State-owned power utility Eskom this week unveiled a Climate Smart Horticulture Centre at the Grootvlei power station, marking a practical milestone in linking South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) to new local economic opportunities in climate-smart food production and skills development.

Together with the government of the Netherlands, and with support from Enterprising Africa Regional Network, Mpumalanga Green Cluster, Seed2Feed Foundation, Holland Green Tech, Ridder and other agricultural organisations, eight community members from the Dipaleseng municipality are being trained as greenhouse facilitators.

A further 75 agricultural entrepreneurs, who are also community members, will participate in an Agripreneur Development Programme hosted by the partners and starting in April.

Each entrepreneur is expected to employ members from the community, which is estimated to contribute to a substantial number of sustainable jobs being created by 2030.

The horticulture centre is a pilot initiative under Eskom’s JET programme, demonstrating how repurposed energy-related infrastructure can support future-oriented economic activity beyond the energy sector.

The focus is on practical training, skills development and value-chain development in climate-smart horticulture rather than large-scale commercial production at this stage.

For Netherlands Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature Vice Minister Roald Lapperre, the success of the centre will be measured in economically engaged people.

He explains that the centre is designed to connect local and international role-players across the agriculture value chain to strengthen resilience and preparedness for economic and climate challenges.

Eskom’s partnership with the Netherlands draws on internationally recognised Dutch expertise in high-tech horticulture, efficient water use, energy-smart production systems and value-chain organisation, while centring South African leadership, local implementation and long-term growth ambitions for Mpumalanga.

“This project is an exciting early example of key stakeholders coming together to develop new economic activities that protect livelihoods and the local community as South Africa moves from a high-carbon to a lower-carbon economy.

“We are grateful for the leadership by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the primary convener of the JET, the significant investment by the government of the Netherlands and its partners and the support of the Mpumalanga Premier and the Dipaleseng local municipality,” says Eskom chairperson Mteto Nyati.

Grootvlei contributes to national priorities by creating jobs, building practical skills, supporting black economic empowerment through local participation and advancing South Africa’s energy transition in a way that is grounded in place-based economic development.

Looking ahead, the Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre is intended to inform the development of a broader agri-economic hub, integrating agriculture, skills development and logistics, with increasing private-sector participation.

“The Grootvlei project reinforces that South Africa’s energy transition is not only about changing power sources, but about creating new economic futures for people, land and local communities,” Eskom states.