Release Date: 18 August, 2023

AELC Guest Lecture

On 17 August 2023, Wits Business School’s African Energy Leadership Centre (AELC) hosted the Minister of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Mr Gwede Mantashe, as a guest lecturer. Mr Mantashe delivered a presentation which focused on the challenges facing leaders in Africa in finding a balance in the polarised debate around decarbonisation versus the extreme energy poverty facing the continent. Recognising that a reliable supply of energy is not only important for economic growth but also for human dignity, Mr Mantashe appealed to the students, who are pursuing their Master of Management in Energy Leadership at WBS, to develop their critical thinking in pursuit of finding a balance between emissions reduction and addressing the energy poverty crisis.

In welcoming the minister, Professor Maurice Radebe, Head and Director of WBS, said “WBS welcomes a diversity of thought and respects the right of different viewpoints on important issues such as energy supply.”

The AELC was established in 2017 with the aim of finding solutions to Africa’s energy challenges through developing a pipeline of visionary leaders who can play a critical role in helping Africa reach its full potential.