NC Solar plant expands its internship programme

THE Kathu Solar Park (KSP) internship programme intends to expand its programme by 30 percent in order to provide invaluable training and practical experience to more young unemployed graduates in the John Taolo Gaetswe district.

Economic development manager for the (KSP) internship programme Sandisiwe Mntonintshi said the programme has enhanced the skills of youths in the renewable energy sector.

“The programme integrates job-specific training with essential personal and interpersonal skills development. This holistic approach ensures that interns are well-prepared for the professional challenges they will face in the renewable energy sector while addressing the critical skills gap,” Mntonintshi stated.

Mntonintshi said the programme was intended to not only address socio-economic challenges faced by the youth but to also equip them with knowledge and training in order to succeed in the renewable energy sector.

“The impact of the initial pilot cohort have been assessed, leading to the decision to broaden the programme and increase participant numbers. This decision underscores the organisation’s dedication to community growth and its vision for a sustainable future driven by skilled local talent.

“The programme, which supports both Kathu Solar Park and Kathu Operations, blends rigorous technical training with personal development, offering interns opportunities to contribute to high-level projects and engage in critical decision-making processes.”

Mntonintshi added that the socio-economic development interns were given opportunities to lead several projects during their tenure to enable them to gain valuable insights into performance reporting and strategic planning.

“Technical interns participated in a major maintenance outage involving the steam turbine, a vital component in converting thermal energy into electricity. Through hands-on tasks across the plant, they developed problem-solving abilities and gained a deeper understanding of plant operations.

“The internship programme has surpassed initial expectations in its first year, with strong results that prompted this expansion. By bringing in more local graduates, we are able to support the renewable energy sector’s goal of fostering local expertise and skills, with a focus on graduates from the John Taolo Gaetsewe district,” Mntonintshi concluded.

Newly appointed intern, Cwenga Mtshatsha, 24, who hails from Kathu and possesses a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Accounting and Finance said he was elated to be chosen a part of the programme.

“I aim to learn more about the energy industries inner workings such as regulations and investment strategies, while also improving my experience and competency in the financial field,” he added.