WATCH ON DEMAND: Master class: Biomass opportunities in South Africa

Valorising biomass residues holds a major potential for South Africa in terms of waste inimisation, job creation and investment opportunities. In addition, it can create reliable access to secure, affordable and clean energy.

Six Dutch companies specialised in biomass valorisation, have teamed up to develop new business initiatives in South Africa using solid (woody) biomass. The companies have formed a public private partnership (PPP) with the Dutch government, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (government agency which operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) and the Embassy of the Netherlands in South Africa.

The cluster is seeking long-term collaborations with South African companies, municipalities and other organisations to create successful and viable business opportunities.

The Netherlands Embassy in South Africa invites you to a masterclass about the opportunities presented by the proposed collaborations, which includes information about an exciting investment in Coega Development Zone. This masterclass will be valuable for:   

• Municipalities interested in using their woody residues to create jobs and economic activity and minimise environmental impact.   
• Businesses and other organisations with access to large volumes of woody residues and an interest to set-up collaborations to valorise these residues.   
• Businesses interested in using biomass products as a way of becoming more sustainable.

Host:

Sebastiaan Messerschmidt, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cape Town,



South Africa

Moderated by Werner Euler, Managing Director, iLive Sustainable Development

Speakers:   

• Valorising biomass residues and the Dutch consortium – Emiel Hanekamp, senior partner, Partners for Innovation   
• Opportunities for household energy – Ruben Walker, Founder and CEO, African Clean Energy   
• Opportunities for biofuels – Bart-Willem ten Cate, Low-Carbon Strategist, Finco Fuel group   
• Certification and inspection of biomass and biofuels – Jordi Meijer, Managing Director South Africa, Control Union   
• Sustainable biomass - role and ambition of the Dutch government – Kees Kwant, Senior Expert Bioenergy and liaison Circular Biobased Economy, Netherlands Enterprise Agency part of Ministry of Economic Affairs   
• Potential socio-economic impacts of biomass beneficiation – Garth Barnes, Deputy Director, SA Department of Environmental Affairs   
• Drying and torrefaction of biomass residues - Joris Spaan, Business Development Manager, Yilkins, The Nertherands