During a mobile demonstration inside the cabin of a hydrogen-fueled truck as part of Anglo American's NuGen carbon neutrality project at Anglo American Platinum's Mogalakwena platinum mine in Mogalakwena, South Africa, Friday, May 6, 2022. drivers. Anglo American has unveiled the world's largest green hydrogen-powered truck at a platinum mine in northeastern South Africa. The company aims to replace 40 diesel-fueled vehicles, which use around 1 million liters of fossil fuel each year.Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images
SSouthern Africa urgently needs skilled engineers, technicians and professionals in green hydrogen, while some workers need upskilling or new qualifications to help the country compete in the global economy. A new report reveals that.
The Labor Market Information Report, released by Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande on Tuesday, shows that the ministry and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR have carried out a skills needs assessment to identify skills needed across all segments of the emerging green hydrogen value chain. It was announced after the implementation.
So far, 138 jobs have been identified that are needed within the value chain, including engineers, technicians, tradesmen and professionals, as well as managerial and entry-level jobs.
The skills most needed include knowledge of the potential hazards of working with and around hydrogen, knowledge of hydrogen-related regulations, standards, and regulations, and an understanding of electrochemical reactions, processes, and hydrogen production processes. there is.
“South Africa recognizes the role that green hydrogen can play in meeting climate change targets and, more importantly, the potential opportunity it offers to address the country’s triple threat of unemployment, inequality and poverty. ” said Nzimande.
South Africa's hydrogen economy is expected to grow significantly, with R319 million of the R1.4 trillion investment plan for a just transition to clean energy earmarked for the sector.
The Labor Market Report highlights 27 vocational qualifications, offered by a range of training providers and funded by the Sector Education and Training Agency, that are recognized as important to the hydrogen economy.
“This assessment highlights the limited opportunities available for WBLs focused on green hydrogen, in contrast to developed countries such as Germany, and in South Africa, where the sector is emerging. ” [work based learning] In this country,” Nzimande said.
As skills may need to be imported in some cases, the Minister said following the publication of the new work visa regulations, he would work closely with the Home Office to develop a second edition of the Key Skills List.
Mr Nzimande said there was also ongoing discussion about skills shortages in the medical field.
“With this in mind, we will be undertaking research into the supply and demand for health professionals in South Africa as part of our Labor Market Intelligence Research Programme,” he said.
He said this would be done in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Department of Home Affairs, the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the Department of Health and Social Care Education and Training Agency.
