The signing ceremony of the charter that pledged the support from partners took place at Central Energy Fund (CEF) in Sandton. In his opening speech acting CEO of Saneri, Tony Surridge, emphasised that the main objectives of the centre is to ensure the development of the human and technical capacity for South Africa to undertake carbon capture and storage when necessary. The ultimate goal of the research centre is to demonstrate this technology in South Africa by means of a carbon dioxide injection experiment and ultimately a demonstration plant by 2020. He noted that carbon capture and storage was highly important in a coal based energy nation like South Africa.
Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, confirmed the Government’s full support to the centre. She also expressed her gratitude to the South African Industry for their participation in the centre, and the Governments of UK and Norway for their funding and technical expertise in the development of the centre. Sonjica continued by noting that the centre’s work on understanding the South African geology by developing a Carbon Storage Atlas, is a critical step in the carbon capture and storage process.
Norwegian Ambassador Tor Christian Hildan, on behalf of the Norwegian Minister of the Environment and Development Erik Solheim, highlighted challenges in lowering costs of carbon capture and storage, and said that Norway is happy to share its experience on carbon capture and storage with South Africa.
Partners that signed the charter were Saneri, Sasol, Eskom, the British High Commission, Anglo Coal, and Exxaro, Xstrata Coal, Schlumberger and the Norwegian Government.
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