Page 27 - IDC

6 CITY PRESS, 16 OCTOBER, 2016

business ss

A
PROJECT IN
PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE
IDC

he problem: South African industries
cough up millions of tons of carbon
gases into the atmosphere every year.
One solution: Capture the waste
emissions and convert them into useful
Tmicroscopic nanomaterials. That’s the
dream of Clean Carbon Technologies, a “green” start-up
that’s making a business out of cleaning up our air.
Thato Maleeq Keetse, a self-described serial
entrepreneur from Alexandra in Johannesburg, is the
business brain behind this sustainable energy venture.
His company essentially wants to transform the “bad
guy” (greenhouse gases that contribute towards global
warming and climate change) into the “good guy”
(carbon-based materials used in various applications).
He is talking to the Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) to fund a pilot plant to test the
envisaged technology, under the watchful eye of the
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The
company hopes to start building a reactor before the
end of the year so that testing can begin.
The scientific brain responsible for developing this
green technology is his partner, Dr Vivek Nair, who
holds a PhD in material science and mechanical
engineering.
“He’s the mad scientist and I’m the mad guy who
goes and looks for things that look impossible but are
possible,” Keetse quips.
Together, they have come up with a pioneering idea
and business plan that has sparked the interest of the
IDC, which is on a drive to invest in technology that
boosts South Africa’s industrial output and nurtures a
new generation of entrepreneurs – including in the
green energy sector.
“We saw an opportunity in South Africa’s carbon
capture space, mainly your industrial sites such as oil TALK
refineries and mines, and started to work on
developing a solution that can be profitable and easy to TO US
‘plug and play’ [on site at the factories or plants in Are you a young
question],” Keetse explains. person starting out in
He says many large industries have invested heavily business? Tell us your
in expensive technology, and for them to readapt to story. Email us at
mybusiness@idc.co.za
comply with South Africa’s carbon emission targets to using ‘Young business’
reduce their environmental impact would cost a lot of in the subject
money. line
But with Clean Carbon Technologies’ proposed
reactor on site, connected to the factory flare stack or
exhaust, the waste carbon gases would be captured
and converted into useful products such as carbon
nanotubes, which would then be sold directly to
customers.
Nanotubes are tiny cylindrical molecules that are SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR Thato Maleeq Keetse – the business brain behind Clean Carbon Technologies PHOTO: EUGENE GODDARD
excellent electricity conductors and can withstand high
temperatures. They are extremely strong relative to
their size and are used in industries ranging from
electronics to aerospace. Turning waste
The beauty of the company’s proposed reactors is
that it would be relatively cheap to capture the carbon
gas and produce the byproducts, and companies such
as Sasol would benefit from the resulting carbon credits
while having a positive effect on the environment.
“Where others look at the impossibilities of the green
He adds: “People shouldn’t look at waste as waste – into green profit
space, we look at the possibilities,” says Keetse. “These
days, the definition of success as a businessperson is
having a social impact on society. As a young person,
we need to look into and invest in these technologies,
because that’s part of ensuring sustainability for our
kids and our kids’ kids.”

waste is a resource. Waste is money. At the moment,
there’s more money in waste than, I think, in
conventional methods. Everyone throws away
something, so why not pick it up and make money
with it?” A young entrepreneur is working on a way to convert harmful greenhouse
Of course, good ideas aren’t always bankable ideas –
and don’t automatically get funded, even if it’s in the
much-touted “green innovation” space. The team at gases into useful carbon nanotubes, writes Christina Kennedy
Clean Carbon Technologies had to do extensive
research and has been through a rigorous process with
the IDC to ensure its business model is watertight.
“We had a great idea, but they made it into a amazing industry in the nanotechnology space.” for African markets – we are the gateway to the we need to create success stories for young people to
bankable idea as we had to go through rigorous due He adds that there will be ample opportunities to continent, after all.” look up to and be inspired by.”
diligence, fine-tuning the basic idea. It really helps you transfer new skills. Keetse believes that there are untapped areas of Plus, says this business developer, not having a
with buffering your start-up.” “This will be our own South African and African potential growth in the green industries in South science background hasn’t stopped him from entering
Keetse is beyond excited about working in the green technology, made at home. There’s also good potential Africa, particularly in building and energy, where the technological arena: “Young people just need the
tech arena, which is in its infancy in South Africa for international clients … eventually, we want to be cheaper and more effective methods are waiting to be ability and courage to dream big. You don’t have to be
compared with much of the developed world: “We supplying on a global scale. There are a lot of explored by creative thinkers. “We need new and a doctor to own a hospital. It’s all about having the
want to do everything locally and create a whole new opportunities for this local expertise to be developed exciting innovations that develop the green economy – right team and the right human capital.”

young people in the country – a whopping 37.5% of Finding jobs for our young people handedly. The Youth Conference, therefore, aims to
South Africa’s most pressing issue is youth
gather all those who are able to make a significant
unemployment. There are 3.6 million unemployed
the working population. contribution to address this issue.”
Qhena hopes that the two-day gathering will help to
With the problem easy to identify, the next find new strategies to produce concrete interventions
challenge is to get the right people in a room to come for young people.
up with a list of ideas that can be translated into 1 806 R4.5bn “Our research indicates that the services sector –
action to change the reality of these 3.6 million people. particularly business services – has the highest
On Tuesday and Wednesday, a carefully selected group Since 2011, youth- Over the next five years, the potential to create youth employment,” Qhena says.
of decision-makers will meet for the IDC’s National “The relatively low barriers to entry for entrepreneurs,
Entrepreneurship Youth Conference at Gallagher empowered businesses IDC has committed R4.5bn its labour intensity as well as possibly intermediate- to
Convention Centre in Midrand. low-skill requirements in certain segments should
The conference’s aim is to develop partnerships that created 1 806 jobs in a range to support youth-owned and enable a substantial contribution to youth employment.
will drive more young people into the formal of IDC-supported sectors youth-empowered businesses “Other sectors that show moderate potential are
economy. government and social services, building construction
IDC CEO Geoffrey Qhena says: “As one of and agriculture, forestry and fishing. Naturally, low-
government’s primary vehicles to support economic skill jobs may fulfil the immediate need for
growth, the IDC has taken on this mantle to ensure youth-empowered and youth-owned businesses in the Enterprise Finance Agency and business support offered by employment, but carry the long-term danger of
sustainable and long-term solutions so that young past financial year, the scale of the challenge is all too the National Youth Development Agency – much more restricting future earning potential, so we are looking
people are part of the country’s economic apparent to us,” Qhena says. needs to be done. for ways to develop skills to avoid this.”
transformation agenda.” Since 2011, youth-empowered businesses created 1 806 Over the next five years, says Qhena, the IDC has The IDC will also be announcing an innovative new
The IDC is all too aware of the challenge at hand, jobs in a range of IDC-supported sectors. committed R4.5 billion to support youth-owned and youth- platform at the conference that aims to provide
having conducted intensive research into the barriers He says despite the R2.7 billion earmarked for youth- empowered businesses. ongoing support and interaction on youth enterprise
and opportunities in the youth job market. owned and youth-empowered enterprises – in “Entrepreneurship can certainly boost job creation, but development and entrepreneurship opportunities. –
“Having approved nearly R1 billion in funding to collaboration with the IDC’s subsidiary, the Small institutions such as the IDC cannot tackle this single- Staff reporter