Huawei has hosted an event in Cape Town, discussing how technology and digital adoption could benefit the energy sector.
The event, which forms part of the Africa Energy Week brought together more than 40 guests from government departments, including the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe and his deputy Nobuhle Nkabane. Also in attendance were representatives from enterprise and industry leaders from African countries.
Huawei CEO Spawn Fan outlined Huawei’s vision to digitalise traditional and green energy by integrating digital technology to ensure a better, greener, future.
“Advancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are focusing more on using less energy to transmit, process, and store more information, while making incumbent energy systems more efficient. Sustainability underpins our entire ecosystem, ultimately we want to cut carbon emissions, and contribute to more regenerative economic systems,” said Fan.
During the event Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe pointed out South Africa was fully aware of the risks of climate change for current and future generations and had begun to invest in reliable and affordable clean energy technologies, but that it also has to ensure a just transition from a high-carbon economy to a low-carbon economy, while keeping energy supply secure.
Both The Minister and his deputy thanked Huawei for hosting the meeting. “This gives us the opportunity to establish relationships with energy-related industries locally and across Africa, and maintain cooperation in the field of energy,” said Mantashe.
South Africa has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 28% by 2030 under the National Independent Contribution Plan (NDC). Currently about 77 percent of South Africa’s primary energy needs are provided by coal.
African Energy Week brought together representatives, experts, businesses and speakers from the energy, oil and gas industries to discuss the concerns of the energy sector, focus on renewable energy solutions, address the opportunities and challenges of new energy investment on the African continent, and focus on Africa’s role in the global energy transformation.
