Government has confirmed the establishment of a project management office (PMO) for the South African Renewable Energy Master Plan (SAREM). The PMO will be based at the Independent Power Producers Office in Centurion.
The announcement was made during a meeting of SAREM’s Executive Oversight Committee. Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré described the development as an important milestone for the master plan.
“This is another important milestone for SAREM. The PMO enables us to resource the office while initiating various activations,” Graham-Maré said. SAREM has a role to play in unlocking job opportunities and upskilling, particularly for youth and women, with the plan targeting the creation of 25 000 jobs in the renewable energy sector by 2030, she added.
Initiated in mid-2025, SAREM’s vision is described as the industrialisation of the renewable energy and battery storage value chain to enable inclusive participation in the energy transition, serve the needs of society and contribute to economic revival.
The plan sets out several objectives with specific targets including:
- Supporting local demand for renewable energy and storage by unlocking market demand and system readiness
- Driving industrial development by building renewable energy and storage value chains through localisation in public and private sector markets and supportive trade and industrial policy
- Fostering inclusive development of the value chain by supporting emerging suppliers and contributing to a just transition
- Building local capabilities in skills and technological innovation to enable the rollout of renewable energy and storage technologies and associated industrial development
Graham-Maré thanked the European Union for undertaking to provide technical assistance should the PMO require it. She said, as the plan is strengthened and existing elements are built on, it is important to draw on local and international expertise.
“The renewable energy sector is a critical cog in our energy mix and security. The PMO must now ensure that the plan is executed so that we can accurately respond to the needs of the sector,” she said.
Further details on the PMO’s work programme and timelines have not yet been outlined.
