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Gender Justice in the Energy Transition Era: Exploring Gender and Technology in the Extractives Sector

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Energy Transitions and the Future of the African Energy Sector

Abstract

The world of technology is transitioning fast as a result of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (‘the 4IR’). The digital revolution is not only making fundamental changes to how we live, but it is also having a profound impact on how we conduct business. The global market is adapting to new trends and faster turnaround times, and all sectors, including the energy and extractives sector (oil and gas, and mining sectors), will be forced to adapt to the transition. This change aligns with the clean energy developments and the global move to transition to a low-carbon economy which is characterized by technological advancements. The world is gradually discovering new things to do with technology, as its potential is beginning to be embraced. The present COVID-19 pandemic, for example, has altered the way we use technology, with many people spending more time online, thus creating the impetus to fast track the implementation of the 4IR. These changes will affect gender inclusivity and the future of work. Apart from the above issues, this chapter examines: why it is essential to include women in the workforce and along the different value chains, the need for automation in the extractives sector and how it will affect how we work. Lastly, the proposed solutions to address the challenges of gender disparity and promote inclusivity in the energy and extractives sector will be explored from the perspectives of the different role players in this sector, i.e. the public sector/governments; the private sector, including business entities; and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s).

Video interview by the author discussing this book chapter can be accessed at, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcIIxucbDOg&t=851s. Last accessed on 1st September 2020.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    OECD, ‘Energy’ (2011) OECD Green Growth Studies, 17, https://www.oecd.org/greengrowth/greening-energy/49157219.pdf, accessed March 16, 2020.

  2. 2.

    A new World Bank report reveals that over 3 billion tons of metals and minerals will be needed to utilize geothermal, solar and wind power (i.e. alternative and cleaner sources of energy), in order to replace carbon-intensive technologies. For further discussion, see, The World Bank, ‘Mineral Production to Soar as Demand for Clean Energy Increases’ (2020), https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/05/11/mineral-production-to-soar-as-demand-for-clean-energy-increases, accessed March 16, 2020.

  3. 3.

    David Peetz, Digitalisation and the Jobs of the Future (ANU Press 2019), 93.

  4. 4.

    World Economic Forum, ‘Globalisation 4.0 Shaping a New Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (2019) World Economic Forum White Paper, http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF, Globalization 4.0 Call for Engagemen.pdf accessed April 14, 2020.

  5. 5.

    Ibid.

  6. 6.

    Ibid.

  7. 7.

    See Peetz (n 3).

  8. 8.

    McKinsey & Company, ‘The Future of Women at Work: Transitions in the Age of Automation’, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/gender-equality/the-future-of-women-at-work-transitions-in-the-age-of-automation, accessed April 14, 2020.

  9. 9.

    Nalule, V.R., 2018. Energy Poverty and Access Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Regionalism. Springer.

  10. 10.

    Nalule, V.R., 2020. Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy: Is Africa Ready to Bid Farewell to Fossil Fuels?. In The Palgrave Handbook of Managing Fossil Fuels and Energy Transitions (pp. 261-286). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

  11. 11.

    C045—Underground Work (Women) Convention No. 45, 1935.

  12. 12.

    Adam Smith International, ‘Women in Mining: Can a Mining Law Unlock the Potential of Women?’ (2017) Adam Smith International, 13, https://issuu.com/adamsmithinternational/docs/asi___iwim_2017, accessed April 10, 2020.

  13. 13.

    Halo Media, ‘The Barriers That Barred Women from the Mining Industry’ (Mining Review Africa, 2019), https://www.miningreview.com/gold/the-barriers-women-faced-in-the-mining-industry-in-south-africa/, accessed April 13, 2020.

  14. 14.

    World Economic Forum, ‘Global Gender Gap Report 2020’ (2020) World Economic Forum Inside Report, 42, http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2020.pdf, accessed March 29, 2020.

  15. 15.

    PwC Norway, ‘Investing in Gender Equality’ (2019) PwC Norway Report, 7, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwiv6YmFtrjpAhWyURUIHZoKC2wQFjAAegQIARAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.storebrand.no%2Fasset-management%2Fpublikasjoner%2F_%2Fattachment%2Fdownload%2F4ac78ed2-b927-4612-a2fe-80cbebbf610b%3A595ed2730809c0622af216b95c1f0959af438888%2FInvesting_in_Gender_Equality_20190628.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3Z9eqdO7JJvzajr_nxpD44, accessed April 28, 2020.

  16. 16.

    Ibid.

  17. 17.

    BBC, ‘Coronavirus: Four Out of Five People’s Jobs Hit by Pandemic’ (2020), https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52199888, accessed April 10, 2020.

  18. 18.

    Kennedy Chege, ‘OPINION: Challenges to Promoting Intra-African Trade in the Petroleum Industry in the Wake of the AfCFTA Agreement: Africa’s Insufficient Petroleum Refining Capacity’ (2019), http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/opinion-challenges-promoting-intra-african-trade-petroleum-industry-wake-afcfta-agreement, accessed November 28, 2019.

  19. 19.

    Chege (n 16).

  20. 20.

    IFC, ‘Assessing Private Sector Contributions to Job Creation and Poverty Reduction: Findings on Gender’ (2013) IFC Jobs Study, https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/2125f97c-da65-4fb0-aba7-1d554bfe55bb/full-study-gender.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=jRvG5JC, accessed April 14, 2020.

  21. 21.

    Marie-Anne Birken and Gian Piero Cigna, ‘Gender Diversity on Boards: A Cause for Multilateral Organisations’ (2018) AIIB Yearbook of International Law 2018, 29.

  22. 22.

    Worldometer, ‘COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Latest Update’ (May 16, 2020), https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?utm_campaign=homeAdvegas1?%22%20%5Cl%20%22countries, accessed May 16, 2020.

  23. 23.

    Nelson Mandela University, ‘UPDATE 11: Lockdown Update—27 March 2020’ (March 27, 2020), https://www.mandela.ac.za/News-and-Events/Coronavirus-Information/COVID-19-Memos/UPDATE-11-Lockdown-Update-%E2%80%93-27-March-2020, accessed March 27, 2020.

  24. 24.

    BusinessDay: BL Premium, ‘Mines Must Return to Work on April 17 or Face Permanent Damage’ (April 6, 2020), https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/mining/2020-04-06-mines-must-return-to-work-on-april-17-or-face-permanent-damage/, accessed April 6, 2020.

  25. 25.

    Ibid.

  26. 26.

    A mine is considered to be under ‘care and maintenance’ when production has ceased for various technical, environmental, financial or labour-related reasons. The mine does not necessarily declare the intent to close indefinitely.

  27. 27.

    Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats), is a South African holding company that owns several companies that operate mines producing platinum and other platinum group metals, as well as nickel, copper and cobalt.

  28. 28.

    See Matthew Farmer, ‘How Will the Offshore Industry Recover After Covid-19?’ (March 27, 2020), https://www.offshore-technology.com/features/coronavirus-covid-19-offshore-cost-opec/, accessed April 14, 2020.

  29. 29.

    CharlieHR, ‘Why 95% of Jobs Will Eventually Be Remote Working’ (2020) the workspace by Charlie, https://www.charliehr.com/blog/the-advantages-of-remote-working/, accessed May 10, 2020.

  30. 30.

    Ibid.

  31. 31.

    Adam Smith International (n 10).

  32. 32.

    Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining Industry 2002 (‘Mining Charter I’).

  33. 33.

    See Amendment of The Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry 2010 (‘Mining Charter II’), and Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the Mining and Minerals Industry 2018 (‘Mining Charter III’).

  34. 34.

    Francis Kariuki, Geoffrey Kerecha and James O. Kirwa, Handling Extractives Related Grievances in Kenya. A Judicial Guide for Officers (Strathmore University, Extractives Industry Centre 2019), 3.

  35. 35.

    Andreas Kotsadm and Anja Karolina Tolonen, ‘African Mining, Gender and Local Employment’ (2015) Policy Research Working Paper; No. WPS 725, http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/199161468187785282/pdf/WPS7251.pdf, accessed May 14, 2020.

  36. 36.

    Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), ‘Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A Review of Key Numbers and Issues’, https://www.iisd.org/sites/default/files/publications/igf-asm-global-trends.pdf, accessed March 24, 2020.

  37. 37.

    Ibid.

  38. 38.

    Ibid.

  39. 39.

    Kassia Yanosek, Sana Ahmad, and Dionne Abramson, ‘How Women Can Help Fill the Oil and Gas Industry’s Talent Gap’ McKinsey & Company, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/how-women-can-help-fill-the-oil-and-gas-industrys-talent-gap, accessed February 19, 2020.

  40. 40.

    Ibid.

  41. 41.

    Katharina Rick and others, ‘Untapped Reserves: Promoting Gender Balance in Oil and Gas’, https://www.bcg.com, 2020 accessed April 13, 2020.

  42. 42.

    See Yanosek, Ahmad, and Abramson (n 37).

  43. 43.

    Ibid.

  44. 44.

    Gerlind Wisskirchen and others, ‘Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and Their Impact on the Workplace’ (IBA Global Employment Institute 2017).

  45. 45.

    Goldspot Discoveries, https://goldspot.ca/, accessed May 13, 2020.

  46. 46.

    Ibid.

  47. 47.

    Rio Tinto, https://www.riotinto.com/about/innovation, accessed May 13, 2020.

  48. 48.

    Mc Kinsey & Company (n 8).

  49. 49.

    The Draft Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030).

  50. 50.

    Kenyan Ministry of Energy Gender Policy in Energy 2019.

  51. 51.

    Ibid.

  52. 52.

    Colleges and Institutes Canada, ‘Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP)’, https://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/what-we-do/international/education-for-employment/kenya/, accessed May 5, 2020.

  53. 53.

    UNESCO, ‘Girls’ and Women’s Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)’, https://en.unesco.org/stemed, accessed May 13, 2020.

  54. 54.

    Ibid.

  55. 55.

    Skillsfuture, https://www.skillsfuture.sg/AboutSkillsFuture, accessed April 14, 2020.

  56. 56.

    Skillsfuture (n 55).

  57. 57.

    Ibid.

  58. 58.

    IFC, ‘Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer-Supported Childcare’ www.ifc.org accessed May 13, 2020.

  59. 59.

    Ibid.

  60. 60.

    Rebecca Davis, ‘Women in STEM and Human Information Behavior: Implications For LIS Educators’ (2014) Vol. 55 No. 3 Journal of Education for Library and Information Science 225, 258.

  61. 61.

    Michael A. Fletcher, ‘Women Continue to Be Underrepresented in STEM Industries’ (2015) Vol. 14 No. 1 Women of Color Magazine 22–23.

  62. 62.

    UNESCO (n 51).

  63. 63.

    Colleges and Institutes (n 50).

  64. 64.

    Sui Cheung Kong and Others, ‘E-Learning in School Education in the Coming 10 Years for Developing 21st Century Skills: Critical Research Issues and Policy Implications’ (2014) Vol. 17 No. 1 Journal of Educational Technology & Society 70, 72.

  65. 65.

    See Cheung Kong and Others (n 62) 75.

  66. 66.

    Laura DeNardis, ‘Introduction: The Shifting Geopolitics of Internet Access’ in The Shifting Geopolitics of Internet Access: From Broadband and Net Neutrality to Zero-Rating (Centre for International Governance Innovation 2017), 1–4.

  67. 67.

    De Nardis (n 66).

  68. 68.

    Ibid.

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  1. University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK

    Alaka Lugonzo

  2. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Kennedy Chege

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  1. Alaka Lugonzo
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  2. Kennedy Chege
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  1. School of Social Sciences, CEPMLP, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK

    Victoria R. Nalule

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Lugonzo, A., Chege, K. (2021). Gender Justice in the Energy Transition Era: Exploring Gender and Technology in the Extractives Sector. In: Nalule, V.R. (eds) Energy Transitions and the Future of the African Energy Sector. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56849-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56849-8_12

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