Coal versus renewable

The 17th of March 2016 saw the Fossil Fuel Foundation in South Africa hosting an “Independent Power Generation One day Conference” at the Glenhove Conference Centre in Rosebank Johannesburg. On the agenda the Independent Power Production discussed coal and the IPP programme.  South Africa’s coal mining industry is on the decline and yet one day conferences are still being held by the Fossil Fuel Foundation together with government and individuals with vested interests in coal and energy to discuss the future of a sector that over the last three years has shed up to 47,000 jobs. With 60% of the country’s deposits located in Witbank, which has the dirtiest air in the world, Mpumalanga will still be home to Kusile the world’s largest coal mine, burning 17million tons of coal a year.  In addition South Africa’s carbon emissions will increase by another 10%, ensuring the country’s spot as one of the world’s highest contributor to climate change. That’s the question being asked by a group called 350Africa  which wants to see more renewable energy taking the place of coal produced energy. To help us debate the issue, we have :Professor Rosemary Falcon from the School of Chemical and Metallurgical EngineeringRob Jefferry Managing Director and Senior Economist at EconometrixAmir Bagheri from 350Africa a Break free CampaignerParbu Pathanjali A Greenpeace Climate and Energy Camaigner