South African City Chosen for UN Green Energy Study

An industrial area near Gqeberha, South Africa is getting a chance to help reshape how factories and businesses use energy around the world.

The Perseverance industrial zone in Nelson Mandela Bay was chosen by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation for a global study on low-carbon, energy-positive industrial development. It's one of only five South African locations selected from a long list of industrial hubs worldwide.

The selection means businesses in the area will undergo energy audits to find ways to cut consumption and costs. More importantly, it puts Perseverance on the radar of international investors looking for sustainable industrial partners.

"For businesses, this is about real, measurable improvements," said Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. "It means better energy management, potential cost savings over time and a more stable operating environment."

The UN programme started by surveying industrial zones across the globe, looking at energy characteristics, stakeholder cooperation, and geographic diversity. As the study progressed, the list narrowed down to the most promising locations.

Perseverance now joins a select group working to prove that industrial zones can thrive while reducing their environmental impact. The area sits near the Swartkops River estuary and hosts numerous businesses facing common challenges like energy insecurity and rising operating costs.

The Ripple Effect

The project extends beyond one industrial zone. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber oversees 10 other business clusters in the region, and Perseverance could become a blueprint for all of them.

Brenton van Vuuren, chairperson for the Perseverance Cluster, sees the selection as validation of years of collaborative work. "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," he said.

The timing matters too. Global markets increasingly demand lower-carbon production systems, and businesses that adapt early gain competitive advantages.

The Chamber has been working to transform its industrial clusters into eco-industrial parks where businesses share infrastructure and coordinate planning. The UN study provides practical tools and international recognition to accelerate that vision.

For South Africa, a country grappling with energy challenges, the project offers a roadmap for industrial areas to become more resilient and cost-competitive. The lessons learned in Perseverance could help industrial zones nationwide reduce their dependence on unstable power grids while cutting costs.

This is industrial development reimagined for a world that demands both economic growth and environmental responsibility.