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SANEDI ASSISTS THE SANDF WITH GREENING THEIR ENERGY

Major General Joseph Ledwaba, General Officer Commanding of Dr Karen Surridge with DoD’s officials at Heritage Day of Limpopo’s
the Defence Works Formation (DWF), and his son with Dr Karen Regional Works Unit.
Surridge as guests of SANEDI at the SANEA awards banquet,
Military Museum, Johannesburg.
During 2014 and in subsequent years 2015 and 2016 This can be achieved by implementing an energy efficient,
SANEDI, as a government partner, was invited to renewable energy hardware system that supports human
speak about renewable energy and energy efficiency capacity development (HCD) as well as contributing
at national level at the Department of Defence (DoD) towards reduced energy costs and reliable water heating
Annual Environmental Seminar. Through this relationship energy security.
SANEDI was subsequently invited to speak at a provincial
environmental forum, to contribute towards improving But wait that’s not all… The Austrian funded government
energy usage and assist in advising towards compliance bi-lateral project called the Solar Thermal Training &
with the DODs environmental and energy strategy at Demonstration Initiative (SOLTRAIN) programme aims
military installations in Limpopo region. to tackle such needs and create opportunities through
addressing the SWH sector across six partner countries
SANEDI representatives have to-date attended several in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
exploratory trips to military installations at different scale viz. Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South
throughout Limpopo Province in order to assess energy Africa, and Zimbabwe. All these partner countries are
needs and be able to provide preliminary informed pursuing policies that enhance security of supply, energy
advice on plausible, sustainable renewable energy and conservation and increase energy access. Furthermore, in
energy efficiency interventions. SANEDI now has a formal all partner countries there are national plans and policies
agreement to act as an implementing arm for DoD on on the support to increase the use of solar thermal systems
identified collaborative projects that will address energy in place.
needs.
SOLTRAIN aims to support the national solar thermal
An initial project will entail the construction and plans started during its activities in 2009, it is currently
operationalization of two (2) 1500L Solar Water Heating in its third phase of three-year duration. This in context
(SWH) systems at a pre-selected military base in Limpopo of this agreement, the parties are able to apply (through
province. Since DoD is already constantly undertaking the appointed contractor) to the SOLTRAIN programme for
installation, maintenance and repair of water heating financial support towards SWH systems and artisan training
infrastructure at its units, this project aims to support and (elaborated in subsequent project agreement). SANEDI,
build capacity in this space for the DoD and its Members. supported by the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable

SANEDI NEWSLETTER ISSUE 04 | 2017/2018 SANEDI NEWSLETTER QUARTER 2 | 2018/19
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