Energy Conversations Podcast

How do you build a career in South Africa's renewable energy sector, especially when the path isn't obvious? In this Energy Careers episode, Thokozile Zambane sits down with Abey Tau, Director of Social Impact and Sustainability at Mulilo Energy. Abey started out in public administration and worked through consultancy, IT and fossil fuels before moving into renewables. He talks about how h...

Can South Africa turn its mineral wealth into lasting economic benefit or are we just mining for someone else's transition? Dr. Lwazi Ngubevana, CEO of Consulmet South Africa, joins Energy Conversations to unpack why South Africa should stop calling them "critical minerals" and start thinking strategically. From the helium reserves SA lost to an American buyer, to the vocational skil...

"From that one interview where someone said, 'We could have hired four people for your job' — now I introduce myself as the person who can do four people's jobs."Season 3 of Energy Conversations explores the move from policy to participation. 📲 Follow Energy ConversationsLinkedIn: / energy-convosInstagram: / energyconvosTikTok: / energy_convosWhatsApp channel: https://chat.w...

In this episode, Thokozile Zambane is joined by Abey Tau, Director of Social Impact and Sustainability at Mulilo Energy, one of South Africa’s most active independent power producers. Tau takes us inside an IPP to explain how projects engage communities from the first environmental assessments through construction and into operations

Is South Africa's automotive industry ready for Europe's carbon rules? The automotive sector makes up just over 5% of South Africa's GDP and supports around 500,000 jobs across its value chain. Most of the vehicles we export go to Europe, where carbon rules like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are changing what it takes to stay in that market. In this episode, Thokozile Z...

Winning your first energy contract is only the start. You also need to know the rules well enough to use them. In this episode from our archive, Thokozile Zambane speaks to Barutile Unity Makofane, a former corporate procurement and contracts specialist who now runs her own battery and energy storage business. She has reviewed tenders from the inside and now bids for them from the outside. Barutil...

How do you build a 20-year career in the energy sector without ever planning to? For Lomile Modiselle, Director of Energy and Electricity Technical Services at the City of Tshwane, the answer is simple: find the gap, and fill it. In this episode of Energy Conversations - Careers, Lomile shares her remarkable journey. From dropping out of civil engineering due to lack of funds, to stumbling into el...

Eskom generates South Africa's electricity, but it's the municipality that gets it into your kitchen, and that last mile is where the energy transition will actually be decided.   In this episode, Thokozile Zambane speaks to Lomile Modiselle, director of energy and electricity technical services at the City of Tshwane, about her Wits research into how municipalities in Gauteng are integrat...

  Dr Phindile Masangane's career has taken her from a chemistry lab in rural Eswatini to executive roles across South Africa's energy sector, and now to the Development Bank of Southern Africa.   In this episode of Energy Conversations, she walks through the real version of that journey: the opportunities she didn't plan for, building a career and a family at the same time, and what it...

Every substation, wind farm, and power line in South Africa gets built because someone took on the risk first. In this episode of Energy Conversations, host Thokozile Zambane sits down with Dr. Phindile Masangane, Group Executive: Programs at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), to unpack how South Africa's energy infrastructure gets funded. Energy Conversations is powered by Kani D...

Loyiso Tyabashe, Group CEO of Nexa (the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation), traces his path from a village outside Mthatha to leading one of South Africa's key energy institutions. He talks through the chance detour from automotive engineering into nuclear at Koeberg, the "nuclearisation" training that reshaped how he makes decisions, and the toughest transition of his life —...

Necsa Group CEO Loyiso Tyabashe says a nuclear plant's biggest workforce need isn't just physicists, it's artisans. In this episode, host Thokozile Zambane sits down with Tyabashe to unpack South Africa's nuclear roadmap: the revival of the PBMR, the IRP's 5,200MW target, and what it actually takes in skills, training and investment to get there. Covered in this episode: Why PB...

In this episode, we sit down with EWSETA to unpack the new energy careers emerging in South Africa  and how South Africans can get in early. From solar PV technicians and wind turbine operators to battery storage specialists and green hydrogen roles to entrepreneurs in law, finance and more, the Just Energy Transition is opening up career paths that didn't exist a decade ago. The catch? The sk...

South Africa's electricity market is restructuring. The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act came into effect in January 2025, opening the door for competitive electricity trading for the first time. But what does that mean and who gets to participate? In this episode of Energy Conversations, Keith Bowen, Market Operator at NTCSA, breaks down what the new wholesale electricity market looks lik...

In this opening episode of Season 3 of Energy Conversations, Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on the issues ordinary South Africans care about most: load reduction, electricity prices, access, jobs, and community participation.  This season is about one big shift: moving from policy to participation. We're asking how energy pl...

What does it take to build a career in energy without a degree? Hosts Nolukhanyo Mpisane and Wandile Ntshingila speak with Kedibone, an administrator turned aspiring energy professional, proving that passion and persistence can open doors. She shares how short courses, curiosity, and continuous learning shaped her path and how she’s helping others enter the renewable energy space. Watch Part 1 wit...

Energy Careers brings you a focused conversation with Monde Bala, CEO of the National Transmission Company of South Africa. He shares his career journey from his studies through his early professional roles to leading the country’s new transmission entity. The discussion explores Eskom’s restructuring, the mandate of the NTCSA, and what transmission reform means for reliability, grid investment, a...

This episode of Energy Conversations features Monde Bala, CEO of the National Transmission Company of South Africa. He discusses the restructuring of Eskom, the role of the new transmission company, and its implications for South Africa’s electricity future. The conversation unpacks how transmission reforms affect reliability, investment in the grid, and the country’s Just Energy Transition. Mr Ba...

How do you become a supplier of choice in South Africa’s energy ecosystem? In this episode, Thokozile Zambane is joined by Oliver Johnston (Solink), Rita Chen (Agripower), and Mandisa Ngcobo (Nobantu Consulting) to unpack the realities of market access — beyond compliance and beyond capital. From what clients actually look for in suppliers, to how entrepreneurs can position themselves for visibili...

In this episode of the Youth in Energy Conversations Podcast, we dive into how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools are transforming operations and maintenance (O&M) in the renewable energy sector. Our guest, Joshua, a young and innovative entrepreneur, shares how tech-driven solutions are making energy systems more reliable, unlocking new business models, and shaping the future of i...

In this episode of Energy Careers , hosts Nolukhanyo Mpisane and Wandile Ntshingila dive into the dynamic career paths of two professionals shaping South Africa’s carbon economy, Marike Wilson , CFO of Fibon Group, and Shaun Slabber , CEO of Crunch Carbon. Through personal stories and professional insights, the episode unpacks: 🔹 How each guest entered and evolved in the energy and carbon space...

In this episode, host Thokozile Zambane explores the future of carbon markets and South Africa’s role in the global carbon economy. She is joined by Marike Wilson, CFO of Fibon Group, and Shaun Slabber, CEO of Crunch Carbon. The discussion covers: How carbon credits and trading work Opportunities and risks for South Africa in the global carbon market The role of policy, investment, and accountabil...

Welcome back to Energy Conversations, where we break down South Africa’s energy sector into insights that matter. In this episode, host Thokozile Zambane sits down with Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré to go beyond policies and into the personal story behind her leadership. Together, they explore:* The life experiences that shaped her journey.* What power looks like when wielded by women in th...

Navigating the Energy Sector as a Young Professional highlights the journey of training, growth, and leadership in South Africa’s energy industry, with a focus on young women forging their paths. Originally a webinar, this episode now reaches podcast listeners. Engineer in Training at Koeberg, Shela Sekhasembe; Senior Nuclear Safety Analyst, Linina Bedhesi; EV/HEV Training Centre Administrator, Ce...

In this episode, we chart the career journeys of two pioneering leaders driving microgrid innovation in South Africa. This is more than a conversation — it's a masterclass in how to build a purpose-driven career in energy . 🔹 Dom Wills – Founder & Executive Director, Sola Group Dom began his journey as a solar entrepreneur when South Africa’s decentralised energy market was still in its i...