Electricity and Control March 2025

Renewable energy + industrial sustainability: Products + services

A Southern Africa Chapter for FutureCoal

Africa is a testament to our commitment and leadership in uniting the value chain and reshaping coal’s future, regionally and internationally,” stated Mike Teke. The chapter, which already comprises 13 members from across the region, is underpinned by FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship (SCS) stance. The SCS roadmap emphasises innovation and technologies that modernise the value chain to achieve mutually beneficial economic and environmental outcomes that serve national and global ambitions. Teke added: “We now have a chance to follow the beat of our drum. We are nations blessed with a valuable resource, and we will be stronger together. I am calling on more of my peers across coal enterprises to publicly join this alliance that leads a pragmatic and realistic discussion on coal’s inclusion in the future economy “If we are to truly support our communities and foster their prosperity, we must recognise that the responsibility lies with us to drive this transformation so we can achieve the best for our nations and our continent.” Despite coal’s crucial role in modern life and its contribution to poverty alleviation, many remain unaware of these facts and lack an understanding of how policies that exclude coal can leave a nation more vulnerable or falling behind. Michelle Manook, CEO of FutureCoal, highlighted, “FutureCoal’s SCS roadmap serves as the foundation to reverse this trend by facilitating responsible policy and investment decisions that support modernisation and transformation. The Southern Africa Chapter members, led by Chairman Mike Teke, are commendable for their proactive approach. Our shared goal is prosperity for all. This is not about choosing one path over another; it is about empowering regions to chart their own course and foster their responsible growth.”

FutureCoal in February 2025 launched a Southern Africa Chapter, with Seriti Resources Group Chief Executive O†icer Mike Teke serving as its inaugural Chairman. The chapter comprises the top four African coal nations: South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. These nations collectively hold 150 billion tonnes of coal reserves, placing them among the world’s top coal-rich countries. The regional initiative will build on FutureCoal’s global advocacy e†orts, which champion sustainable transformation across the entire coal value chain. It will unite industry leaders, governments, and international partners to ensure consistent and clear policies and strategies that enhance the responsible and sustainable use of coal in critical sectors such as power, heavy industry, critical minerals, and hydrogen. “Launching the inaugural FutureCoal Chapter in Southern inside the system ensures that the energy chain always maintains its bend radius and is always securely positioned,” Berteit explains. With this controlled guidance, the cables can perform rotational movements of up to 1 800° without tangling or kinking. “This enables the operators to turn the nacelle up to five times around its own axis in one direction without being forced to work quickly against the wind. Hence, it keeps the alignment of the system safe and energy e†icient.” Pre-fitting saves assembly time Another goal for igus was to save space and installation time for users of the new cable guidance system. “We have designed the module to be compact. With an external diameter of just 1 300 mm and an installation height of less than 1m, it requires only minimal space around the rotary axis,” says Berteit. In addition, users can conveniently equip the system with the required cables on land or receive it fully harnessed from igus. Here, igus o†ers cables from the chainflex range. They permanently withstand torsional loads, function reliably under adverse environmental influences such as large temperature fluctuations and thus further increase the reliability of wind turbines. Continued from page 17 Mike Teke, Group CEO of Seriti Resources, will serve as the inaugural Chairman of the Southern Africa Chapter of FutureCoal. [Photo credit: Seriti Resources]

“With the pre-fitted rotating energy supply, the assembly time on site at the plant, which is o–en associated with very high costs, can be reduced by up to 50%,” Berteit.highlights.

Innovative cable guidance from igus allows for reliable rotary movement of power and data cables in nacelles of up to 1 800° and helps to minimise the risk of cable failure in wind turbines.

18 Electricity + Control MARCH 2025