1. BSC Honours in Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg
HISTORY
In 1974, forty one years ago, Dr Dawid Kotzé was Secretary of the Energy Policy
Committee in the national Department of Energy. In trying to staff his secretariat of policy,
he realised that the disciplines of Energy Technology, Energy Modelling, the geopolitical
aspects of energy etc were not being taught in South Africa at the time. He identified the
need to start training people in those disciplines
He succeeded in raising a sum of money from British Petroleum to found the BP Chair of
Energy Studies at RAU in 1977. The first Chair was Dr Bill Van Rensburg who left in
1979 to become the Professor of Geology and Petroleum Engineering at the University of
Texas in Austin. He was succeeded by Professor Dawid Kotzé. The Chair of Energy
Studies was located in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management,
which expanded its name to include the energy component.
Over the years approximately 200-300 Honours graduates were produced as well as MSc
and PhD graduates. Professor Kotzé retired in 1998 after experiencing a lack of support
from the University with grants or funds. Chris Cooper was in charge of the Honours
programme and pulled together lots of course material for the programme. Prof Kotzé was
sometimes called back to make awards etc. There was then, and even more today, is a
substantial need for brood energy education in South Africa.
In 2009 Dr John Ledger succeeded Dr Cooper who had left UJ at the end of 2008. John
Ledger is Associate Professor of Energy Studies and his main responsibility is to deliver
the two year part-time Honours programme in Energy Studies.
The Honours programme was started 36 years ago in 1979; it comprises three modules
(Energy Economics, Energy Technology and International Aspects of Energy) in the first
year, and two modules (Energy Modelling and Energy Policy Formulation) plus a project
in the second year. Students come to UJ for monthly contact sessions, and have to complete
assignments between sessions. The course is only available on a part-time basis, and the
three first year modules have to be completed before the second year modules can be taken.
In 2014 there were 54 Honours students registered for the degree; 36 in the first year and
18 in the second year.
In 2015 there are 48 Honours students registered; 29 in the first year and 19 in the second
year.
The Energy Technology (ENS0047) module may be taken as an alternative course by full
time Geography and Environmental Management Honours students. It gives them an
insight into the rapidly-changing world of energy technology, and the course includes field
trips to the Lethabo Power Station, Sasol 2 and 3 at Secunda, Johannesburg City Power
facilities, Kwikot Geyser Factory in Benoni, MTN headquarters, NECSA, CSIR and others.
Updated 1 June 2015
Compiled by John Ledger and based on telephonic discussions, direct conversations and e-mails
with Dr David Kotzé, Dr Bill van Rensburg and Dr Chris Cooper.