Perseverance chosen for landmark UNIDO energy transition study
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has welcomed the selection of its geographic cluster, the Perseverance Eco-Industrial Park, as one of only five industrial spaces in South Africa chosen by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to proceed to the next phase of an international programme focused on accelerating low-carbon, energy-positive industrial development.
This milestone means the Perseverance Eco-Industrial Park will now undergo a detailed Energy Assessment aimed at identifying practical opportunities to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and strengthen energy resilience within industrial areas.
The initiative forms part of UNIDO’s broader programme to develop “Low Carbon and Positive Energy Industrial Spaces,” which seeks to transform traditional industrial zones into modern, sustainable ecosystems that use energy more efficiently, generate more renewable energy locally and support smarter energy management.
South Africa currently contributes around a third of Africa’s total carbon emissions, with more than 400 industrial spaces playing a significant role in economic activity but also in energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Many industrial areas face shared challenges, including energy insecurity, ageing infrastructure, high electricity costs and heavy reliance on fossil fuels.
Against this backdrop, the selection of Perseverance is seen as a significant opportunity to demonstrate how industrial areas can evolve into more sustainable and competitive environments.
The selection process involved a national long list of industrial areas assessed through an online survey and structured selection criteria, including energy and technical characteristics, stakeholder cooperation and geographic and sectoral diversity. Selected sites will now undergo energy audits to assess optimisation potential, identify efficiency opportunities and recommend targeted interventions to reduce consumption.
For the Chamber, this development is strongly aligned to its long-term vision of strengthening geographical clusters and evolving them into eco-industrial parks that support competitiveness, sustainability and investment attractiveness across the metro.
The Chamber has been actively advancing the concept of clustered industrial development, where businesses within defined geographic areas benefit from shared infrastructure, coordinated planning and improved resource efficiency. The inclusion of Perseverance in this UNIDO programme strengthens that agenda and provides a practical pathway for scaling eco-industrial principles across other industrial nodes in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Denise van Huyssteen, Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, said the selection is both timely and strategic for the region’s industrial future.
“This recognition of the Perseverance Eco-Industrial Park is an important step forward for our metro and for our industrial development agenda. It confirms that Nelson Mandela Bay is ready to participate in global efforts to reimagine how industrial spaces operate in a changing energy environment,” she said.
“It also aligns strongly with our cluster development approach, where we work to strengthen industrial areas into more coordinated, efficient and competitive ecosystems. The focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy integration and energy flexibility is not only about sustainability, but also about long-term business resilience and cost competitiveness.”
She added that the Chamber views the programme as a practical opportunity to unlock value for businesses operating in the area.
“For businesses, this is about real, measurable improvements. It means better energy management, potential cost savings over time and a more stable operating environment. Most importantly, it helps position our industrial areas for future growth in a global economy that is rapidly shifting towards low-carbon production systems.”
Brenton van Vuuren, Chairperson of the Perseverance Cluster, said the selection of the Perseverance Eco-Industrial Park for the next phase of the UNIDO programme represents a defining milestone not only for the cluster, but for the future of industrial development in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“This is a significant achievement for the Perseverance Cluster and a strong affirmation of the progress that has been made through collaboration between businesses, the Chamber and stakeholders within the area. To be selected as one of only five industrial spaces in South Africa for this important international programme speaks to the commitment within our cluster to building a more sustainable, resilient and competitive industrial environment,” he said.
Van Vuuren said the project arrives at a critical time for industry, as businesses continue to navigate energy insecurity, rising operating costs and increasing global pressure for lower-carbon production systems.
“The reality is that industrial areas can no longer operate in isolation from the energy and sustainability challenges shaping the global economy. This project creates an opportunity for Perseverance to position itself at the forefront of the transition towards smarter, more energy-efficient industrial operations that are future-focused and globally competitive.”
He added that the initiative also has the potential to create a blueprint for broader industrial transformation across the metro.
“We believe this initiative can serve as a catalyst for broader industrial transformation across Nelson Mandela Bay. The lessons, data and opportunities that emerge from this process can help shape how other clusters approach energy management, sustainability and industrial competitiveness in the years ahead.”
Van Huyssteen emphasised that the Perseverance initiative represents an important demonstration project, with potential to inform the rollout of similar eco-industrial approaches across other clusters in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Perseverance Cluster is one of 11 geographic clusters in Nelson Mandela Bay, which fall under the banner of the Chamber and mobilises businesses to collaborate in finding solutions to enabling environment challenges.
