Msunduzi residents will live in a carbon-free environment
Innovative climate financing winner: Mponeng Holdings
When the Msunduzi Municipality in Pietermaritzburg was looking at awarding a tender for the re-evaluation of their electricity output, they were intrigued by the proposal put forth by Mponeng Holdings.
The company proposed that instead of merely going in and changing lightbulbs, they would do a complete re-evaluation and retrofit.
“Our strategy involved modernising their electricity distribution network,” says Joshua Mkhonto of Mponeng Holdings. “We would replace their transformers with more efficient new ones, plus connect with the team at Bridgiot, who are working on smart meters. Ultimately we want to re-evaluate the city’s energy consumption across the board.” Bridgiot is working on connecting everything to the internet, so people and municipalities can quickly obtain information from their surroundings.
The proposal includes looking at fuel type and usage on BRT buses, educating the city’s residents and community at large on how to access the local 75MW solar PV plant and empowering a new workforce by educating people about recycling and converting waste to energy.
Needless to say, Mponeng was awarded the 24-month contract.
According to Mkhonto the developmental impact associated with the project will enable communities to live in a carbon-free environment, with green energy supply.
Finance for the project will come through multiple stakeholders including the municipality, national departments and provincial government departments.
Key to the project is a programme to empower local youth and veterans with various skills. They will become project implementers who are upskilled and can in turn train others to become part of the ongoing maintenance of the project.
“Our main focus is to develop a sustainable energy management project that seeks to lower carbon emissions and thereby sustainably conserve our environment,” adds Mkhonto.