Sparks Electrical News July 2025

CABLES & CABLE ACCESSORIES

11

Possible copper cable crisis looms, warns SOEW W ith the world requiring up to 3 billion metric tons of copper by 2050 to support green energy transitions “However, this growth is jeopardised by substandard cables, with one in six fires

50618 and SANS IEC 62930 standards, degrade under South Africa’s harsh climate, leading to arcing, overheating and efficiency losses. Tests like thermal endurance and UV resistance, mandated by these standards, are often bypassed by manufacturers using inferior PVC insulation, shortening lifespans below the required 15 years. Economically, this results in higher repair costs and reduced system output, a risk heightened as copper scarcity drives price increases that could attract low-quality producers, he says. Ness cautions, “As copper demand surges, the temptation to cut costs with substandard cables will grow.” SOEW’s locally manufactured, high-conductivity tinned copper cables with cross-linked polyolefin (XLPO) insulation meet these rigorous standards, ensuring safety and durability. “By producing locally, SOEW reduces import dependency, lowers costs and supports South African jobs, aligning with the SABS’s push for compliance,” explains Ness. The University of Michigan study’s recycling projection,

linked to faulty wiring, as seen in a 2023 Cape Town company headquarters blaze and a 2024 Durban warehouse explosion, causing millions of rands in damages,” says Tertius Ness, chief operating officer of South Ocean Electric Wire (SOEW), a local cable manufacturer. “South Africa’s booming infrastructure and renewable energy sectors face a possible looming crisis as global copper demand grows, potentially opening the door further to an influx of poor-quality imported copper cables. Local manufacturers have supplied only small quantities of solar cable during this boom period, with imports making up the majority of supply. In many cases imported products have competed on price alone against local manufacturers with often quality compromised,” warns Ness. He emphasises that quality copper cabling, whether for solar, power grids or telecommunications, is non-negotiable. Substandard imports, often failing BS EN

and developing nations’ infrastructure, far exceeding the 23 million metric tons mined in 2024, pressure on supply chains is mounting. This could drive copper prices above US$20,000 per metric ton, nearly double today’s US$9,000, incentivising new mines but also risking a flood of substandard products, including cables critical to electrical systems. This is according to a University of Michigan study published in SEG Discovery, co-led by Adam Simon. The research highlights copper’s pivotal role in electrification, water distribution, and healthcare infrastructure, predicting a need for 78 new mines by 2050 to meet ‘business-as-usual’ growth, let alone, ambitious green goals. This surge in demand ties directly to South Africa’s solar boom, where over 6,200 MW of rooftop solar was installed by early 2025, a 15% rise year-over-year, per the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA).

Tertius Ness, COO, SOEW.

13.5 million metric tons by 2050, further underscores the need for durable, recyclable cables, an area where SOEW excels. Ness warns that with price hikes looming, consumers and installers must demand transparency in testing and material specs from manufacturers. That’s why SOEW advocates for heightened vigilance to protect South Africa’s energy and infrastructure ambitions. earlier interventions, alongside more strategic investment in education, as well as sector visibility and career accessibility. To build a sustainable talent pipeline for our renewable energy sector, South Africa needs early interventions, targeted training, youth focused outreach, and inclusive access to industry spaces. Enquiries: https://soew.co.za/

Unlocking youth potential to boost South Africa’s energy sector

active engagement with young people. “Without a deliberate, coordinated effort to engage and develop young talent, we risk building an industry that cannot sustain itself,” he says. This is not just about filling job vacancies. “We need to shape a future workforce that is skilled, motivated, and has the skills to succeed in the society it will be serving,” says Sookhun. This, in turn, requires

More than just jobs Addressing the readiness of the youth to take up jobs within the energy sector is only one piece of the puzzle, according to Sookhun. The industry itself has a crucial role to play in creating opportunities and pathways toward career growth, including bursaries, internships, and apprenticeships. Increased visibility of the renewable energy sector should also be a priority, to ensure that there is greater awareness of renewable power and the energy transition as career options. Career days, company visits and open days, as well as partnerships with schools and tertiary institutions, can help bridge the knowledge and access gap, providing clearer direction and exposure to real opportunities. Getting young people in the room Many young people still do not know the full range of careers available in the energy space, and without that knowledge, they cannot pursue these paths. Schools, colleges and universities, supported by industry, need to be proactive in advertising where growth sectors are, what skills are needed and how students can get involved. Once students are studying related fields, it is also important that they be given insight into the industry to further their understanding of the requirements. Conferences and high-level industry events are becoming increasingly frequent, but they remain largely inaccessible to students. Opening some of these spaces to youth by waiving the delegate pricing for students, particularly those in their second or third year of technical or engineering studies, could be hugely transformative. Listening to strategic discussions, networking with senior professionals, and simply being in the room could shape career ambitions and offer much-needed motivation. From tick-boxes to transformation To address our growing skills pipeline challenges, youth development cannot simply be a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) project or a tick-box exercise, explains Sookhun. Real transformation and a strong future for our renewable energy sector will require a strategic, long-term and effectively resourced approach. This needs to include commitment from industry as well as input and involvement from government and education, as well as

Enquiries: www.oxyon.co.za

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T he renewable energy industry is booming in Southern Africa and beyond. However, we face a growing challenge in making the transition to a more sustainable energy future: the talent pipeline, according to Viren Sookhun, MD at Oxyon People Solutions. The local sector has typically relied on older, experienced professionals from the legacy power sector, but they are ageing and retiring, and young people are not entering the sector in meaningful numbers, leaving us without future talent to continue driving the industry forward, Sookhun explains. “Fixing this gap to enable real transformation and long-term success will require collaborative action from both industry and the youth themselves, as well as a new approach to how we educate, inspire, and involve the next generation,” he says. The importance of starting early One of the issues we currently face is that education initiatives and recruitment drives into the sector are targeting people who have already completed high school. The reality is that this is already too late. To build a sustainable workforce, the journey into the energy sector needs to start as early as Grade 10, when students begin to make subject and career choices, notes Sookhun. More technical qualifications relevant to the energy industry should be introduced at this stage, not just at the post-matric level. These should not necessarily be limited to engineering, as project management and other technical energy-specific roles are also in demand, and they all require relevant skills. South Africa’s many Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges could play a key role here by offering more targeted, industry-aligned courses from the outset. Viren Sookhun, MD, Oxyon People Solutions.

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