On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Representative John Chen of the Taipei Liaison Office in the RSA handed over a cheque in the amount of US $80 000.00 to Dr Edgar Nesamvuni, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in support of the fifth project of the TUT Green Campus Development Program.
During the last four years, the cooperation between Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry (III) and TUT has resulted in the completion of four green projects, namely: Solar and LED Monitoring System, Indoor LED Lighting Monitoring System, Green Campus Development of Intelligent Street Lighting and Monitoring System, and Intelligent Solar and Grid Power Complementing and Monitoring System. To these four projects the government of Taiwan has donated US $320 000.00. With the latest donation, the total comes to US $400 000.00.
The latest donation will fund the 5th joint project that is currently being conducted between Taiwan’s III and TUT. The fifth project, entitled Intelligent Energy Management System (IEMS) for Power/Cost Saving and Energy Efficiency, will see the culmination of four years of collaboration. This partnership not only reflects the advanced development of green energy technology in Taiwan, but also marks a successful model of cooperation between Taiwan and South Africa.
Representative Chen emphasised that energy conservation is fast becoming one of the most important global missions within this century, and that this project is utilising new technologies and products from Taiwan to help the university effectively save more energy, reduce its electricity expenses and lower its carbon footprint.
Ms Cynthia Chow, Advisory Planner of Taiwan’s III reiterated Representative Chen’s sentiments and went on to say that we are all global citizens and it is our responsibility to do what we can to cut carbon emissions and lower energy usage and costs. Ms Chow repeated Taiwan’s III’s commitment to the partnership and to maintaining a platform from which cooperation on green projects can prosper.
Dr Olawale Popoola from the Centre for Energy and Electric Power (CEEP), stressed the importance of projects like this not only for improving energy efficiency and conservation, but also to provide in-house training for students, thereby grooming them to develop problem solving skills, implementation know-how and expose to new, cutting-edge technologies.
Other notable dignitaries in attendance, showing their support for this worthy project were Councillor Bruce Lee, Director Mokale Rasetlola, Acting Executive Director Frans Manganye and Director Sibongile Nteta from the City of Tshwane, Regional Director France Diale from the Department of Energy and Mr Toto Matshediso from the Department of Science and Technology.
It is hoped that this wonderful project will not only be beneficial to TUT, but to the Republic of South Africa as a whole.
