Development programme provides local training

Johannesburg, 03 Sept 2009

Global energy management company Schneider Electric has awarded bursaries as part of its energy sustainability and skills development programme called BipBop (Business Investment and People at the Bottom of the Pyramid).

According to a company statement, it has awarded bursaries to two BSc engineering students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and three technician students from Durban University of Technology. It has also presented bursaries to 60 wiremen scheduled to be trained in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Gauteng.

Schneider Electric says the strategy aims to promote skills in the country and address the lack of financial resources for entrepreneurs and the scarcity of energy-efficient equipment.

Patrick Gaonach, Schneider SA's country manager, says the company is addressing these problem areas by delivering affordable and clean energy as well as training to electrical companies, small to medium enterprises and entrepreneurs.

Schneider is working with prepayment specialist Conlog to provide municipalities with prepaid solutions for electricity. The company adds there is still a lot of work to be done to give access to safe electricity and acquiring electrical competencies.

Gaonach says: "Conlog has already been a strong contributor towards our first objective by providing prepayment solutions to more than 1.5 million new households in over 10 countries and this concept is still developing today in new countries. We are also committed to accelerating our investment in the training of wiremen coming from poorer communities.”