The Import Localisation and Supply Chain Disruption study is a quarterly report that seeks to identify goods from the list of imports identified in the Import Tracker report that South Africa could possibly viably manufacture. Each quarter focuses on five manufactured items from the list of imports in the corresponding quarter's Import Tracker report. The five products in this report are: 

Product 1: Self-propelled mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders, with a 360° revolving superstructure

Product 2: Storage units for automatic data-processing machine

Product 3: Brakes and servo-brakes and their parts, n.e.s.: Other

Product 4: Apple juice, unfermented

Product 5: Acrylic polymers, in primary forms (excluding poly"methyl methacrylate"): Other

See Import Tracker - First Quarter 2022

The purpose of this paper is to consider how the multiple projects, programmes, measures, initiatives and investments that have been proposed to support a just transition for affected workers and communities in South Africa can be used to inform i) thinking about appropriate context specific codification and tagging; and ii) estimating just transition financial flows. This suggested evidence-based approach supports a learning by doing theory of change and would support bottom-up, on-the -ground evidence to be added to top-down theoretical and analytical approaches to tagging and measurement.

The paper is an initial contribution to what will inevitably be a long-term, iterative ongoing project. The urgency to take preliminary steps is driven by the need to collect evidence to: shape the ongoing research agenda related to just transition finance mobilisation and deployment; assist policymakers to make better and more informed decisions on possible legislative and regulatory interventions, subsidies and incentives to support a just transition; and, most importantly, the identification of just transition financing gaps and opportunities.

This paper argues that South Africa needs to mainstream climate change into its National Development Plan (and Sustainable Development Goals), by advancing i) climate resilient development  through several pathways, including; ii) South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution commitment to a low-carbon economy; iii) renewable energy and transition to a low-carbon economy; iv) climate change adaptation and resilience; and v) financing a  just transition to renewable energy. The paper also discusses the impact of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on South Africa’s competitiveness and climate resilient developmet and looks at the impact of climate change in Africa. It concludes with some policy recommendations on what can South Africa, BRICS and other developing countries can do to support their strategies towards climate resilient development in a way that is socially just and fair.

Support to Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones for COVID pandemic prevention and response: Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa.

The research for this project comprised three outputs:

Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemics
Work Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic recovery plans
Work Output 3: Industrial Park standard operating procedures for disaster risks reduction and response

This document covers Work Output 1: Support Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in responding to COVID-19 through the development of national guidelines for Industrial Parks and SEZs on COVID-19 and future pandemic resilience responses.

Copies of the other reports are available here:

Work Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic recovery plans
Work Output 3: Industrial Park standard operating procedures for disaster risks reduction and response

Support to Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones for COVID pandemic prevention and response: Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa.

The research for this project comprised three outputs:

Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemics
Work Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic recovery plans
Work Output 3: Industrial Park standard operating procedures for disaster risks reduction and response

This report covers Work Output 2: Report on technical support on COVID-19 economic recovery plans to selected Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones within the framework of the National Eco-Industrial Park Framework.

Copies of the other reports are available here:

Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial parks to COVID-19 and future pandamics
Work Output 3: Industrial Park standard operating procedures for disaster risks reduction and response

Support to Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones for COVID pandemic prevention and response: Enhancing industrial resilience in South Africa.

The research for this project comprised three outputs:

Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemics
Work Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic recovery plans
Work Output 3: Industrial Park standard operating procedures for disaster risks reduction and response

This report covers Work Output 3: The development of Special Economic Zone/Industrial Park Standard Operating Procedures for Disaster Risks Reduction and Response

Copies of the other reports are available here:

Work Output 1: Responses of Industrial Parks to COVID-19 and future pandemics
Work Output 2: Technical support to Industrial Parks on COVID-19 economic recovery plans

The growth of South Africa’s merchandise exports moderated further in the first quarter of 2022, recording an increase of 6.2% year-on-year amounting to R456 billion, down from a 7.3% increase in Q4 2021. The slow growth was driven by poor quarterly performance, with exports declining by 3.7% from Q4 2021. In contrast, merchandise imports saw a significant increase of 19.2% year-on-year, amounting to R394 billion, as well as an increase of 1.8% from Q4 2021. The increase in imports is attributable to the surge in mineral prices, particularly the petroleum prices, exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Overall the push for more electricity generation, particularly renewable energy generation, is likely to result in a significant increase in Wind Energy projects across the country. This is turn will drive demand for components and services needed for development and operations of wind plants. Given  this context, and to add to the existing body of knowledge on the manufacturing value chain for Wind Energy, this report provides focused insights on:

• Tower manufacturing.
• Materials for Wind Energy.
• Imports and exports of Wind Energy components.

 FACTSHEET: Opportunities in South Africa's Wind Energy value chain

RELATED RESEARCH

The state of research on renewable energy value chains in South Africa: Firms and employment characteristics

Insights into the Solar PV manufacturing value chain in South Africa

The push for more electricity generation, particularly renewable energy generation, is likely to result in a significant increase in Solar PV projects across the country. This is turn will drive demand for the components and services. Given this context, and to add to the existing body of knowledge on the Solar PV manufacturing value chain, this report provides insights on:

• Inverter manufacturing.
• Mounting frame manufacturing.
• Materials for Solar PV.
• Imports and exports of Solar PV components.

FACTSHEET: Opportunities in South Africa's Solar PV energy value chain

RELATED RESEARCH

The state of research on renewable energy value chains in South Africa: Firms and employment characteristics

Insights into the Wind Energy value chain in South Africa

The Presidential electricity plan announced in July 2022, which is set to relax regulations for private generators and double the size of Bid Window 6 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme, is intended to drive more renewable energy uptake. This should in turn lead to an increase in the demand for value chain manufactured components and services to RE generators.

Such a demand could create opportunities for South African suppliers and lead to employment creation. This is, however, contingent on local firms being able to respond to the opportunity with appropriate industrial development support from government. To do this, in the case of the manufacturing value chain in particular, an improved understanding is needed of local manufacturing and the firms  producing materials, and their employment characteristics. This is not in place: there is significant research on South African renewable energy industries, but few studies provide details on the value chains supplying the different renewable energy industries. They also do not detail the local firms within these value chains or their employment characteristics. Only a few studies provide information on the materials used to manufacture these inputs (and the jobs associated with the materials used in renewable manufacturing value chains.

This report describes and discusses the major sources of data that exist on renewable energy firms and employment in these value chains. It concludes with some ideas on how and where to build this knowledge base.

RELATED RESEARCH

Insights into the Solar Photovoltaic manufacturing value chain in South Africa

Insights into the Wind Energy value chain in South Africa