efficiency in power and cooling systems for data centres as a key priority for the year ahead in this fast-growing sector.
In Measurement + instrumentation, ifm shares the application report showing how its sensors and systems have helped a manufacturer of plastics recycling plants and a producer of recycled plastic containers, mainly for the beverage industry, streamline operations and improve their performance.
And in Safety of plant, equipment + people, SRK Consulting shares some interesting background work done in assessing site safety at Eskom’s Koeberg nuclear power station to support the application for licensing of Unit 1 to continue operating for another 20 years, following extensive upgrades completed on the plant.
Write @ the back, Mervyn Naidoo of ACTOM highlights the opportunities for developing local manufacturing, particularly to serve South Africa’s infrastructure renewal and development needs, and the value this would bring to the economy and the country. It’s worth noting!
On another note, we would like to highlight the news that, with effect from 1 February 2025, Wilhelm du Plessis, formerly Deputy Editor, steps up to take on the role of Publisher of all Crown Publications’ titles, across all platforms, and Karen Grant, formerly the Publisher, becomes Managing Director of the company. We salute them both for their continuing leadership in charting a steady, productive and progressive course for company.
From the team at Electricity + Control, we wish all our readers and advertisers a highly productive and prosperous 2025.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD AND READ THIS ISSUE IN PDF FORMAT.
