Two coal utility plants in South Africa selected (one from Sasol and another from Eskom) for this study produce large volumes of fly ash (over 40 Mt from Eskom at Tutuka, and 3 Mt from Sasol Synfuels at Secunda annually), and brines as by-products during coal processing. Co-disposal of the brines and fly ashes has been a normal practice in these coal-utility plants for decades. Long-term management of fly ash is necessary and requires an understanding and knowledge of how the different waste materials interact with water and brines in different chemical situations. However the geochemistry of their interactions, the leaching and mobility of elements in these disposal systems has not been fully understood. This work gives insights into the chemical processes taking place in the brine-water/brines systems that govern the concentrations of major and minor elements in ash leachates under different environmental conditions. The possible presence of organic compounds (subsequently referred to as 'organics') in brines and their effects on the leaching chemistry of fly ash was also studied. Sustainability and long term impact of the co-disposal of fly ash and brines on the environment was studied through static (batch tests) modeling of the pH-dependent acid neutralization capacity (ANC) tests and columns modeling for dynamic leach tests. The modeling was based on experimental results from other Sasol-Eskom ashbrine project collaborators. Modeling results of the ANC tests were in good agreement with the reported experimental results, which revealed that the release trends of various elements (including trace, heavy elements and contaminants) contained in fly ash into solution is highly pH dependent. However Na, K, Mo and Li exhibited constant solubilisation which was independent of pH changes from all the scenarios. The presence of different constituents of brines subjected to ANC resulted to different ANC capacities ranging from 0.98 moles H⁺/Kg dry ash (of ash-organics mixed with Mg-brines) to 3.87 H⁺/Kg dry ash for those with the C(4) brines. As expected, those constituents from the cationic brines were found on the lower region of acid addition (in the order Mg-brines < Ca-brines < Na-brines) while the anionic brines were found at the upper region of acid addition (in the order S(6)-brines < Cl-brines < C(4)-brines). In the middle region of acid addition were three important scenarios: that of ash with brine, ash without brines (i.e. ash with DMW) and ash with both ASW organics and combined brines. It was from these three scenarios that a generalization of the effect of brines and organics on the ANC was inferred. The ANC of ash with demineralised water (DMW) was 2.33 mol H⁺/Kg dry ash and that of ash with ASW organics lower at 2.12 mol H⁺/Kg dry ash which was the same value as that of ash with combined brines. This indicated that brines decreased the ANC of ash by about 9.01 % and which could be attributed to the acid-base neutralization process and the dynamics of solid phase dissolutions in response to the acid addition. Both fly ashes exhibited a typical pH > 12 (suspension in demineralised water) and the predominant cation even at this high pH is Ca²⁺ (at concentration > 0.002 mmol/L). This indicates that dissolution of CaO and formation of OH⁻ species at pH > 10 contributes to acid neutralisation capacity of both fly ashes and is the greatest contributor to the acid neutralizing capacity of both fly ashes. Two broad leaching behaviours as a function of pH were observed from the three fly ash-ASW organics-brines scenarios (i) leaching of Ca, Mg, Ni and Sr follows a cationic pattern where the concentration decreases monotonically as pH increases; (ii) leaching of Al, Fe, Ti and Zn follow an amphoteric pattern where the concentration increases at acidic and alkaline pH, although Al showed some anomaly from pH 11 where the concentration decreased with the increase in pH. Al showed an amphoteric pattern in which its release increased between pH 12.8 and 11 for all the scenarios and then decreased with decrease in pH down to neutral pH of 7. The batch leaching simulation results from hydrogeochemical modeling also showed that mineral dissolution, precipitation and new phase formation during ash-organics-brines interactions was controlled by pH. The newly formed phases however remain in equilibrium with the ash-brines-organics mixture. Each individual mineral phase dissolution/precipitation/formation system controls the concentration and speciation of the respective constituent elements as evidenced by the log C-pH diagrams obtained from the modeled scenarios. The ash-brines-organics interactions do exhibit and affect the mineralogical chemistry of fly ash. However the extent to which these interactions occur and their effect, varies from one scenario to another, and are dependent on the amounts and type of the constituent brine components. Organics do have a significant effect on dissolution characteristics of few minerals such as calcite, mullite, kaolinite, Ni₂SiO₄, and SrSiO₃ due to complexation effect. The effect is quantitatively conspicuous for calcite mineral phase and for the formation of some new phases such as Fe(OH)₃(am)-CF and portlandite. The composition of the liquid phase from acid neutralisation capacity experiments was successful.Hydrogeochemical modeling was used as a means to provide insights and understanding of the complex reactions taking place, speciation and mineralogical changes occurring. These changes would serve to predict future environmental scenarios when pH conditions change. In this study, an extension of the application field of PHREEQC hydrogeochemical code for modeling and simulation of equilibrium; kinetic and transport mechanisms associated with the interaction of water; and organics and brines with fly ash during their co-disposal is successfully demonstrated. The parameters associated with these mechanisms were used as inputs into the PHREEQC program using modified Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) database for inorganic brines and MINTEQ.V4 database for organics, and used to model the results of ANC test data for the fly ashes. A special reference is made to two separate modeled mineralogical ash recipes from two of the South African power utility plants' fly ash systems, namely, Tutuka and Secunda. The effects of brines in the leaching of major, minor and trace elements at various pH values and the mineralogical changes associated with the intermediate and final products from the interactions of ash-brines systems under different scenarios are qualitatively and quantatively discussed. Multiphase saturation characteristics have been determined for mineral species in contact with water and brines. The modeling results indicated that several mineral phases could be controlling the species concentration in the leachates, and the ANC and column modeling results corroborated well in many aspects with the experimental results obtained from collaborating institutions (South Africa Universities and Research institutions). In addition, application of the PHREEQC model to the ash heap under different disposal systems was carried out to predict the heap leachate composition and geochemical transformations taking place in a period of time. Pore water chemical analysis, and moisture content analysis revealed that contact of the ash with water is a crucial factor in the mobilization of the contaminants with time. Maximum weathering/dissolution of the ash is observed in the top layer (1-3) m and at the point of contact with the subsurface water level which was in good agreement with the model results. The surface layer and the very lowest layers of the dump in contact with lateral flows experience the highest degree of weathering leading to depletion of species. The geophysical transformation of fly ash was also captured through the porosity change calculations and the results revealed that geochemical reactions do affect the porosity of fly ash during the weathering processes. These modelling results were in agreement with the hydraulic tests and salt leaching tests conducted during Sasol-Eskom ashbrine project in Phase I which suggested that salts captured in the ash will become mobile and leach from the fly ash over time. The data therefore indicates that ash dumps may not act as sustainable salt sinks. These findings may have some bearing on engineering decisions on fly ash reuse. From the above observations, it is apparent that release of large quantities of the salts in the ash depends on the extent of its interaction with brines being used for irrigation or with water, either through plug-in flow after a rainfall event or contact with groundwater. The results revealed effects of brine-water contact time with fly ash, the flow volume and velocity, the pH, the degree of saturation, hydrogeology and ash heap geometry as important factors that affect fly ash transformation and weathering. Overall, the ash heap modeling enhanced the understanding of the ash-brines interactions and demonstrated that leachate composition is determined by the following factors; (i) the mass flows from the pores of fly ash, (ii) the surface dissolution of the mineral phases, (iii) the various chemical reactions involved during the ash-brine and ash-water interactions, (iv) the interactions with a gas phase (atmospheric CO₂), (v) the composition of the initial fly ash, and (vi) by the leachate flow and hydrodynamics as captured in the conceptual model. Any ash handling system should therefore be designed to take these criteria into consideration to prevent environmental contamination. The modeling results also gave indications that the ash-brine co-disposal in dry ash systems would be an unsustainable way of locking up brine salts in the long run. In this Thesis, modeling results were used to support experimental data which further reaffirmed the important role hydrogeochemical modeling plays in liquid and solid waste management. Furthermore, hydrogeochemical modeling complements the work of analytical/environmental scientists as well as guiding the future solid waste management and engineering decisions. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

The end of the last century saw a meteoric rise in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and its implementation worldwide subsequent to it being legislated by the United States in 1970. The South African Government's Council for the Environment attempted to emulate international developments in EIA and compiled the Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) guidelines of 1989 which delineated the procedure for undertaking EIAs for development projects in South Africa. It was envisaged that these guidelines would ultimately be made law. The period between 1989 and 1997 was a window period when the IEM guidelines were implemented voluntarily. This period therefore constitutes an important era in the history of EIA in South Africa to which constant reference is made and upon which further development in EIA in South Africa has been reliant. The period 1989 to 1997 also coincided with a major increase in the bulk electricity supply to KwaZulu-Natal by Eskom, the national electricity utility. Eskom had actively tracked the evolution of Environmental Management globally and was considered to be at the forefront of Industrial Environmental Management in South Africa and there was therefore an expectation that Eskom would implement the IEM guidelines. In this study twelve EIAs for Eskom powerlines and substations constructed in KZN for the period were analysed and trends in the implementation of the IEM guidelines extrapolated. This study highlights the extent to which the IEM guidelines were implemented. It discusses the problems attendant to its implementation, which were found to be common to the implementation of EIA globally. From this research it became clear that factors external to the IEM guidelines needed to be resolved before the IEM guidelines could be implemented. The administrative requirement was one of the most important and necessary requirements for successful implementation, but this had not been thoroughly anticipated by Eskom nor the guidelines themselves. This required that there was major reform to policy and company procedure, which had to be clearly understood and accepted, before IEM could be effectively implemented. As a consequence, the implementation of the various steps of the IEM guidelines seldom revealed consistent and satisfactory implementation. Even where the IEM guidelines were more closely followed and implemented, previously entrenched technocentrist procedures and ideals persisted and therefore IEM was subverted and implemented with the wrong goal in mind. There was also an expectation that there would be an improvement in EIA practice with time. It was found that there was a greater association between the quality of the EIA conducted and the Eskom Environmental Officer responsible for it, rather than a consistent improvement with time. Thus integration into the project process of environmental procedure is a complex process and it requires firstly that a company is reformed. Reform has subsequently begun to transpire in Eskom. This reform includes education of company employees, which in turn is linked to political will which is necessary to effect the changes required to apply a procedure such as the IEM guidelines. This study reviews the implementation of the IEM guidelines in Eskom during this important development phase. It therefore reflects on a key portion of the history of EIA implementation in this country. The study provides insight into organisational reform and the voluntary commitments required for successful implementation of EIA. Benefit can be drawn from this study for future implementation of EIA even though EIA legislation now exists, as some form of voluntariness, political will and organisational reform is always imperative for ETA's successful and effective implementation. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The South African Government has set a target of universal access to basic electricity by the year 2012. Free basic electricity is defined as the amount of electricity sufficient to provide basic lighting, media access, water heating and ironing with on-grid electricity; or basic lighting and media access for a non-grid system. Eskom Distribution, in conjunction with local municipalities, is responsible for the outstanding electrification predominantly in rural areas. In KwaZulu-Natal, mountainous terrain and scattered settlement patterns of communities complicate the achievement of this goal. This study was aimed at using GIS to address the urgent need to plan electrification, firstly by identifying areas that need electrification and secondly by prioritising those areas according to set principles. Electrification areas were effectively identified and prioritised from both a need and capability of supply aspect. The study then aimed at designing the shortest networks from the grid to those identified electrification areas. To determine electrification areas spatially, electoral areas (EAs) demarcated as rural during the run up to the 1994 elections were used to identify rural areas; and Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality, current electrification projects, reserves and a buffer zone around existing transformers excluded. Household point data was used to polygonize the remaining area, and those polygons were aggregated on their calculated area to create future rural electrification areas (FREA). A points and weighting system; based on one initially used in Namibia and further developed in an electrification planning model by RAPS Consulting, CSIR and DME to prioritise villages for electrification; was applied to calculate point scores for each FREA and other criteria such as distance from a network with capacity considered to determine a prioritised list of FREA that can be electrified immediately. Roads, land cover, household positions and slope were used to design the shortest path from the grid to the three highest scoring FREA. Each layer was reclassified, ratings applied and the layers combined to successfully determine the final path in terms of the criteria used. Interest in using GIS for spatial planning has led to a GIS Initiative Group (GISIG) being formed at Eskom Distribution in Eastern Region to address data collection, co-ordination of planning, tools written previously but never implemented being re-evaluated and, more recently, new tools being designed. However, much is still needed in terms of research, resolving of data quality issues, testing of points and weighting systems, and for functionally independent sections to work together on making changes to age-old system structures and processes before any of the recommendations resulting from this study can be effectively implemented. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Thesis (MTech (Quality))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011. / This research project in Procurement Quality Engineering was conducted at a Nuclear Power Generation Company in the Western Cape, South Africa. During the past decade, quality management has become increasingly recognised as highly desirable for all organisations at all levels. All organisations, to varied degrees, can benefit from the application of quality management skills in some parts of their daily operations. The research project will investigate the impact or effect of late deliveries of spares on the operational cost of the organisation. The organisation is not aware what impact the delivery of spares has on operating costs. Against the above background, the problem to be researched within the ambit of this dissertation reads as follows: "Poor product and / or service delivery from Vendors and / or Suppliers have an adverse impact on the output of the Procurement Quality Department" .The primary research objectives of this study are the following: ~ To emphasise the importance of quality within the supply chain. ~ To investigate the impact of non-conforming items delivered to a Nuclear Power Plant. ~ To determine measures which can be put in place to improve communication between suppliers, vendors, buyers and procurement quality engineering. ~ To determine or investigate the cost of poor quality in the organisation. ~ To improve the quality of goods and services through the application of a quality management system within the supply chain. The research method used in this research project involved both qualitative and quantitative research processes. Questionnaires and statistical techniques were used to analyse the data, and to draw conclusions and recommend possible areas for improvement. The research methodology falls within the ambit of a case study.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research report discusses the development of a decision-making matrix during power crises. South Africa comes from a situation of excess supply and is currently in a situation where electricity demand exceeds supply. This report will provide the background of how the current electricity crisis came to be and what the future of the industry will look like. As electricity shortages is a worldwide issue, the study will explore international countries' experience of supply shortages and extract lessons learnt and best practices that can be applied in the South African context. The study reviews available solutions that exist to address the electricity crisis in South Africa and explores alternative energy sources that could be applied in South Africa. To establish an effective decision making tool for electricity shortage response mechanisms, the key decision making criteria are discussed and explained. A decision making matrix brings together all the available solutions and decision-making criteria based on the decision maker's relative importance placed on the considerations and the resultant impact on these considerations. The results of the decision-making matrix directs the decision maker to the least negative impact solution and provides a basis on which to make sound decisions during a time when quick and effective decisions will determine the success and sustainability of the power system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsverslag bespreek die ontwikkeling van 'n besluitnemingsmodel wat aangewend kan word tydens kritiese tekorte in elekrisiteitsvoorsiening op 'n nasionale basis. Die elektrisiteits- ontwikkelingsvermoë in Suid-Afrika het beweeg vanaf 'n oorskot na 'n posisie waar daar nie in die aanvraag voorsien kan word nie. Hierdie navorsingsverslag skets die agtergrond van wat aanleiding gegee het tot die huidige elektrisiteitskrisis en wat die toekoms inhou vir elektrisiteitsvoorsiening in die algemeen. Die gebrek aan elektrisiteitsontwikkelingsvermoë is 'n wêreldwye tendens en die lesse wat ander lande geleer het tesame met hul beste praktyke word oorweeg binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Beskikbare oplossings wat op die manier geidentifiseer word, word ontleed, tesame met moontlike alternatiewe energiebronne wat in Suid-Afrika aangewend kan word. Die kern besluitnemingskriteria word bespreek en ontleed om sodoende 'n proses daar te stel waarvolgens die besluitnemingsmodel wat die mees effektiewe oplossing in tye van kritiese elektirsiteitstekorte sal voortbring te ontwikkel. Al die beskikbare en werkbare opsies tydens die periode van elektristeitstekorte word saamgevoeg binne die besluitnemingsmodel om die toepaslikheid daarvan op te weeg teenoor die relatiewe gewig wat die besluitnemer toeken aan al die onderliggende faktore. Die besluitnemingsmodel ondersteun die besluitnemer om, tydens 'n krisis in elektrisiteitsvoersiening, 'n vinnige en doeltreffende besluit te neem wat die minste negatiewe impak het op ekonomiese aktiwiteite en die sukses en stabiliteit van die elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsnetwerk waarborg.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When the African National Congress (ANC) took control of govemment in 1994, it was forced to find an economic strategy that would strike a balance between an improved level of service and maximum economic growth. The privatisation process, which had already been initiated by the previous apartheid government, was continued in order to depoliticise utilities that were contentious in terms of their allocation of scarce resources or competing resources. Privatisation is an economic transformation strategy used worldwide to provide solutions to countries' economic problems. However, within the South African context, it focuses mainly on the restructuring of state-owned assets, with the following objectives: • To reduce the state debt and to stimulate economic growth and development through the sale of state-owned assets • To re-orient and enhance the public sector's ability to meet challenges identified by the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) • To restructure the state-owned enterprises to be more efficient in their operations, while at the same time maximising their contribution to the country's economic growth. The objective of this study is to explore issues that surround privatisation - which governments should understand when planning and implementing privatisation - by studying the process of privatisation adopted in the case of the state-owned electricity monopoly, ESKOM. In a quest for detailed information, this study includes: • An analysis of the economic strategies adopted by the government • The political background to the establishment of these strategies • An analysis of ESKOM and its strategy for privatisation The following problem areas in the privatisation and restructuring of state assets have been identified in the South African economy and need more attention when embarking on privatisation of state-owned enterprises: • Effects of privatisation on the delivery of services to the poor • Conflicts in ideology between the trade unions, particularly the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) • Lessons experienced with other parastatals that have been privatised. This study has identified concerns and challenges that surround the privatisation of ESKOM, and also privatisation as a whole in South Africa. It shows that the government falls short of achieving its pre-determined objectives in the economic transformation of the country as laid down in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) macroeconomic strategy. This alone indicates a need to revisit these strategies and align them with the economic realities facing the South African population. Differences in ideology and views between labour and the government indicate a need for an open consultative process and a clear policy that guides the restructuring of state assets so that the poor are not affected by the adverse effects of privatisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toe die African National Congress (ANC) in 1994 beheer oorgeneem het van die regering, was dié organisasie gedwing om 'n ekonomiese strategie te vind wat 'n balans sou handhaaf tussen 'n verbeterde diensvlak en maksimum ekonomiese groei. Die proses van privatisering, wat deur die vorige apartheid-regering geïnisieer is, was voortgesit met die doel om fasiliteite wat omstrede was in terme van die toedeling van skaars bronne of kompeterende bronne, te depolitiseer. Privatisering is 'n ekonomiese transformasie-strategie wat wêreldwyd gebruik word om oplossings vir lande se ekonomiese probleme te verskaf. Binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks fokus dit egter op die rekonstruksie van staatsbates, met die volgende doelstellings: • Om staatskuld te verminder en om ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling te stimuleer deur die verkope van bates wat in besit van die staat is. • Om die openbare sektor se vermoë opnuut in te stel en te bevorder om sodoende die uitdagings wat deur die Heropbou- en Ontwikkelingsprogram (HOP) geïdentifiseer is, aan te pak. • Om staatsbates te herstruktureer sodat hulle meer doeltreffend bedryf kan word en om terselfdertyd hul bydrae tot die land se ekonomiese groei te maksimeer. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die kwessies rondom privatisering (wat regerings behoort te begryp wanneer hulle privatisering beplan en implementeer) te ondersoek deur die privatiseringsproses van ESKOM, die elektrisiteitsmonopolie in staatsbesit, te bestudeer. In die soeke na uitvoerige inligting, sluit hierdie studie die volgende in: • 'n Analise van ESKOM en sy strategie ten opsigte van privatisering • 'n Analise van die ekonomiese strategieë van die regering • Die politiese agtergrond tot die opstel van hierdie strategieë. Die volgende probleem areas rondom privatisering en herstrukturering van staatsbates in die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie is geïdentifiseer en het meer aandag nodig wanneer staatsbates privatiseer word: • Gevolge van privatisering op lewering van dienste aan die armes • Teenstrydige ideologieë van die vakbond federasies, veral die Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) • Lesse geleer van ander semi-staatsinstellings wat geprivatiseer is. Hierdie studie het kwellinge en uitdagings rondom die privatisering van ESKOM, asook rondom privatisering in Suid-Afrika in die geheel, geïdentifiseer. Die studie wys dat die regering nie sy doelstellings bereik het nie ten opsigte van die ekonomiese transformasie van die land soos uiteengesit in die Heropbou- en Ontwikkelingsprogram (HOP) en die Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR)- makro-ekonomiese strategie. Dit alleen dui op die noodsaaklikheid om hierdie strategieë te heroorweeg en om dit in lyn te bring met die ekonomiese realiteite wat die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking in die gesig staar. Verskille in ideologie en sienings tussen arbeid en die regering wys op die nodigheid vir 'n oop konsulterende proses en 'n duidelike beleid wat rekonstruksie van staatsbates op so 'n manier rig dat die negatiewe gevolge van privatisering van staatsbates nie daarop impakteer nie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: National and international studies on the impact of the HIVand AIDS epidemie, create a picture of serious negative effects on the South African economy, together with immense suffering and despair for her people. The untimely death of millions of people due to a disease is totally unnatural and basically unimaginable and it is therefore not surprising that people, organisations and government tend to shy away from the problems. Businesses drive growth and development, mobilise investment, nurture innovation, provide employment, develop skills, pay taxes and provide returns to investors. Outside the political arena businesses is the only group that do have the capacity and resources to make a major and effective contribution to the fight against the HIV and AIDS epidemic. This study provides a theoretical introduction to HIV and AIDS but more importantly it indicates that the business world has woken up to the threat of the HIV and AIDS epidemic and are reacting to it. The study concludes that the battle is not won as yet. There is room for improvement and major enhancements are required to current strategies and programmes to make it more effective. Eskom was selected as the case study to substantiate the abovementioned opinions and conclusions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nasionale en internasionale studies oor die impak van die MIV en VIGS-epidemie dui op die ernstige negatiewe gevolge vir die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Dit veroorsaak ook geweldige lyding en wanhoop onder mense. Die ontydige dood van miljoene mense weens 'n siekte is heeltemal onnatuurlik en ondenkbaar. Dit is daarom geen wonder nie dat mense, organisasies en die regering daarvan wegskram. Sakeondernemings dryf groei en ontwikkeling, mobiliseer beleggingsmoontlikhede, moedig vernuwing aan, skep werkgeleenthede, ontwikkel vaardighede, betaal belasting en verskaf 'n opbrengs aan beleggers. Buite die politieke arena is sakeondernemings die enigste groep wat die kapasiteit en hulpbronne het om op grootskaal 'n doeltreffende bydrae te lewer tot die bekamping van die MIV en VIGS epidemie. Die studie is 'n teoretiese inleiding tot MIV en VIGS. Die belangrikste aspek wat na vore kom, is dat sakeondernemings wakker geskrik het oor die bedreiging van MIV en VIGS en dat hulle daarop reageer. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die geveg nog nie gewen is nie. Daar is baie ruimte vir verbetering en grootskaalse veranderinge is nodig om die huidige strategieë en programme meer doeltreffend te maak. Eskom is as gevallestudie gebruik om bogenoemde menings en gevolgtrekkings te ondersteun.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / Eskom as a recognised engineering company attracts a number of engineers yearly. Despite the success in attracting engineers, the state-owned utility has been raising concerns about a shortage of engineering skill. The case study sought to explore different programmes and processes Eskom has in place that will contribute in building and retaining the successfully attracted engineers. The aim of the study was to gain appreciation of current methods used for engineer career management. Furthermore, the intention was to make recommendations on the best way to ensure that an integrated career path for engineers in training for sustainable skills development is realised in all business units in the Western Cape Operating Unit (WCOU). The main question the research sought to answer is: What programmes and processes does Eskom have in place that will contribute to building an integrated Engineer in Training (EIT) career path for sustainable skills development? Secondary questions The investigative questions for the proposed research in support of the research question are as follows: - How do the current human resource management strategies and practices contribute to building an integrated career path for EITs in Eskom WCOU? - How do the Eskom WCOU business processes and organisational culture support the career developmental initiatives for EITs? - What career life cycle management approach is used by Eskom WCOU? Primary data for the research was gathered using two research instruments. These were a survey and semi-structured interviews. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from engineers that have been part of the EIT programme and that have been employed in the Eskom WCOU unit from 2005 to date. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from senior managers and the general manager in WCOU. Non-probability purposive sampling was used, as the intention of the research was specifically to gain knowledge about those involved in engineering careers in this province. The research revealed nine critical variables that influence sustainable engineer skills development in the province. These are: - Leadership - Employee approach to learning - Organisation structure - Mentorship and coaching - Peer reviews - Development programme - Cross divisional exposure - Sustainable engineer skills development. The findings revealed that the first three variables listed above, namely visible, supportive leadership, positive approach to learning by employees and better use of the current organisational structure, are the main drivers for sustainable skills development in the province.

M.Sc. / This report details the identification of potential sites suitable for both renewable and non-renewable electricity generating technologies in South Africa. Eskom through its Integrated Electricity Planning Process (IEP) determines future-planning scenarios based on demand and supply side options, while considering expected growth in demand for electricity. Site suitability can have a significant influence on the viability of options selected through IEP ...

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016 / Eskom is a state owned enterprise that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to various sectors. Hence, it supports South Africa’s growth and development aspirations by constructing new electricity infrastructure. This can be achieved by adopting safety, health, environmental and quality (SHEQ) management as a business imperative. Presently, there have been a number of incidents and accidents at some construction sites of the Eskom distribution sector in the Mpumalanga province, which are mainly due to non-compliance with construction health and safety. This research project aims to determine the compliance of contractors servicing Eskom. This is achieved by checking the compliance of the health and safety file of contractors with the Safety, Health and Environmental specification checklist of Eskom. The study aims to investigate if the use of the checklist has improved contractors’ compliance by 2014. In order to achieve these aims, factors are addressed relating to the current state of construction health and safety legislation; the impact of construction health and safety on the economy; project parameters; roles and responsibilities of parties involved on construction sites; performance of small and emerging contractors. The study shows that established contractors always achieved higher compliance when compared to the emerging contractors. In 2014, 90% of contractors complied with the checklist, hence in 2015/16 the contractors can be expected to meet the 100% requirement, therefore complying with the Eskom value of “Zero Harm”.