Uncertain future in coal

Mpumalanga study heard gripes about being left out of green transition.

- Nthabiseng Mohlakoana

FEARS: NO RENEWABLE ENERGY RESKILLING.

South Africa is on the path to decarbonisation doing away with burning coal and other fossil fuels and moving towards renewable, clean energy, such as solar and wind power.

However, the coal industry employs 91,000 people.

Estimates by the renewable energy industry say the shift from coal has the potential to create 250,000 jobs by 2047.

As an energy transition researcher, I was part of a group of Centre for Sustainability Transitions academics who asked workers living near a coal mine and coal-fired power plant what they knew about the coal industry winding down.

The biggest problem for workers?

Our study's aim was to draw attention to how decent work is understood by those who are working with fossil fuels and whose jobs will be phased out.

We interviewed 13 women and 38 men who were current and former coal mine workers and electricity power plant workers from KwaGuqa township.

This is a low-income community in Emalahleni, a coal-intensive area in Mpumalanga that is home to 20 collieries.