Nkosikhona Nzimande

• The key role is project development involving undertaking project management, product development, and serving as an interface between multiple workstreams.
• Engaged in execution of Project scoping, pre-feasibility, feasibility, pre-implementation, and implementation studies to financial close for project Phoenix Solid Oxide fuel cell manufacturing facility valued at R4.3 billion ($233 million), gazetted as Strategic Integrated Project in South Africa. The fuel cell system is a South African-owned IP modular 50 kW system that is scalable and provides 24/7 baseload power.
• Led and managed the conceptual design of a 250 MW per annum fuel cell manufacturing facility, collaborating with architects to estimate project cost valued at R259 million($14 million). Responsibilities included site securing, reviewing site layout drawings and schematics, preparing presentations, reports, and decision matrices, and securing approvals through internal and external stakeholders.
• Efficiently served as an interface across multiple workstreams and disciplines, encompassing market analysis, site selection and land acquisition, legal and regulatory compliance, technical due-diligence assessments, supply chain, environmental considerations, commercial aspects, organizational strategies, financing, risk assessments, and job creation.
• Submit weekly reports to the company CEO, CFO, and CTO providing project updates. Additionally, prepare presentations, propose project recommendations, and present decisions for approval.
• Contributed to product development and engineering lifecycle, preliminary design, implementation, maintenance, and continuous product improvement.
• Managed and led sourcing of emergency battery energy storage solutions, which included lithium-ion-based portable power solutions of 500 W up to 5000 W. Project was valued at R70 million ($3.8 million).
• Manage project timelines, deliverables, project budgets, and teams within workstreams.
• Ensured that project budgets within the workstreams I lead were within scope.
• Conducted comprehensive technical due diligence on the fuel cell concept, covering detailed design, balance of plant, and Bill of Materials. This included system testing, operational monitoring, and inspection in Austria. Also, grid compliance assessments for South Africa and evaluation of safety standards.
• Led and analysed market demand, determined the opportunity size, and estimated system sizing for the market. Compiled detailed market demand reports for go-to-market customers, including off-takers and power purchase agreements (PPA) clients.
• Identified, accessed, and met with potential off-takers for fuel cell systems and energy storage.
• Collaborated closely with the project team to develop and present business cases on emerging technologies.
• Assisted the project team in preparing information for inclusion in Project Investment Memorandums to be shared with investors.
• Specialised in executing Greenfield projects and implementing emerging technologies, including hydrogen, fuel cells, green hydrogen electrolysers, energy storage, and Battery Energy Systems (BESS).
• Collaborated with the project team and business development unit in identifying and sourcing partners for fuel cells, BESS, Wind, Electrolyser, and Solar backup power. Presented options to company directors during internal meetings.
• Liaised directly with the Vaal SEZ project management team on site-planning, land acquisitions, project timeline planning, and land lease agreements, and attended SEZ establishment meetings. Assisted in preparing documents for top structure funding, site selection, and securing, reviewed SEZ master plan, provided input, and reported progress at internal meetings.
• Prepared RFQs, RFIs, and RFPs, leading bidding processes for technical and supply chain studies, supplier component evaluations, architecture concept design, digitalization roadmap, and strategy. Amongst other various workstreams where required.
• Defined SOW, Led bidding processes, and developed evaluation criteria. Prepared appointment recommendations and contract negotiations with service providers.
• Developed a price comparison model for energy technology systems, enabling the comparison of CapEx, OpEx, and R/kWh for BESS, fuel cells, and flow batteries in Telco Tower applications. Subsequently, I provided recommended solutions to customers.
• Assisted in developing Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) models for fuel cell applications using natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia, and liquified petroleum gas.
• Developed an electricity tariff analysis model in R/kWh to determine the all-inclusive electricity costs of customer segments in South Africa and benchmark them against energy technologies and fuel cell system costs.
• Concisely defined the system sizing and technical design requirements for the fuel cell system to be shared with design partners in Austria and Germany.
• Ensured that the fuel cell system was designed to comply with SANS/SABS/IEC standards to obtain a CE certification and comply with grid standards.
• Traveled to design partners in Austria to collaborate on projects, conduct fuel cell system testing, and review Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results.
• Traveled to meet component suppliers and service providers.
• Reviewed fuel cell system technical reports, HARA, and HAZOP studies.
• Analysed 3D fuel cell system design models using Autodesk fusion.
• Oversaw component supplier sourcing, due diligence evaluation, and pre-nomination of suppliers. I maintained strong relationships with suppliers and played a key role in supplier negotiations.
• Prepared component technical specifications to be shared with suppliers.
• Implemented strategies for localising components, fostering local business beneficiation in South Africa.
• Identify and collaborate closely with Owner's/Lender's Engineers to ensure project success.
• Led site selection process, which included site visits, due diligence, land agreements, and land acquisition, and compiled reports.
• Reviewed Township Layout Plans, Geotechnical, Palaeontological Impact Assessment (PIA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), and Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) reports.
• Managed the company's Digital Strategy and Roadmap.
• Conducted project risk assessments by identifying risk levels in technical, factory design, supply chain, market, environmental, site, and land acquisitions and proposed mitigation strategies.
• Attended and presented at project Steering Committee meetings.
• Presented safety standards for fuel cells, green hydrogen, energy storage, and emerging technologies during Steering Committee and Internal meetings.
• Set up and managed virtual project data rooms for potential investors and financiers to facilitate communication and attract investment.
• Executed energy transfer calculations, process flow diagrams, project administration, and documentation.
• Foster stakeholder engagements to ensure project success.
• Conducted studies and developed strategies for commercial readiness of fuels such as natural gas, ammonia, hydrogen storage and production, methanol, biogas, and any alternative fuels for fuel cell applications. Reviewed Gas Master Plans.
• Compiled technology roadmap reports, analysing market trends in BESS, fuel cells, hydrogen, electrolysers, and natural gas.
• Continuously prepare clear and concise recommendations to assist directors in making project decisions.
• Continuously prepare clear and concise presentations for project partners, design partners, and owner engineers.
• Support the Business unit in responding to tender bids for greenfield projects.
• Attended webinars, conferences, and events related to greenfield projects. Established a robust network and forged connections that have resulted in positive partnerships.
• Led and closely collaborated with service consultants in the Supplier Development/Incubator Program for SMMEs, entrepreneurs, women, and youth in the Emfuleni Municipality in Vaal, Gauteng.
• Led the process of appointing service providers to conduct site-specific phase 1 and 2 Geotechnical and EIA studies for council submission and reviewed the reports.
• Assisted with drafting contracts of appointing service consultants for supply chain, component localisation, and architecture concept design studies.
• Assisted the CFO in approving and signing off on project cost drawdowns.
• Delegated tasks and action items to project teams, tracked progress and provided feedback to the CTO and CFO.
• Assisted in determining green hydrogen market demand, opportunity size, and business case for the Lesotho water project.
• Defined product functional analysis to translate customer specifications to develop product performance criteria.
• Coordinated with suppliers to source high-quality components at competitive prices, supporting budgetary requirements without compromising product integrity.
• Collaborated with design engineers to support product specifications and functional robustness.

Noticeable conferences and events attended

• Delegate and Exhibit at the 2023 BRICS Business Council
• Delegate at DEVAC Hydrogen-H
• Delegate at H2Upp Business Case Lab on Green Hydrogen and Power-to-X South Africa 2023, link to the video attached above
• Assisted in planning for the Hydrogen Indaba Webinar
• Delegate and Exhibit at 2022 Black Industrialist and Exporters Conference
• Delegate at 20 Years of Black Management Forum event in 2022

• Sustainable solutions: Harnessing Hemp for Tomorrow's Needs.
• Cultivation and cloning.
• Managed daily operations while overseeing multiple locations to foster increased productivity.

• Demonstrated lab experiments and apparatus to over 300 first and second-year chemistry students.
• Managed and worked effectively with a team of people.
• Communicated effectively with students and colleagues.

• Guided and supported six students in their academic and personal development.
• Monitored and assessed student progress, identifying areas for improvement and providing targeted interventions.
• Developed and implemented individualized action plans to help students achieve their academic goals.
• Successfully mentored three students who went on to achieve their degrees.
• Monitored student academic progress, communicating with each student frequently and intervening to assist students experiencing difficulties.