The inaugural Matla-Urja Energy Conference, a two-day event fostering energy sector collaboration between India and South Africa, concluded on Thursday with significant outcomes aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and training future power professionals.

The conference, whose name combines "Matla" (strength in Sesotho) and "Urja" (energy in Hindi), brought together over 200 delegates from businesses, academia, and research institutions of both nations. The event, described as a major success by organisers, emphasised knowledge sharing and practical applications in the energy sector.

At the closing dinner, Consul General Mahesh Kumar reflected on the conference’s achievements. “We brought together the best of Indian businesses and academia and their counterparts in South Africa. On Wednesday, Indian and South African academics and researchers discussed power sector reforms, the future of energy, modelling, pricing, and socio-economic aspects. It was a day full of wonderful insights,” he said.

“On Thursday, we focused on the practical aspects of how businesses approach these issues. Both days were oversubscribed, which speaks to the massive opportunities available in the power sector. From our perspective, these two days of engagement were very successful,” Kumar added.

Two key outcomes marked the conference's success. First was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and South Africa’s electricity supplier, Eskom. “This MoU will enable Indian professionals to engage with Eskom, exploring opportunities for collaboration and learning about Eskom’s priorities,” Kumar explained.

The second major development was an announced partnership between the African Energy Leadership School of the Wits Business School and India’s National Power Training Institute. This initiative aims to train future power professionals, addressing the sector's evolving needs.

Prof Maurice Radebe, Head of the Wits Business School, emphasised the conference’s alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those addressing poverty and hunger. “What we were talking about today between India and South Africa is how we unlock all the value in this place, with energy playing a key role in ensuring people do not go hungry. That’s the significance of this conference,” Radebe said.

Radebe also highlighted South Africa’s need to bridge the gap between planning and execution, drawing lessons from India’s energy advancements. “As the facilitator said: ‘We in South Africa are still learning; India is doing.’ Therefore, we need to close this gap,” he remarked.

He further urged the conference to be seen within the context of BRICS collaboration, advocating for initiatives like these to bolster the group's influence in global geopolitics. “We have to make sure BRICS becomes successful, and it is initiatives like these that will make it a real force,” Radebe concluded.

The Matla-Urja Energy Conference underscored the importance of cooperation between India and South Africa in addressing energy challenges, fostering innovation, and creating opportunities for sustainable development.