For years, South Africa’s energy conversation was about loadshedding. Now we face a different challenge: we need to build.

South Africa needs around 14,000 km of new transmission lines, together with substations, transformers, storage and the infrastructure needed to move electricity around the country.

Building the system means making the parts

All of that needs things to be made: steel structures, cables, concrete foundations, protective coatings, insulation, equipment housings, fire protection, electrical components and battery systems.

The good news is that South Africa already has strong industries making steel, chemicals, polymers, cement products, electrical equipment, composites, minerals and technical materials.

Many already supply the energy sector. Others may never have considered it.

Capability can travel

• A company making protective coatings for buildings could potentially solve a corrosion problem on energy infrastructure.

• A polymer manufacturer could find applications around cables or electrical equipment.

• A composites manufacturer could potentially produce lightweight, non-corrosive components.

• A cement or mineral manufacturer could find new applications around substations and energy installations.

A larger industrial opportunity

These opportunities still need to be technically proven, but the bigger point is simple: building South Africa’s new energy system could also create new markets for South African manufacturers.

Including some that have never worked in energy before.