Globally, demands and regulations requiring the use of alternative energies are increasing. However, as the rest of the world starts adopting hydrogen economies, a recent research presentation by the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) revealed that there are still mixed perceptions on the state of readiness for South Africa to do the same.
The presentation highlighted three concerns: the technology required, the skills needed, and the economic viability. To address these concerns, CHIETA has announced that it will be offering specialised skills programmes to help grow green hydrogen economies in the country. “The training will equip them with skills for the changing world of work, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the rapidly growing hydrogen economy,” said the authority’s CEO, Yershen Pillay. This includes short hydrogen safety, storage and project management skills programmes.
He reiterated the huge export potential of hydrogen worldwide, emphasising the urgent need to strengthen these skills pipelines.
“Africa can establish itself as a key supplier of green hydrogen and its derivatives.”
Yershen said that, in these skills programmes, existing qualifications will be augmented with specialised modules to train more gas, electrochemical and electrolysis engineers.
He explained that the traditional roles of machine operator, quality assessor, quality inspector and lab analyst could make way for new skills and competencies, resulting in possible redundancies in mostly manual labour jobs.
According to Yershen, these new job opportunities could include hydrogen fuel cell technicians, hydrogen power plant installation, operation and management, policy analysts, pipefitters, hydrogen sales and marketing consultants, hydrogen fuel transporters, hydrogen vehicle electricians, power system electricians, hydrogen storage specialists and hydrogen systems safety analysts, among others.
Subsequently, the chemicals sector will also require experts in petroleum and base chemicals to be information security analysts, data analysts and scientists, digital transformation specialists, big data specialists, lab analysers and technologists, sample takers, plant operators and material handlers.
Yershen also forecasts new roles for environmental specialists, process specialists, and e-learning developers in the glass sub-sector, leaving inspection and package roles obsolete.
“CHIETA continues to support technological advancements and long-term growth in the chemicals sector through funding skill development initiatives,” he added.
CHIETA also works in close collaboration with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) to design and develop occupational qualifications and trades, quality assurance, accreditation, monitoring as well as certification of competent learners.
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