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Paper short abstract:

The introduction of renewable energy in South Africa has been a contentious issue, with labour market opportunities drawing significant attention. Drawing on a case study of the construction of two wind farms, this paper explores the gendered aspect of employment opportunities in the transition.

Paper long abstract:

The introduction of renewable energy into South Africa's energy mix has reignited debates on the nation's labour market conditions, particularly focusing on the looming job losses in the coal sector of Mpumalanga province, and employment opportunities associated with the 'energy transition.' The country's persistent unemployment rate, which stands at around 30% and disproportionately affects the youth and women, serves as the backdrop of these debates. Labour unions have accurately warned that the closure of coal mines during the shift towards renewable energy will result in job losses within the coal value-chain, while proponents of renewable energy argue that employment opportunities will be created in other sectors, such as manufacturing and construction, thus offsetting the job losses. Since its inception in 2011, the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has generated 69 554 'job years' for South African citizens, with 11 374 of these going to women and 35 046 to youth, as of March 2023. However, labour unions have questioned the validity of the 'job years' concept and the actual number of jobs created. In this paper I draw on a case study of the construction of two wind farms that are part of the REIPPPP, and examine the employment opportunities during construction and consider how these intersect with gender and inequality and the implications for the just transition. These wind farms are located in the small town in Northern Cape province, a region with a distinct local labour market as compared to others in South Africa.