The environmental goods and services market in South Africa is estimated to be worth between £1.5 billion to £2 billion, with the government stating growth to be at around 15 per cent per annum

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa: greener off the pitch than on

Corin Wilson

Unless you have been on Mars recently you can’t have failed to notice that 2010 is the year of the football World Cup in South Africa. As you would expect, for arguably the world’s biggest sporting event, its ‘green’ credentials have come under close scrutiny from day one. It has been estimated that the event will generate more

than 2.75 million tonnes of carbon emissions – eight times that of the previous World Cup in Germany. To combat this, South Africa has employed a multitude of innovative schemes, from planting 300,000 trees in Johannesburg, to the rehabilitation of heavily polluted water catchment areas.

cent by 2022; increasing the amount of electricity on the National Grid from renewable energy from one per cent to three per cent by 2013; and addressing the fact that parts of the country currently suffer from losses of up to 50 per cent in water supply due to inadequate infrastructure. Whilst the South African government can tangibly be seen

to be addressing these and other key issues, for example in the increasingly strict enforcement of environmental standards and regulations, the private sector is taking a leading role in providing solutions and services to both the national and municipal authorities. The authorities, as well as local companies, are also keen to work with international operators with experience of both large-scale infrastructure projects and technologies that can help South Africa. UKTI has been active in establishing contacts with key local municipal authorities, as well as large state involved companies, particularly in the energy sector, and private operators such as those in waste management. The municipalities are given signifi cant budget and authority to address environmental issues in their locations. To date, and for the foreseeable future, South African

companies in particular spend little time and expense on remediation when it comes to solutions and products to meet their needs. They tend to go for ready-made options whether from home or abroad. Whilst the key sectors of opportunity for the UK here

Artists’ impression of the refurbished Soccer City Stadium, which will host the opening and closing games of the 2010 Fifa World Cup (Photo: City of Johannesburg, www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com

In addition, the stadiums themselves are using waterless urinals and minimising the use of drink and food containers. But wider than the World Cup, how is South Africa joining

the global battle to clean up the environment and how can UK companies, in particular, get involved? The environmental goods and services market in South

Africa is estimated to be worth between £1.5 billion to £2 billion, with the government stating growth to be at around 15 per cent per annum. Key government strategies include reducing the amount of waste going to landfi lls by 70 per

remain water and wastewater management, waste management, recycling and environmental management systems and consultancy, renewable energy is rising up the interest ladder. Overall, 85 per cent to 90 per cent of South African electricity comes from coal and so there is concerted national effort to reduce this reliance. Smaller scale solar and wind projects are increasing in number, with most taking the form of public private partnerships (PPPs).

To learn more about these and other opportunities in environmental goods and services in South Africa, please contact Corin Wilson, Environmental and Water Trade & Investment Adviser, UKTI – Johannesburg, tel: +27 11 537 7209, email corin.wilson@fco.gov.uk

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