- Organisation profiles

Minerals & Energy Policy Centre (MEPC) - South Africa

Contact details

7th Floor, Block 9, Mintek Campus, 200 Hans Strijdom Drive, Randburg
PO Box 629, Randburg 2125
www.mepc.org.za
Tel +27 11 709 4665
Fax. +27 11 709 4595

Main contact person

Mr Mongameli Mehlwana (Director)
Mongameli@...
Tel. +27 11 709 4683
Fax. +27 11 709 4595

Mr Hudson Mtegha (Manager)
Tel. +27 11 709 4279
Fax. +27 11 709 4595
Hudson@...

Background, mission and goals

MEPC is an autonomous knowledge-based organization whose mission is to promote the sustainable development of the Minerals and Energy sectors of Africa. We work with national, regional and international public and private clients on a non-profit basis and specifically focus on innovative policy research solutions, facilitation of win-win stakeholder solutions, networking of information resources and empowering stakeholder capabilities. MEPC's vision is to become Africa's foremost policy research and facilitation Centre in the minerals and energy sectors; policy research, analysis and advocacy; policy process facilitation; capacity building, and Information networking and dissemination

MEPC was established in 1994 to address the dearth of policy-making capacity in two vital areas of the economy, minerals and energy, and to contribute to the transformation of these sectors in the interests of the majority of the population. The Netherlands, through its Ministry of Co-operation and Development, provided seed funding. Other income is increasingly derived from commissioned research and services. Several large-scale projects are supported by international development agencies.

The organisation focuses on policy research, policy facilitation processes, capacity building and information networking in the minerals and energy sectors. The MEPC aims to make its work as consultative as possible, involving the major stakeholders and paying special attention to previously disadvantaged communities. The work of the organisation is presently divided between two programmes: Energy and Mining. For more information on MEPC, see www.mepc.org.za

Approach, organisational programmes and activities:

The Centre's focus on mining and energy is premised on the complex linkage between energy and mining in the South African economy. Mining and mineral processing are highly energy intensive. Policies made for the energy and mining sectors are thus closely inter-related.

MEPC works with national, regional and international public and private clients on a non-profit basis and specifically focus on:

Innovative policy research solutions
Facilitation of win-win stakeholder solutions
Networking of information resources
Building of empowering stakeholder capabilities

MEPC is undertaking policy research in both mining and energy in the following project areas:

Mining

Minerals Governance
Minerals and Industrial Policy
Minerals Policy Process Facilitation
Mining regulatory and fiscal framework
Integration policy in SADC Mining
Sustainable Development and Minerals
Minerals-Economy Linkages
Small Scale Mining
Global Trends and best practices
Industry restructuring

Energy

Energy Governance
The Electricity Supply Industry
Energy Policy
Process Facilitation
Household Energy Issues
Energy Efficiency
Sustainable Development and Energy
Energy-Economy Linkages
Renewable energy
Energy Efficiency
The Petroleum and Gas Industries
Regional Energy Trade
Climate Change
The Core Business Processes
Policy research
Policy development
Policy implementation audits
Stakeholder facilitation
Commissioned research/ research as a support function to any other processes
Training as a back up to any other processes
Policy impact studies

Examples of past successes and experience

Southern African Renewable Energy Network

The Southern African Renewable Energy Network was launched in June 1996. The six Southern African partner countries involved were Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. MEPC was the focal point of renewable energy information exchange in South Africa. The project aimed at disseminating information on renewable energy in southern Africa. Project activities included: producing a newsletter, responding to renewable energy enquiries in South Africa, developing a website on renewable energy, and conducting programmes, study tours, and workshops in South Africa. The project was completed in June 1999.

Namibian National Energy Policy

MEPC led a consortium of research organisations, comprising the Energy & Development Research Centre, SAD-Elec and the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit to manage the production of an Energy White Paper for Namibia. A highlight of the project was the development of scenarios for the future Namibian energy sector. A draft White Paper was completed in 1997. The success of this project prompted the Namibian government to add a consultation phase that was run by the MEPC in 1998.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Support

Funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development, the project enabled the MEPC to provide information and policy analysis on minerals and energy issues to members of the PPC, to assist them in their work and enable them to make informed contributions to the debate. Regular briefings were written for the PPC and, on occasions, for the Minister. This project led to the launch of the Minerals and Energy Parliamentary Briefing (MEPB), an eight page bi-monthly newsletter that presents updates and analysis of current events and debates in the minerals and energy sectors.

Independent Power Producing in South Africa

The project was funded by DANCED. It involved the investigation into the current state of IPP in South Africa, using the Darling Wind Farm Demonstration as a case study with specific emphasis on the identification of barriers to the development of bulk (grid connected) renewable energy.

The Petroleum Policy and Capacity Building Project

MEPC played a supporting role to the Department of Minerals & Energy in the deregulation process of the petroleum sector. MEPC conducted in-depth research on downstream liquid fuels which offers government policy options on a number of complex issues such as strategic stock levels, corporate governance of state-owned institutions, empowerment of previously disadvantaged communities in the sector and the impact of deregulation on the sector. This work on downstream liquid fuels was part of a larger petroleum and capacity building project being undertaken in conjunction with the Energy & Development Research Centre. The Norwegian government, through NORAD, funded this multi-year project.

Integrated Energy Planning Process

The MEPC was appointed consultant to the Department of Minerals & Energy to facilitate the Integrated Energy Planning process. The aim of this project was to assist the Department of Minerals & Energy in translating the national energy policy objectives into action plans. Drafting the energy bill and establishing the framework for an Energy Information System were two of the tasks that were supported by this project.

Clean Development Mechanism: Capacity building for South Africa and Southern Africa

This is a 3-year project focusing on South Africa and Southern Africa. The Shell Foundation funds the project, which seeks to:

Build the capacity of developers to implement CDM projects; and
Build the capacity of independent organisations to monitor CDM projects' compliance with national and international criteria.

Awareness among key target groups about CDM and its opportunities is raised;
Key players have the capabilities to identify, design and implement CDM projects;
Accessible practical guides to developing and implementing CDM projects are available to project developers;
Technical support is provided to selected pilot CDM projects; and
NGO researchers are provided with an orientation to CDM project monitoring opportunities.

The MEPC and the Botswana Technology Centre (Botec) were awarded the contract by the European Union to act as the regional focal points in Southern Africa for the international OPET network. The ultimate aim was to cover all 14 Southern African Development Community countries, establishing focal points in member countries. Existing relationships and networks were used to incorporate all countries to the best extent possible. The objectives of OPET are:

To sensitise stakeholders and market actors in the SADC region on clean and efficient energy technologies,
To establish the markets and real needs of market actors regarding clean and efficient energy technologies in SADC countries,
To exchange information and expertise in the field of clean and efficient energy technologies, and
Co-ordinate activities on energy frameworks, programmes, and projects in the region.

The European Union and the Department of Minerals & Energy sponsor this non-grid electrification of schools and clinics project. Its aim is to devise practical strategies that would assist in successful implementation of non-grid electricity in rural schools of South Africa. The project details the strategies on the following:

Theft and vandalism of PV systems,
Maintenance of PVs systems,
Criteria for selecting schools for NGE and
Integration of non-grid with National Electrification Programme

This project is intended to focus on opportunities for investment through the Clean Development Mechanism. The main aim is to assist South African industries to meet the challenges of climate change and optimise gains from investment in energy efficiency. CBLA would develop pilot or demonstration projects with selected industry partners. It would do this by identifying industry organisations that would be owners of this activity, provide them with training and technical support to identify and develop financially viable energy efficiency projects that result in improved emissions for the industry in question. The project would extend its capacity-building activities to up to two additional countries in the Southern African region. This would be done through existing corporate linkages or through ties between industry associations in these countries and South Africa. If appropriate, the capacity-building activities would be extended to project development as well.

Gender and energy

This project reviews the impact and role of gender policies in the context of energy. In 1998 MEPC co-ordinated national and regional workshops on gender and energy on behalf of the UNDP; further developments in this area include a newsletter and a gender and energy network.

Overall institutional structure

MEPC operates as an autonomous Section 21 Company. The director reports to a Board of Directors made up of individuals occupying senior positions in minerals and energy firms as well as the labour movement. There are two programme leaders responsible for both the minerals and energy sections of the organisation plus a head for the administration and human resource related functions. The annual is budget is about R4 million.

Pagename: :MEPCSouthAfrica