3_95_Jocelyns_article-Dec2005

VOLUME 11 NUMBER 4 www.erc.uct.ac.za DECEMBER 2005

IN THIS ISSUE

Rethinking energy access . . . . . 1

Has the time come for biofuels tohelp poverty alleviation?. . . . . . . 3

DUE Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Getting to grips with the NationalClimate Change Conference . . . 5

Fire prevention in Southern Africa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

SAEE annual awards banquet2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

SECCP gives input to theElectricity Regulation Bill . . . . . 13

Energetic challenge. ChatROOMdevelops brand identity for the South African Oil and Gas Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Our nuclear lifeline. . . . . . . . . . 15

MEETI Course Programme 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Positive precedence againstincineration of hazardous waste 18

Capacity building for energy policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Montréal Climate Conferenceyields significant outcomes. . . . 20

The time for renewable energy,has it come? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Renewable Energy Finance andSubsidy Office established . . . . 21

Beijing Renewables Conferencesends strong signal butdeclaration still weak, says RESCouncil EREC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Solar energy: a neglected answerto rural power in Africa . . . . . . . 23

Removing the many barriers torenewable energy systems in rural Zambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Annual Meeting of theInternational Energy Workshop2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

SA Government committed toenergy of the future . . . . . . . . . 25

Car anatomy under the scalpel inmechanical engineering lab . . . 26

Energy events 2006 . . . . . . . . . 27

Sponsored by Eskom, the Department of Minerals

& Energy, and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

It is estimated that 900 million ofthe world’s poorest people areconcentrated in rural areas, and

approximately 70% of these peopleare women (UNDP 2003). Why is thisthe case after decades of attempts atrural development, with many proj-ects targeting women specifically?More recent attempts at reducingpoverty include country level PovertyReduction Strategy Papers and theMillennium Development Goals.

Often poverty alleviation policiesand subsequent projects like theseperceive the rural poor and women asa homogeneous group and adopt a`paint by numbers model’. Yet theseapproaches frequently fail to compre-hend the existence of a multitude ofgender, social, political, economicand cultural circumstances prevalentin different rural communities.

Acknowledging these differencesimplies that not all people experiencepoverty in the same way and requiresan analysis that points out how theseinequalities are expressed acrossrural communities and within specificrural communities. Local skills, knowl-edge and resources need to be com-bined with the provision of appropri-ate services and information resourcesto allow rural communities to escapethe poverty trap.

Energy is one of the basic servic-es that may be a powerful catalyst forrural and remote rural development, ifit is harnessed appropriately. Yetaccess to energy services is subjectto disparities that exist in society. Forinstance, in South Africa, there is a

contrast between rural and urbanelectrification levels, where the per-centage of rural households withaccess to grid electricity is approxi-mately 54% in rural areas comparedto urban households where the elec-trification level is closer to 79% (NER2003). As part of an attempt toaddress the electricity disparity, theDepartment of Minerals and Energy(DME) designed an off-grid electrifi-cation programme that installedapproximately 15 000 solar homesystems as well as implementing sev-eral mini-grid pilot projects that pro-vide basic electricity services toremote rural households (NER 2003).

However, the different levels ofelectrification provided by these sys-tems1 have the potential to enhanceor undermine empowerment opportu-nities. These inequalities in energyaccess influence the manner in whichenergy for development programmesare conceptualised, planned andimplemented, and the subsequentoutcome.

Another weakness that has beenhighlighted is that energy projectsusually focus on alleviating women’sdomestic burden and facilitatingincome generation (Anneke 2000),instead of combining access to ener-gy with access to resources and infor-mation to empower women in abroader sense. Simply focusing on`energy poverty’ instead of the abilityof such services to make a qualitativedifference to the lives of the rural poorhampers development efforts. Thesecomplex challenges that rural people

Rethinking energy

access:Integrating ICTs and gender for

sustainable solutions

2 Energy Management News

face requires a multi-dimensionalapproach to development efforts.

Led by a multi-dimensional ap-proach to development, Jocelyn Mullerfrom the Energy Research Centre(ERC) developed a research proposalthat draws energy into the informationand communication technologies (ICTs)and gender equation. ICTs in combina-tion with appropriate levels of energyprovision have the potential to facilitateaccess to:• Long distance education opportuni-

ties• Basic adult numeric and literacy

training• Telehealth / telemedicine opportuni-

ties• Networking amongst women• Government services • IT training and coursework• Public telephone, computer and

internet use• Career development and job prepa-

ration facilities• Entrepreneurial support • Digitisation of indigenous knowl-

edge and resources• Access to external markets

However, in rural South Africa thevarying levels of energy services mayundermine the extent to which ICTsmay be accessed and used. Unequalaccess to either energy or ICTs, is fur-ther compounded by the gender dispar-ities that exist in society. Stated differ-ently, the quantity and quality of varyingenergy services have an impact onwomen’s access to and use of ICTs.

In spite of these difficulties, womendo use ICTs like cell phones to theirbenefit. But to what extent varying lev-els of electricity has promoted theuptake of ICTs requires investigation. Ifthe triangular relationship betweengender, energy and information andcommunication technologies in ruralareas could be clarified and issuesregarding their unequal access and useare addressed, combined they havethe potential to contribute towards sus-tainable development objectives throughempowering women. This is the mainfocus of the ERC study.

The ERC study outlined above is asub-project of an exciting new researchinitiative that brings together Africanresearchers to study Information andCommunication Technologies (ICTs)and women’s empowerment in Africa.The project is called the GenderResearch in Africa into ICTs forEmpowerment (GRACE). GRACE heldits first researcher capacity-building

workshop in Durban in July 2005, andresearchers from all over the continent,including Jocelyn Muller from the ERC,honed their project proposals, sharp-ened their proficiency in qualitativeresearch methods and fine-tuned net-working skills. The GRACE researchinitiative brings together researchersfrom 12 countries in Africa, all focusingon the central question of ICTs andwomen empowerment.

The GRACE initiative is managedby the Association for ProgressiveCommunications Women’s NetworkingProgramme (APC WNSP). It is a 2-yearproject funded by the InternationalDevelopment Research Centre (IDRC).The project is a huge endeavour, with15 sub-projects, 14 research sites incountries including Kenya, Senegal,Uganda, Cameroon, Zambia, Zimbab-we, Mozambique, South Africa (ERCsub-project), Tanzania, Nigeria, Moroc-co and Egypt, whereby every researchsite is operated by its own team, mak-ing GRACE effectively ‘a team ofteams.’

Individual GRACE research topicsvary, ranging from examining mobiletelephone use to the ways in whichwomen could use e-commerce barriersto ICT use and women’s strategies toovercome these obstacles. EventuallyGRACE hopes through its researchefforts to influence the existing debateson gender and ICTs, as well as nation-al and provincial policies.

The project has a strong capacity-building focus. It intends to provideresearchers with the opportunities to

gain insight into their research thinkingand evolve this through growing in self-knowledge and self-care; to build confi-dence and skills in the use of qualitativeand participatory research methodsand techniques, and to develop thecapacity to use those ICT tools whichwould benefit their research journeysand the sharing of these journeys with-in the network and beyond.

The project is indeed quite unique,according to Ineke Buskens of Re-search for the Future, the GRACEResearch Director: ‘African research-ers focusing on Africa, while living andworking here, doing qualitative re-search on such a large scale togeth-er…. I do not know of any otherresearch of this scope, or with this kindof a perspective.’

It is the intention of the ERC orGRACE SA to use the Energy, ICT andGender lense to explore what womenthink are the limitations and potentialbenefits that may be realised with theprovision of basic energy services inrelation to their access to and use ofcertain information and communicationtechnologies like cell phones, radiosand TVs. In line with the GRACEempowerment objectives, the researchproject will adopt a people-centreddevelopment approach that centres onthe integration of Energy, ICT and Gen-der concepts into a holistic capacitybuilding experience for the researchparticipants.

The approach acknowledges thatwhilst rural people, particularly women,may be poor, they have a wealth of

GRACE researchers from 12 African countries at a researcher

capacity building workshop in Durban

Energy Management News 3

indigenous knowledge, resources andadaptive skills that need to be com-bined to allow rural communities toescape the poverty trap. They willshare their stories about how they haveused the energy sources available tothem to access and use ICTs like radio,TV and cell phones.

By telling their life stories andreflecting on their lived experiences,they will express their perception of theeffect that energy and certain ICTshave had on their lives. The primaryobjective of the study is for the womenliving in Lucingweni to communicatethe ways that they visualize energy andICTs contributing towards an improve-ment in their livelihoods.

References

Annecke, W. 2000. Women and energy in

Africa: Concept paper for the United

Nations Development Programme

[UNDP]. Energy and Development

Research Centre, University of Cape

Town.

National Electricity Regulator 2003. Electric-

ity supply statistics for South Africa.

NER: South Africa.

United Nations Development Programme

2001. Generating opportunities: Case

studies on energy and women. New

York: UNDP.

Note

1. United Nations Development Pro-

gramme 2003. Human Development

Report. New York: UNDP. Approximate-

ly 1kWh per day per household for the

Lucingweni mini-grid pilot project, East-

ern Cape, and approximately 6kWh per

month per household for the solar home

system.

l Contact: Jocelyn MullerEnergy Research Centre

University of Cape Town

Private Bag

Rondebosch 7701

South Africa

Tel: (021) 650 2825

Fax: (021) 650 2830

E-mail: [email protected]

There is nothing new about thepropulsion of vehicles by fuelsderived from plants. The first

diesel engine was designed to use avegetable oil fuel. The basic chemicalengineering requirements for the man-ufacture of the fuels from a variety ofvegetable matter are well known.

Some of the reasons why biofuelshave not come into widespread use areclaimed to be: 1. Cultivation of the plants by conven-

tional, capital intensive, methods offarming is expensive and, itselfdirectly and indirectly, consumes aconsiderable quantity of energy.

2. Biofuel plant cultivation is in directcompetition with food crops forgood quality arable land.

3. Water supplies for irrigation are fre-quently in short supply.

4. To produce any significant propor-tion of the fuel requirements of mostnations requires a vast area offarmland.

5. The price of fuels from petroleumrefining is lower than the productioncost of biofuels.Despite these formidable objec-

tions, biofuels and biodiesel in particu-lar are used in substantial quantities.For example, the USA consumed about150 million litres of biodiesel last year.Large volumes are used in Europe andBrazil. Small quantities are producedand used in South Africa.

Much of the driving force for theincreasing interest in biofuels globallycomes from the widespread concernsthat exist regarding Greenhouse Gas(GHG) emissions, rising oil prices andfears on the security of petroleum sup-plies. These concerns are reflected inthe policies of nations, particularlythose nations that are signatories to theKyoto Protocol. Many of the countries

that appear on Appendix 1 of that Pro-tocol as being developed economieswith commitments to reduce GHGemissions have introduced incentivesand targets for the use of energysources other that fossil fuels, includingfuels for vehicle propulsion. Somecountries that are not on Appendix 1have also introduced policies for diver-sifying energy sources.

South Africa is one of those signa-tories who are not on Appendix 1 buthas set itself the target to ‘produce anadditional 10 000GWh (0.8Mtoe) re-newable energy contribution to finalenergy consumption by 2012, to beproduced mainly from biomass, wind,solar and small scale hydro.’ So far, lit-tle exists in the way of carrots or sticksfor the promotion of this policy. It canbe argued, with considerable justifica-tion, that promotion of alternative ener-gy sources is not as yet a national pri-ority despite the fact that

South Africa is the largest emitter ofgreenhouse gas in Africa. Concernslike poverty alleviation loom much larg-er. It is however possible to link job cre-ation to biofuel production.

Dr. R.E. Robinson, speaking at ameeting of the Fossil Fuels Foundationin June of this year, suggested how thismight be done. Dr Robinson’s propos-als largely overcome factors one to fourlisted above and, with recent help fromcrude oil prices, factor five as well.

How this is to be achieved is by theapplication of an agricultural technolo-gy widely used in Israel and other watershort countries. This is sub-surface irri-gation (SSI), also known as drip irriga-tion. The key feature of this is to feedthe correct quantity of water containingthe necessary nutrients at the stem ofeach plant individually. The root systemof the plant then takes up the require-

Has the timeHas the time

come fcome foror

biofuels to helpbiofuels to help

popovverer tyty

allealleviaviation?tion?


ments for growth without having toextend widely and deeply. Many stud-ies have been done on SSI of whichthose by the Pratt Research organisa-tion in Australia have shown that interms of water transpiration efficiency,SSI is about 85% efficient as comparedwith about 15% for the best of over-head systems. The water and nutrientdemands of the different stages of thegrowth of the plant can be providedoptimally. Plant spacing can be closerthan that used in conventional farmingand the growing time shorter. The totalwater and nutrient requirements are afraction of those normally used. Thereare a considerable number of cropsthat are suitable for biofuel production -the optimum choice is likely to bedependent upon conditions in the area.Because of the ability to control thewater and nutrient inputs on a smallscale by using SSI, it becomes possibleto have crops at different stages ofdevelopment within the same field, thusfarming ceases to be controlled entire-ly by seasonal rains and income canaccrue to the farmer more regularly.Winter and summer temperature differ-ences must obviously continue to influ-ence growth rate. Because the require-ments for plant growth are supplieddirectly to the plant, not from the soil,poor quality soils can be utilised andthe objection of competition with exist-ing food production largely fall away.

Successful examples of the appli-cation of SSI by rural communitieshave been established at a number oflocations in South Africa under overallguidance from the Israeli Techno-agri-cultural Innovation for Poverty Allevia-tion programme. Dr. Robinson has cal-culated, using published growth ratedata, that one farmer could, with mod-est training and support use, SSI to cul-tivate 1500 square metres. By growingbiofuel crops on that land, he couldmake a living income. Dr Robinson hasset the target of providing one millionnew jobs in the rural areas of SouthAfrica in this way.

Moving beyond a basic applicationof drip irrigation, Dr Robinson proposesthat cash flow from the crops could besupplemented in many ways, several ofwhich have important environmentalbenefits. These enhancements include,(i) the use of sewage effluent and/orAcid Mine Drainage (ADM) water forirrigation and nutrient supply, (ii) Usecan be made of all the products of agri-culture such as the biomass in the formof leaves, cobs, stalks etc to produce

methane by anaerobic digestion. Themethane can be used in a number ofways such as methanol and dimethylether manufacture. These enhance-ments, Dr Robinson suggests, couldboost the income to the farmer andother stakeholders substantially. Spacedoes not permit discussion of theenhancements here.

The question of funding must, how-ever, be mentioned briefly. The CleanDevelopment Mechanism is a systemwhereby countries on Appendix 1 of theKyoto Protocol can off-set part of theirGHG emissions reduction obligationsby funding equal reductions in coun-tries not on Appendix 1. Biofuels pro-duction in Africa fits the requirements.Stringent conditions apply and bothnational governments must be partiesto the arrangement. Thus, for SouthAfrica to tap into this source, the gov-ernment must be convinced and sup-portive.

Although Dr. Robinson’s work is notfully published, an immediate need isfor critical review of the basic conceptsso that it can be endorsed, or other-wise, by agricultural, engineering andeconomic professionals as having arealistic chance of becoming feasible.Only when that has been done, will itbe possible to garner financial supportfor a demonstration scheme. It is thepurpose of this article to provoke com-ments from readers of Energy Manage-

ment News.

l Contact: Peter Vernon1 Midhurst Way

Constantia

Cape Town 7808

Tel/ fax: +27 (0) 794 1092


DUE

Conference

4 - 6 APRIL 2006, CAPE

PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF

TECHNOLOGY, CAPE TOWN

After 13 most promisingDomestic Use of Energy(DUE) Conferences, Cape

Town is once again getting ready foran even better energy conference in2006.

You are invited to present apaper at this conference by forward-ing short abstracts and final papersto [email protected] by 17 February2006.

The Domestic Use of EnergyInternational Conference will be heldat the Cape Peninsula University ofTechnology. Conference themesinclude: Domestic Demand SideManagement and Re-distributorDSM; Impact of the new FinancialAct on DSM/ ESCOs, contracts,maintenance, etc; Discussions onHot Water Load Control; Energy Effi-ciency and Labelling and Renew-able Energies.

SAEE members get 10% dis-count on the conference fees.


The National Conference on Cli-mate Change, held in Johannes-burg from 17 – 21 October 2005,

should help South Africans to realizethe long-term benefits and short-termopportunities that arise from a coordi-nated and integrated approach to thechallenges of the 21st century.

Extracts from the presentation ofthe South African Climate Action Net-work (SACAN) Co-ordinator, RichardWorthington:

‘Calling for action to address cli-

mate change causes serious conster-

nation in some quarters, giving rise to

suggestions of conspiracies and mys-

terious ‘self-serving’ agendas. Claims

that the global response to climate

change is exaggerated or even some-

how damaging, are a sign that those

most responsible for the problem are

beginning to feel some constraint. The

attribution of disingenuous motives to

those suggesting that the mounting evi-

dence of climate change should inform

the path of human development is sim-

ply a sign of the weakness of opposing

arguments.

‘South Africa’s dependence on coal

is not a necessary condition for improv-

ing the livelihoods of the majority, nor is

it the product of rational planning or of

our natural resource endowment,

which is far richer in renewable energy.

We can change the way we supply and

use energy, to the benefit of all, if we

make a concerted effort while we are

ahead. There are also changes in agri-

culture that are needed for sustainabili-

ty and broader participation in produc-

tive activity, that will both build

resilience to the impacts of climate

change and reduce greenhouse gas

emissions.

‘The National Conference on Cli-

mate Change should initiate develop-

ment of a coherent approach to climate

change - to the challenges as well as

the potential benefits of a rational

national response. The sustainability of

our life support system is at stake -

avoidance of dangerous climate

change requires keeping mean global

warming as far as possible below 2° C.

There is a shrinking window of opportu-

nity to initiate the necessary progres-

sion from business as usual, with grow-

ing consensus that a reversal of the

global growth in greenhouse gas emis-

sions is required within 10 to 15 years.

South Africa and Africa can be winners

rather than losers within an effective

global climate change regime.’

The event and concluding declara-tion send a clear message, nationallyand internationally, that South Africa iscommitted to action on climate change– both mitigation and adaptation – withgovernment having made broad com-mitments across departments. Asnoted in the closing address, they laythe foundation for a comprehensivenational approach.

The event and declaration are cer-tainly overdue – it has taken sevenyears to get to grips with the scienceand our international commitments –and we will certainly be looking formore, particularly more quantified andconcrete commitments from the busi-ness sector. However, this is a ground-breaking development and specificallyprovides a mandate for ‘a participatoryclimate change policy developmentprocess’. Climate change and theurgent development of action plans forall sectors are now explicitly acknowl-edged as a leading priority for SouthAfrica and Africa.

NGOs will hold government toaccount on the contents of the declara-tion, pushing for rapid development ofthe promised action plans and imple-mentation strategies by a range ofdepartments. The establishment of aNational Energy Efficiency Agency isparticularly welcome. We now have afirm process in place, including a workprogramme for the National Committeeon Climate Change and a strengthenedcommitment to renewable energy.

We condemn the suggestion in the

business sector statement that theadditionality requirements of the CleanDevelopment Mechanism (CDM) berelaxed. This highlights the opportunis-tic approach of many industries to thismarket mechanism and a flagrant dis-regard for the environmental integrity ofits operation. The inability to thinkbeyond maximizing profits couldremove the credibility and efficacy ofthe CDM. Establishing that emissionsreductions achieved through this ‘flexi-ble mechanism’ are indeed additionalto what would have occurred withoutsuch finance is not an obstacle toimplementation, but rather the mostessential characteristic.

We welcome government’s commit-ment to more progressive positions atinternational negotiations and denoun-cing of any attempts to undermine themultilateral approach to climate changeand absolute and binding emissionsreductions commitments for developedcountries. We particularly note thestrong words of the deputy minister offoreign affairs condemning those thatreject a unified approach to climatechange as ‘taking us on a path ofdestruction.’

We understand this event and the‘Midrand Plan of Action’ to be a com-mitment by government to live up to itsslogan ‘Climate Action Now.’

The following was noted in the SACANsubmission:SACAN and its member organizationsare ready to offer advice and support inevery way they can to take action -from among the many actions that canbe taken over the next two years,SACAN proposes that the following begiven priority: 1. Stronger measures are needed to

drive energy efficiency includingmandatory codes and standards forhousing and other buildings, vehi-cles and industrial processes.

2. The government should increase itstarget for renewable energy includ-

Getting to grips with the

National Climate Change

Conference


ing a target of 20% for electricity by2020 and a distinct target for solarwater heating and biofuels. Inde-pendent research shows that a tar-get of 15% will have net economicbenefits over a 20 year period. Theexisting government target is inade-quate as it does not even require anincrease in the current renewableenergy production.

3. Eskom should go beyond its stand-ing commitment of reducing its coaldependence by 10% by 2012, withspecific commitments to deploy-ment of renewable energy. Inde-pendent research commissioned bya SACAN member organizationconfirms that this is an achievablegoal. Complementary independentresearch has shown renewableenergy will create tens of thousandsof jobs.

4. Government should endorse theglobal objective of keeping globalarming below 2ºC. This will necessi-tate new commitments by SouthAfrica along with other developingcountries in the post 2012 period.

5. SACAN calls for clear recognition ofthe limitations of the CDM, review ofthe expectations and the emphasisplaced on carbon trading in strate-gies for renewable energy and effi-ciency, and rigorous application ofthe sustainable development crite-ria by the designated nationalauthority (DNA) to ensure that neg-ative local impacts are not offsetagainst global benefits.

6. Climate change will impact harshlyon humanity and particularly thelives of the poor. SACAN wouldtherefore like to see a wide ragingreview of measures by which thepoor can be protected from theworst impacts of climate changeand also from the effects of thehigher level of energy prices thatmay result from emissions reduc-tions.

7. SACAN calls on government forurgent and immediate adaptationstrategies to be implemented in anintegrated and cross sectoral man-ner.

8. Government should set emissionstandards to facilitate our movetowards commitments in the post2012 period.

9. SACAN wants immediate actiontowards the development of a com-prehensive public transport systemand other measures to assist in thereduction of private vehicle use and

congestion. 10. SACAN calls for recognition within

government related climate changepolicy of the important role that bio-diversity and nature play in protect-ing human health

11. A significant increase in theresources allocated to educationand awareness for ordinary SouthAfricans to appreciate the need forurgent and immediate climateaction, and embrace the importantrole that efficiency and renewableenergy will play in improving liveli-hoods and health.

l Contact: Jodi-Anne WilliamsAdministration and Climate Change

Officer

Sustainable Energy and Climate

Change Project

A Project of Earthlife Africa - Johan-

nesburg

Tel: + 27 11 339 3662

Fax: +27 11 339 3270

Website: www.earthlife.org.za


Abstract

The use and possession of paraffin is a

leading cause of death, burns, and

destruction in South Africa, specifically

in low-income settlements. This article

explores the possibility of replacing

paraffin with ethanol gel. The gel is

evaluated both in scientific and chemi-

cal terms, but also from the consumer’s

standpoint. Laboratory work was per-

formed using an ethanol gel stove in

comparison to both paraffin wick and

pressurized stoves. Additionally, forty-

four gel stoves were distributed in the

Nyanga, Guguletu and New Cross

Roads settlements in the Western

Cape. A discussion of these results and

recommendations for further research

and entrepreneurship is included.

INTRODUCTION

The use and possession of paraffin is aleading cause of death, burns, anddestruction in South Africa, especiallyin low-income settlements. The hazardto health and homes that paraffin hascreated, coupled with the estimatedR104 billion that the government mustspend every year to handle fire dam-age and rebuilding costs has createdan urgent need to dramaticallydecrease paraffin use in townships[PDG, 2003]. Unfortunately, the oil-based fuel is affordable and readilyavailable at ‘spaza’ shops throughoutthe most vulnerable areas of SouthAfrica. The goal of this article is toexplore the practicality of using ethanolgel as an alternative to paraffin.

In order to address questions con-cerning the comparative efficiencies ofparaffin and ethanol gel, laboratorywork has been conducted to serve asan independent source for comparisonto previously established researchabout the gel and the gel stove’s per-formances. The aspects of stove usagethat have been considered are general

safety, ease of use, stability, emissions,endurance of both fuel and stove, effi-ciency of fuel, and amount of time andfuel required to boil one litre of water.Additionally, both fuels were ignited onvarious domestic materials to simulatehow quickly flames would spread ifeither fuel were to catch fire in a home.

After the initial lab work, forty-fourgel stoves were distributed to selectedparticipants living in representativesocio-economic conditions in the Nyan-ga, Guguletu and New Cross Roadssettlements in the Western Cape. Eachparticipant received two litres of gelfuel, a gel stove, a thorough explana-tion of the proper way to use the tech-nology, and a consumer acceptabilitysurvey.

After two weeks the survey was col-lected, and the gel’s performance wasdiscussed with each participant. Finally,all persons received another litre of gelfuel for further use. The last goal of thisarticle is to make recommendations forfurther research and pilot projects thatseek to increase the availability andaffordability of ethanol gel fuel.

PARAFFIN AND ETHANOL GEL

In 2001, South Africans experienced anestimated 46 517 paraffin-related fires.Further, 50 000 households sufferparaffin-related burns every year,where 63% of these burns result from aparaffin stove explosion. It is expectedthat these numbers are even highertoday, when approximately 20 millionSouth Africans rely on paraffin for cook-ing and heating [PASASA, 2003].

The Paraffin Safety Association ofSouthern Africa (PASASA) has per-formed extensive and informativeresearch to document the current situa-tion of paraffin-related social and healthproblems. However, published articlesfrom PASASA have argued that paraffinshould not be replaced with ethanol gelbecause it is not readily available, it is

more expensive than paraffin, it is moredifficult to ignite, and it may extinguishin high winds.

First, it is true that the gel is notreadily available in most areas. Howev-er, there is a ‘Green Heat’ productionfactory in Durban, so a distributioninfrastructure would not be entirely dif-ficult to construct. Additionally, such anendeavour would create many jobs.The Khayelitsha settlement near CapeTown, already has access to gel pro-duced from the Durban facility; there-fore, this distribution process could beused as an example for other settle-ments.

As for pricing, the cost of paraffin isbased on several different factors thatcause much fluctuation. In January2000, the price for one litre of paraffin inthe Western Cape was R1.57. In May2005, the price was R3.67, an increaseof 234% [DME, 2005]. By the timeparaffin reaches the hands of con-sumers in townships, the cost will beapproximately R4.50.1 It can beinferred that the cost of paraffin willcontinue to rise, in the same fashion aspetrol.

If a 15% subsidy is granted by thegovernment for ethanol gel, it will bealmost as inexpensive as paraffin, cost-ing about R5.50. Next, based on ourlaboratory experiences, the gel isextremely easy to ignite: a match or acommon lighter must simply touch thegel. Since the gel burns directly, where-as paraffin must be used in accompani-ment with a wick, or a pressurizedstove, it is easier to ignite and monitorthan paraffin-fuelled apparatuses.

Finally, when a large quantity of gelis burning, for example, one full fuelreservoir in the gel stove (0.450 l), it isquite difficult to extinguish by wind orfanning the flame; it must be coveredusing the switch mechanism on thestove to deplete oxygen flow. However,it is true that small amounts can easily

Fire prevention in Southern AfricaAn investigation of ethanol gel fuel as an alternative to

paraffin for domestic use in low-income homes

S Byrd and H Rode


be blown out. PASASA has provided anextensive list of solutions to the prob-lems caused by uncontrolled paraffinuse and distribution, but these solu-tions and the safe-proofing of paraffinand paraffin apparatuses could per-haps require more time, money, andpolitical will than simply introducingethanol gel fuel as the definitive alter-native for paraffin.

COMPARATIVE SAFETY OF

PARAFFIN AND ETHANOL GEL

Paraffin use is dangerous for a numberof reasons. The fuel is both toxic andexplosive, the wick and pressurizedstoves that have been designed forparaffin use are dangerous, difficult touse, and productive of large amounts ofindoor pollution and smoke. In addition,paraffin is not distributed in pre-pack-aged, child-safe containers but is col-lected by consumers in plastic or glassbottles. This last fact accounts for thehigh incidence of paraffin ingestions inchildren: 60 000 to 80 000 ingestionsper year [Truran, 2004]. In fact, burnsare the largest killer of children ageszero through four, and the secondlargest for children ages five throughnine [Matzopoulos, 2003]. Also, paraffinstoves are unstable and unreliable.

Pressurized stoves, which costapproximately R150, are not favouredbecause of this expense. Wick stoveson the other hand cost R30 at the most,but are extremely dangerous, especial-ly when knocked over. Both stoves aretall in structure, approximately eighteencentimetres tall and twenty-three cen-timetres wide, which gives them a ten-dency to tip over. Pressurized and wickstoves emit strong paraffin smells andlarge quantities of black smoke. Thewick stove is very difficult to extinguishand often produces a burst of flamewhen it is blown out. The leaky fuelreservoir on the wick stove becomesincreasingly hot as the stove is burned,which can raise the temperature ofparaffin above its flashpoint [PASASA,2003].

Ethanol gel, which is made in SouthAfrica from sugar cane extract, is bothnon-toxic and non-explosive, as well asrenewable. Because of its high viscosi-ty, an amount of gel that is unintention-ally ignited will spread at an extremelyslow rate, whereas paraffin quicklyspreads to anything nearby the flames.When a paraffin wick stove is knockedover while it is burning, it will inevitablyburst into flames. Because the gel-fuelled stove is flat and square, only ten

centimetres in height, it will rarely flipover; if this happens, the gel will mostlikely extinguish itself before spreadingto other objects. The high viscosity ofthe gel allows for minutes to passbefore the fuel will spread from thestove to a surface.

During testing, the gel caused sig-nificantly less damage to wood, cottonfabric, and paper than paraffin did. Thegel, even after five minutes, did notspread a single flame onto the cottoncloth nor the wooden surface, whereasthe paraffin engulfed the materials inflames immediately upon ignition andleft the objects charred. The gel didburn paper, but at a much slower ratethan paraffin. Although gel promotersclaim that the product is a non-smoke,non-smell fuel, when extinguished andwhile burning, ethanol gel does emitlight vapours with a mild scent. Thishas not been reported as problematicby consumers. Ethanol gel can be eas-ily interfaced with a common paraffinheater at the cost of one Rand for asmall wire piece. This option is beinginvestigated by the Khayelitsha Gel fuelProgram.

FINDINGS

In the chart and graph on the nextpage, it should be clear that the gel farexceeds paraffin, both pressurized andwick in almost all aspects: safety, emis-sions, endurance, and efficiency. Thepressurized stove failed ten SouthAfrican Bureau of Standards (SABS)regulations, plus a combustion (meas-uring CO emissions) test executed byPASASA. The regulations which thepressurized stove failed include fuelcapacity, stove assembly, fuel contain-er, burner assembly, fuel inlet assem-bly, operating pressure range, appli-ance marking, container marking,combustion, instructions, and thermalefficiency [PASASA, 2003].

The wick stove also failed six SABSregulations. The regulations failedinvolve the design of the fuel container,fuel temperature, combustion (emis-sions), marking, instructions and ther-mal efficiency. This stove, along with allother paraffin wick stoves bursts intoflames immediately when knocked over[PASASA, 2003].

The graph on the next page depictsthe gel’s weakness in comparison toparaffin when boiling water, or moregeneralizable, when cooking a stan-dard meal.2 The problem is not theethanol gel, but the gel stove technolo-gy. The gel fuel reservoir on the stove is

approximately six centimetres deepand ten centimetres wide and can hold0.40 litres of gel. Because the strengthof the gel’s heat is determined by howmuch surface area is burning, if the fuelreservoir was altered to eight centime-tres by thirteen centimetres the speedat which the gel stove boils water orcooks a standard meal could improveby minutes.

CONSUMER ACCEPTABILITY

(A copy of the consumer acceptabilitysurvey with frequencies of participants'answers is shown in Appendix A.) Evenmore important than ethanol gel’s per-formance in a laboratory setting is howacceptable the fuel is in the eyes ofthose whom it could possibly benefit orharm. Although ethanol gel pilot pro-grams have come and gone since2000, it is difficult to locate a specificstudy in which low-income participantshave used gel stoves and expressedtheir opinions in an analyzable fash-ion.3

For this reason, forty-four gelstoves accompanied by two litres of gelwere distributed to low-income homesin the Nyanga, Guguletu and NewCross Roads townships. Each partici-pant used the gel for a two week trialperiod. Afterwards, all subjects com-pleted a survey about the gel’s accept-ability and discussed with researchershow they felt about the new technology.The results were strongly in favour ofthe gel. All participants were pleasedthat the gel emitted little or no smoke,had no strong odour, and providedample warmth for both cooking andheating.4

The only complaint, which wasvoiced by 10 – 12 participants, is thatthe fuel reservoir on the gel stove is toosmall. This caused problems when par-ticipants cooked heavier foods andstews in large pots because the gelreservoir would empty before foodpreparation was complete. Othersclaimed that because of the small sizeof the fuel container, they were onlyable to cook lighter foods, such as riceand pap.

These complaints could be rectifiedby enlarging the size of the fuel reser-voir, which would allow for more gel toburn at once, thus producing enoughheat for heavier foods, and increasingthe burn time for one full reservoir.Nearly all participants expressedexcitement over the new product andasked where to buy the gel. Theethanol gel stove costs R50, which


Comparative analysis of Paraffin (Pressurized), Paraffin (Wick), and Ethanol Gel1

Paraffin (P)

Paraffin (W)

Ethanol Gel

Paraffin (P)

Paraffin (W)

Ethanol Gel

Paraffin (P)

Paraffin (W)

Ethanol Gel

Average time for boiling

1 L of water

8 minutes

9.6 minutes

15.8 minutes

Thermal efficiency2

63.0%

59.0%

Unavailable

CO/CO2 ratio (legal limit

=0.02)6

0.04

0.07

<0.02

Amount of fuel consumed

in 1 hour of use

220 ml

250 ml

210 ml

Thermal efficiency when

boiling .5 kg of water3

20.1%

20.1%

49.9%

SABS standards7

Fails 11 standards

Fails 6 standards

Not applicable

Amount of time to burn

entire fuel reservoir

4.2 hours (1 L)

3.9 hours (1 L)

1.83 hours (0.40 L)

CO2

Emissions

(g/kg)4

3137.0

3137.0

1533.0

Current costs for 1 litre

of fuel

R4.50

R4.50

R 6.50

Amount of time to burn

1 L of fuel

4.2 hours

3.9 hours

5.49 hours

CO2

emissions

(g/meal)5

637.0

643.0

475.0

Notes

1. The first four categories of results are based on several trials conducted in our laboratory. All others are from the established references

below.

2. PASASA "Paraffin Stove Test Reports," 2003.

3. Wyk, P van. Test Report: Enviro Heat. South African Bureau of Standards General Analytic Chemistry. 2004.

4. Utria, Boris. Ethanol and Gel fuel: clean renewable cooking fuels for poverty alleviation in Africa. Energy for Sustainable Development. Vol.

8 No. 3. September 2004.

5. Ibid.

6. PASASA "Paraffin Stove Test Reports," 2003.

7. Ibid.

8. Wyk, P van. Test Report: Enviro Heat. South African Bureau of Standards General Analytic Chemistry. 2004.


seemed reasonable to the majority ofparticipants.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO

PARAFFIN

The only other alternatives that havethe potential to replace paraffin areelectricity and Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG). Electricity has been provided inmany settlements in South Africa, how-ever, the use of paraffin has notdecreased substantially because of thecosts of purchasing electricity. Mostlow-income homes use the governmentprovided electricity for lighting.Although some use electricity for cook-ing, it is often used intermittently withparaffin as a back-up source. Millionsstill use paraffin for cooking. Paraffin isperhaps the only source of heating dur-ing the winter months in South Africa.Although electricity has been useful, ithas merely shifted the use of paraffin toother domestic uses other than lighting[Kruger, 2004].

LPG is a favoured option by theSouth African Department of Mineralsand Energy [Truran, Glenn B., 2004].LPG appliances are not easily trans-portable like paraffin and gel appli-ances, and fuel must be purchased inspecific, large quantities. The LPGappliances and the fuel itself costapproximately twice that of paraffin[Lloyd, 2002]. It can be inferred that theintroduction of this energy source intosettlements would not be excitedlyaccepted the way ethanol gel hasbeen.

DISCUSSION

Based on the findings of this article,ethanol gel is recommended as areplacement to paraffin in South Africa.The strength of this project is that itdoes not seek to be comprehensive forall of Africa. The only previousresearch-oriented Gel fuel initiativewas the Millennium Gel fuel Initiative(MGI), led by the World Bank from2000 to 2003, which sought to be com-prehensive for all of Africa.

To be sure, many aspects of thefindings here are generalizable to otherplaces, namely the physical propertiesof ethanol gel and the process by whichconsumer acceptability was tested.However, it is important to consider thecontext in which ethanol gel will beused before it is widely introduced as adomestic fuel [Utria, 2004].

South Africa is ready to proceedwith making ethanol gel the most com-monly used domestic fuel in low-

income areas, which would then serveas an example for other developingcountries to follow. First, political actionmust be taken to subsidize the gel. Thisstudy and others led by The WorldBank’s Energy and Poverty ThematicGroup have shown that the gel is themost feasible alternative to paraffin.

Numerous burns and paraffin-relat-ed studies have made it clear that aparaffin replacement is needed to stopthe loss of lives, homes, and billions ofRand from the South African economy.Distribution centres must be created inall settlement areas, and commerceoptions should be explored with exist-ing spaza shops for gel sales.

For countries other than SouthAfrica, a manufacturing plant must befounded, possibly modelled after theGreen Heat factory in Durban, whichwas a World Bank funded project.Based on the initial demand for the gelwhen it is put into widespread use, newcrops will have to be organized that donot in any way deplete food sources[Utria, 2004]. This process, thoughhighly involved, will create many jobsand develop a new economy for a safe,renewable fuel.5 The long-term healthand social benefits of such an endeav-our will greatly outweigh the advan-tages of attempting to safe-proof theuse of paraffin.

Notes

1. This estimate is based on experi-ences of purchasing paraffin intownships.

2. It should be noted that water is visu-ally boiling in the Western Cape at94 degrees C.

3. The Millennium Gel fuel Initiative(MGI) led by the World Bank from2000 to 2003 is an informativesource for Gel fuel consumeracceptability.

4. We did not advise participants touse the stove as a heater, they didso at their own discretion.

5. The economics of ethanol gelindustry have been explained indetail by Boris Utria in the referredto articles.

References

Kruger, Teri. Paraffin: A Fuel of Conse-

quence. Paraffin Safety Association ofSouthern Africa. June, 2004. Accessedfrom www.pasasa.org.

Lloyd, Philip. The Safety of Paraffin and

LPG Appliances for Domestic Use.

Journal of Energy in Southern Africa.Vol. 13, No. 2. May, 2002.

Matzopoulos, Richard. A Profile of

Fatal Injuries in South Africa. FifthAnnual Report (2003) of the NationalMortality Surveillance System. Decem-ber, 2004.

Palmer Development Group, ScienceConsultancy Enterprises. Review of the

Effectiveness of Energy Subsidies and

Related Taxation Policies in South

Africa: Final Report. National Trea-sury and Department of Minerals andEnergy. December, 2003.

Paraffin Safety Association of SouthernAfrica: Paraffin Stove Standards Press

Package. May, 2003.

South African Fuel Price History.

Department of Minerals and Energy.Accessed June, 2005. www.dme.gov.za.

Truran, Glenn. The Poor Man’s Fuel:

The Continued Use of Paraffin for

Domestic Energy Requirements in

Low Income Households. PASASA.Environmental Health Conference.February, 2004.

Truran, Glenn B. The Poverty Dynam-

ics of Paraffin: Exploring Strategic

Counter Measures. Domestic Use ofEnergy Conference. 2004. www.pasasa.org.

Utria, Boris E. Ethanol and Gel fuel:

Clean Renewable Cooking Fuels for

Poverty Alleviation in Africa. The WorldBank. Energy for Sustainable Develop-ment. Vol. 8. No. 3. September, 2004.

l Contact: Dr Attila SzaboDirector - Khayelitsha Gel Fuel Pro-

gramme

Tel: (021) 424 0625

Cell: 082 458 4544


Website: www.giftofaids.co.za


Was the gel stove stable?

Was it easy to place gel into the stove?

Did the fuel spill frequently?

Did the stove become hot whileburning?

Is it easy to ignite the stove?

How many hours per day did you usethe gel stove?

What was your primary source ofcooking before using the gel stove?

Are pots stable when they are on thestove?

How long did it take to boil water?

Is it easy to extinguish the stove?

Does the stove smoke very much?

Are paraffin stoves or gel stoves easierto use?

Do you prefer the gel stove or a paraffinstove?

How long does one litre of gel last?

Did you feel safe while using the gelstove?

Can you cook the same meals on thegel stove as on a paraffin stove?

Stable: 100%

Easy: 95.5%

Never: 93%

Not Hot: 15.9%

Easy: 93.2%

2 or more hours: 34.9%

Paraffin Stove: 4.5%

Stable: 97.7%

Short Time: 80.5%

Easy: 90.9%

No Smoke: 88.6%

Gel stove: 74.4%

Gel stove: 95.1%

Long Time: 46.5%

Very Safe: 97.7%

Yes: 93.0%

Unstable

Difficult

Frequently

Very Hot: 38.6%

Difficult

Less than 1 hour: 18.6%

Other: 6.8%

Unstable

Long Time: 2.4%

Difficult

A lot of Smoke

Paraffin stoves

Paraffin stove: 2.4%

Short Time: 23.3%

Unsafe

No: 7.0%

Somewhat Stable

Somewhat Easy: 4.5%

Sometimes: 7%

Warm: 45.5%

Somewhat Easy: 6.8%

1 - 2 hours: 46.5%

Electric Stove: 84.1%

Somewhat Stable: 2.3%

Somewhat Long Time: 17.1%

Somewhat Easy: 9.1%

A Little Smoke: 11.4%

Both Equal: 25.6%

No difference: 2.4%

Somewhat Long Time: 30.2%

Somewhat Safe: 2.3%

APPENDIX A


It was that time of the year again,when the Southern African Associa-tion for Energy Efficiency (SAEE)

hosted a prestigious Annual AwardsBanquet. The Banquet was held at Grif-fin’s Estate, Krugersdorp, on Wednes-day, 19 October 2005. This event is thehighlight of the year which allows pro-fessionals and major role-players in thefield of energy to network with eachother.

Awardees were recognized for theiroutstanding accomplishments in theenergy field through the SAEE AwardsProgram. The awards are a token torecognize their commitment to theirprofession, desire to further the associ-ation’s mission, and participation incivic and community affairs.

Ms. Lindi Mthombeni from Eskomwas the keynote speaker at the event.Ms. Mthombeni manages the inde-pendent Measurement and Verification(M&V) function for the National Elec-tricity Regulator (NER). This functionreports to the NER the actual impactsof all the electrical Demand Side Man-agement and Electrical Energy Effi-ciency Projects, in South Africa.

SAEE members and guests had theprivilege to listen to Ms. Mthombeni’sviews as to how she sees the future ofenergy efficiency in South Africa. Shealso gave some insight as to the impor-tance off measurement and verificationin the industry, and the importance oftraining South Africans to make use ofthe numerous opportunities created inthe country.

Ms. Mthombeni thanked the SAEEfor taking the lead in this regard, andcongratulated all those who receivedCEM status, especially two of themeasurement and verification man-agers, Mr. Fanele Mondi and Mr. AfshinNejatian.

The following awards were present-ed:

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

The Department of Minerals and Ener-gy (DME) and COWI received a SpecialRecognition Award from the SAEE fortheir efforts to develop the BuildingEnergy Audit Training course andmaterial.

The DME decided to ‘lead by exam-ple’ through undertaking a programmeof energy audits in buildings under thecontrol of National Government. Thisproject formed part of the Danish fund-ed programme DME-DANIDA CapacityBuilding in Energy Efficiency andRenewable Energy (CaBEERE).

The immediate objective of theassignment was to achieve buildingenergy audits that are undertaken to aconsistently high standard and quality.In order to deliver energy efficiency rec-ommendations for the Public and Com-mercial Buildings sector, which areintegral to the Energy Efficiency Strate-gy for South Africa, it has been decidedto ensure that capacity exists at nation-al, provincial and local levels to under-take comprehensive building energyaudits of a consistently high standard.

The capacity building programincluded two courses, one directed atprospective energy auditors, and theother at supervising engineers who

would act on behalf of the building own-ers to implement and respond to audits.

Recognising that buildings are com-plex and that a complete understandingof building systems cannot be devel-oped in a matter of a few days, thesecourses focus on the auditing method-ology and the efficiencies that can beachieved in building systems throughtechnological and operational meas-ures; of necessity, the courses assumeconsiderable prior knowledge of theunderlying mechanical and electricalprinciples that pertain to building sys-tems.

The unit standards that the trainingcourses conform to have also beendeveloped, submitted and approved bythe Energy Seta.

The Trainer’s Guidebook enablesthe instructor by: • Providing background information

on approaches to adult learningprinciples,

• Describing the structure of the

SAEE ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET 2005

From left: Mr. Tony Golding -

DME, Ms. Helene Rask Grøn:

Manager, Capacity Building in

Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy - COWI

A/S, and Prof. LJ Grobler:

President - SAEE

From left: Mr. Ralph Sutherland

from Broll Property Group,

Prof. LJ Grobler: President of

the SAEE and Mr. Jaco

Strauss from Van Zyl & De

Villiers Consulting Engineers


courses and the rationale for thedesign,

• Providing a planning script for eachtopic in the course,

• Proving some initial direction on theevaluation of the learning.

The marketing plan gives recommen-dations on the following: • The demand and supply dynamics,• Marketing mediums that can be

utilised,• Budget formulation, and • Implementation plan.

BEST CERTIFIED ENERGY

STUDENT OF THE YEAR (2005)

AWARD

Eighteen professionals were awardedwith the prestigious Certified EnergyManager (CEM) qualification. The firstCEM course was presented in 2001.This award ceremony was held togeth-er with the SAEE’s Annual Banquet.

The Best Certified Energy Managerstudent award for 2005 was presentedto Jaco Strauss from Van Zyl & De Vil-liers Consulting Engineers, and RalphSutherland from Broll Property Groupfor obtaining the highest marks in theCEM exam for 2005. They bothobtained a score of 89% for the Certi-fied Energy Manager exam.

A total of 230 professionals haveattended the CEM course in SouthAfrica over the last four years, and 102professionals have been certified sincethen in Southern Africa. Delegates fromSouth Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Nige-ria, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia,Uganda and Kenya have attended thelocal CEM course. The next CEMAwards Ceremony will be held in May2006.

The CEM qualification allows theseprofessionals to be recognised for theirexpertise and experience in the duelfield of Energy and Engineering incountries around the world such as theUnited States, India, Africa and numer-ous others. The event is the highlight ofthe year which allows the new CEMs tonetwork with professionals who alreadyhave the CEM qualification. It allows forsynergy between major role-players inthe field of energy.

l Contact: Christina den HeijerTel/Fax: +27 (0) 18 294 7174

Cell: +27 (0) 82 334 0923

E-mail: cemanager1@intekom. co. za

SECCP gives

input to the

Electricity

Regulation Bill

l

On the 31 August 2005, theElectricity Regulation Bill wasgazetted, calling for the public

to make written comments and, in thefirst week of November, the Mineralsand Mineral Parliamentary PortfolioCommittee held public hearings onthe Bill. The Sustainable Energy andClimate Change Project (SECCP)made written submissions and partic-ipated in the public hearings, focusingon the need for the Bill to provide amandate for the National EnergyRegulator to implement a Stepped

Block Tariff, to address inequities inthe electricity pricing system. Initialblocks or portions of electricity con-sumption should be charged at alower rate than consumption above aparticular threshold, which could besubject to an escalating tariff, with tar-iffs set separately for different classesof consumers.

This would correct the dispropor-tionate benefits enjoyed by moreelectricity intensive consumers,resulting from the externalisation ofmost of the true cost of generation, aswell as encouraging efficient use andconservation of electricity.

• Access to affordable energy

services - SECCP emphasisesthe need to specifically addressthe affordability of access to ener-gy services and means to ensurethat research and developmentspending is directed to achievingpublic benefits, particularly jobcreation.

• Advisory Committee - SECCPviews The National Energy Advi-sory Committee as a particularlynecessary institution and theyurge that it not be so small as tobe dominated by vested businessinterests, but it should allow rep-

resentation of the full range ofinterests including NGOs, com-munities, consumers, labour, smallbusiness/entrepreneurs, etc.

• Customer and Consumer

Forums - SECCP would like thefunctions and mandate of theseforums, which would be publiclyfunded or funded by licensees tobe identified and spelt out in theBill. Given that the Regulator willconstitute the forums and Licen-sees might be required by alicence condition to constitute aforum, there’s a need for a clearmandate to avoid unnecessaryduplication.

• Equitable access to the trans-

mission and distribution net-

work - SECCP are encouragedthat the regulator sees the needto include in the licence the provi-sion for a licensee to provide non-discriminatory (equitable) accessto transmission and distributionpower network to third parties.This is an essential step in level-ling the playing field for smallercompanies, such as would beinvolved in renewable energyprojects. Ensuring equitable ac-cess, combined with internalisa-tion of full costs, should also facil-itate competition, which will driveutilities to improve efficiencies.

l Contact: Nkosana RakitlaSECCP – Earthlife Africa


Strategic Brand Specialists, Chat-ROOM brand, marketing andcommunications have devel-

oped a new Brand Identity for theSouth African Oil and Gas Alliance,previously known as Cape Oil and GasSupply Initiative (Cogsi).

The company was awarded theBrand Development tender for the Pub-lic-Private Partnership in early 2005.‘We had about two months for the fullmonth programme: Detailed stakehold-er interviews based on a customisedquestionnaire, a strategic managementworkshop, a stakeholder workshop, theformulation and development of theBrand Identity and Brand Design andfinally the development of marketingcollateral, such as a brochure, CD andmulti-media presentation,’ says Gor-dana, Senior Consultant and Directorof ChatROOM.

The South African Oil and GasAlliance launched their new BrandIdentity globally at the Offshore Tech-nology Conference in Houston, USA,the world’s foremost event for thedevelopment of offshore resources inthe field of drilling, exploration, produc-tion and environmental protection. TheWorld Petroleum Congress in Sandtonserved as a local platform to communi-cate the new brand to major players ofthe offshore oil and gas community.

The alliance is the umbrella bodyfor South Africa’s Supply Hub and Fab-rication Centres. It provides nationaland global players such as operators,rig managers, oil field services suppli-ers and national oil companies withinformation on South African suppliesand services. The alliance is also thegateway to the region’s oil and gascapability.

‘It was crucial to integrate the largenumber of stakeholders into theprocess,’ says Solly Moeng, SeniorConsultant and Director of ChatROOM.‘Organisations and parties such as theCity of Cape Town, the Western CapeProvince, who are also funders of theAlliance, and Wesgro and the DTI are

important opinion leaders and theirbroad-based input and buy-in from thevery beginning was essential in theBrand Development process.’

In in-depth interviews with stake-holders issues, such as the role ofSouth Africa in the industry within theAfrican context and local versus nation-al implications in the choice of name forthe organisation, were discussed.

‘Stakeholder input into the processindicated that a change of name fromCape Oil and Gas Supply Initiative(Cogsi) to the new South African Oiland Gas Alliance, in order to focus onthe national importance and servicecapabilities, was necessary,’ says GarySchwabe, Executive Director of theAlliance. ‘Our position with regard tothe whole continent is expressed in ournew claim, ‘Unlocking African Value’.’

Solly Moeng explains: ‘It is crucialnot to downplay the role that the SouthAfrican Oil and Gas Alliance plays onthe African continent, however, we alsohad to be careful not to feed the goingperception in some quarters that SouthAfrica wants to play the role of BigBrother on the continent.’

As a last step of the Brand Identitydevelopment, the new look wasdesigned and applied to the stationery,the new brochure and flash presenta-tion. A video presentation with footageof Cape Town and the Oil and Gasindustry completed the package pre-pared for the conference in Houston.

The structure of ChatROOM, withtheir three key areas of consulting, cre-ation and communication, allows thecompany to provide the client with aone stop solution. ‘Particularly wherethere is a lot of time pressure involved,our clients value the fact that they talkonly to one agency instead of a wholepool of suppliers,’ says Solly.

ChatROOM is a brand, marketingand communications specialising inholistic Brand Management and is ableto take clients through the wholeprocess from strategic brand and brandarchitecture assessment, across mar-keting strategy and marketing plandevelopment to the implementation ofthe relevant communication cam-paigns.

(With grateful acknowledgement to BizCom-

munity.com)

l Contact: Louise MarslandEditor – BizCommunity.com


Website: www.bizcommunity.com


Energetic challenge

ChatROOM develops brand identity for the

South African Oil and Gas Alliance

Before: Cape Oil and Gas Supply

Initiative

New brand identity: South African Oil

and Gas Alliance


The September 2005 edition ofReaders Digest carried an articleby leading environmentalist,

James Lovelock. In it, Lovelock makesa good case for nuclear energy, which,in this electric world, he calls ‘our onespark of hope’.

This article could not have come ata better time for South Africa, as we arecurrently again engaged in a fiercenuclear debate.

It is an unfortunate by-product ofour open and participative decision-making process that the Pebble BedNuclear Reactor, (PBMR) which is cur-rently subject to Environmental ImpactAssessments (EIAs) and public debate,may well be shelved due to widespreadpublic misconceptions, (fuelled byEarthlife Africa) which are largelybased on totally irrational, uninformedfear mongering.

The PBMR is inherently safe, costeffective and environmentally benign. Itis as far removed from the old type ofreactors as jumbo jets are frombiplanes and hot air balloons. Yet‘green’ hotheads still quote Chernobylin anti-nuclear debates!

During the late ‘80s and early ‘90s,as Director of the CSIR’s Division ofEnergy Technology, I was involved inseveral national and international ener-gy committees. The slogan of the coalindustry at that time was that coal wasthe ‘Bridge to the Future’. It wasrealised even then that in spite of plen-tiful supply (South Africa has enoughcoal to last more than a century), fossilfuels could not be sustained in the longterm due to global warming, and thatthe main role of coal and oil would be totide us over until safe and affordablenuclear power became available.

That time is now. Global warming isa reality which nobody disputes any-more (see Figure 2). Yet the Greens,which for over three decades have con-tributed so significantly to our modernenvironmental awareness, have turnedtraitor and stabbed us in the back. Theultimate irony is that Greenpeace andothers are now actively campaigningeven against wind turbines, on thegrounds of their low frequency harmon-ics, visual pollution, and bird strikes!

Everybody roots for renewables.We would all want pollution free solarenergy, and a hydrogen economy looksvery attractive. Yet the most optimisticforecasts put the penetration of alterna-tive and renewable fuels by 2020 at nomore than 10 – 15%. And by 2020, wewill have to begin replacing our current

series of six-pack 3600 MW coal firedpower stations, which will havereached the end of their lives (see Fig-ure 1). Does the anti-nuclear lobbyreally want to replicate Witbank?

There is today a window of opportu-

nity for South Africans to assume aworldwide lead in a technology that hasthe potential of supplying clean, costeffective, and plentiful energy – indefi-nitely. We dare not mess this up due tomisinformation and bad communica-tions on the part of those of us whoknow better. What we need is a target-ed programme to inform responsibleSouth Africans that nuclear energy isthe saviour, and not the bogeyman, ofthe world.

l Contact: Dieter KruegerSenior Lecturer

Centre for Research and Continued

Engineering Development

Faculty of Engineering, North-West

University

Tel: (012) 991 0867

Cell: 084 408 6020


Figure 1: Eskom’s generating capacity as a function of time

(Source: DME, ‘Integrated energy plan for the Republic of South Africa.’, Department of

Minerals and Energy, Pretoria, p. 9, March 2003.)

Figure 2: Monthly average Carbon Dioxide Concentration as measured at Mauna

Loa Observatory, Hawaii

Our

nuclear

lifeline


The Minerals and Energy Educa-tion and Training Institute(MEETI) is pleased to announce

the course programme for 2006. As inprevious years, we would like to askyour help in communicating the infor-mation within your company and yourbusiness associates, and to nominate

participants who might benefit fromthese courses. Next year, we will beintroducing several new short coursesaddressing the latest developments inenergy and the mining industry. Thecourses marked with (*), are accreditedwith the Graduate School of PublicDevelopment Management at Wits.

WHO ATTENDS MEETI COURSES?

The training programme has beendesigned for those interested in themanagement of the minerals and ener-gy industries. It is aimed at peopleworking for government, industry andlabour who wish to enhance theirknowledge of policy-making and imple-

MEETI Course Programme 2006

Courses in 2006 Dates Duration

SADC Programme in Rural Energy Planning and Environmental Management (Sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Government)

Data Survey Method and Applications 29 May - 09 June 2 weeks

Communication Planning and Mass Awareness Education 03 - 14 July 2 weeks

Senior Policy Makers Seminar 27 - 29 September 3 days

Training of Trainers in Rural Energy and Environment 20 Nov -01 Dec 2 weeks

Minerals and Mining Industry

Management of Mining and Minerals Industry * 13 - 17 March 5 days

Opportunities in Beneficiation 03 - 05 April 3 days

Mining Legislation:Mine Health and Safety ActMinerals and Petroleum Resources 04 - 05 May 2 daysDevelopment Act 28 - 29 August 2 days

Management Programme in Environment and Sustainability in Mining * 23 - 27 October 5 days

Multi Stakeholder Negotiations: A Key to Sustainable Success 30 - 31 October 2 days

Energy Industry

Management Programme in the Petroleum Industry * 06 - 10 March 5 days

Planning and Economics of Refinery(in cooperation with the Institut Francais du Petrole) 27 - 31 March 5 days

Opportunities in Renewable Energy 15 - 19 May 4 days

Management Programme in Energy Industry * 19 - 23 June 5 days

Climate Change Policy and Strategy: Managing Risks and Benefits in Carbon Economy 25 - 28 July 4 days

Certificate in the Management of Petroleum Industry and Economics (in cooperation 14 - 18 August 3 x 5-daywith the Institut Francais du Petrole)* Including Commercialisation of Natural Gas 11 - 15 September blocks (3

09 - 13 October weeks)

Petroleum Products Specifications 07 - 10 November 4 days

Management

Entrepreneurship and Business Management in Minerals and Energy 03 - 05 October 3 days


mentation in the minerals or energysectors.

Since 1996, MEETI has trainedstaff from the national governmentdepartments of Minerals and Energy,Land Affairs, Trade and Industry, andWater Affairs; provincial and local gov-ernment; the Parliamentary PortfolioCommittee on Minerals and Energy;Eskom, Sasol, BP, Total, Caltex, Shell,PetroSa, Eskom, Petronet, the NER,Billiton, De Beers, Samancor, Avmin,Randgold, Exel Petroleum, ColumbusSteel, MEPC, Fort Hare, Iscor, Bafo-keng Royal Administration and AfricanRainbow Minerals; and trade unionssuch as the NUM, NUMSA and CEPP-WAWU. Small-scale miners, leaders oftraditional communities, entrepreneurs,NGOs and researchers have also par-ticipated in past programmes. A num-ber of participants were from the gov-ernments and other organisations inthe SADC countries.

WHO TEACHES ON MEETI

COURSES?

Lectures on essential concepts in poli-cy-making, implementation and indus-trial management are delivered byexperts from government, trade unions,industrial companies, universities andother institutions in the minerals andenergy sectors, as well as independentconsultants.

Previous lecturers have represent-ed the Department of Minerals andEnergy, the Parliamentary PortfolioCommittee on Minerals and Energy,Anglo American Corp., the Chamber ofMines, SAPIA, Billiton, Eskom, Sasol,Petronet, Wits, Nepad, Mintek, DBSA,the NUM, the Minerals and Energy Pol-icy Centre, Deneys Reitz, VenmynRand, NER, Shell, SAD.ELEC, NOSA,Placer Dome, CSIR and Anglogold.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMES

MEETI offers certificate programmes inenergy policy, minerals and mining pol-icy, and petroleum policy and econom-ics. Each course takes place over threeweeks, and participants attend threeblocks of one week at a time.

Participants must pass assign-ments and an examination in order toreceive a certificate of competence atthe end of the course. Certificate pro-grammes are aimed at junior and mid-dle-level managers, who wish to gain abroad overview of the policy and eco-nomic issues affecting the minerals orenergy sectors in South Africa.

MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Short management courses are offeredon various aspects of energy and min-erals policy and industry and environ-mental management. The duration ofthe courses range from two to fivedays, and participants receive a certifi-cate of attendance on completion.

These programmes are aimed atmiddle and senior-level managers whohave some background in the mineralsor energy sectors, and who wish to fur-ther enhance their understanding ofpolicy implementation in the energyand mining industry.

ACCREDITATION

All Certificate and Management cours-es are accredited with the School ofPublic and Development Managementat the University of the Witwatersrand.Registration with the Mining Qualifica-tion Authority is pending.

SADC COURSES

The courses form part of the SADC-supported regional training programmein Rural Energy Planning and Environ-mental Management. The programmeis sponsored by the Royal NetherlandsGovernment.

Courses on other topics within thisSADC programme are being imple-mented by the Mananga ManagementInstitute in Swaziland and ESAMI inTanzania.

l Contact: Mike Mangena (TrainingManager)

Minerals and Energy Education and

Training Institute (MEETI)

Block 9, Level 9 Mintek Campus, 200

Hans Strijdom Drive, Randburg, 2194

P. O. Box 599, Randburg, 2125

Tel: +27 11 709 4311 / 4771

Fax: +27 11 709 4657

E-mails: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Website: www.meeti.org.za


Civil society organisations havewelcomed the decision by theNorth West Province to deny

Holcim Cement permission to burnhazardous waste in their cement kiln inDudfield, outside Lichtenberg (Dit-sobotla Local Municipality District) inthe North West Province. The decisionis an important precedent.

Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg, withlegal representation from the LegalResources Centre (LRC) office in Pre-toria, submitted comment during theEnvironmental Impact Assessment(EIA) and raised various concernsabout the project. These concernswere considered favourable by govern-ment and the reasons for rejecting theEnvironmental Impact Report were asfollows:• Cumulative impacts were not con-

sidered;• Reference to waste materials that

would be burnt was ‘vague andwide’;

• The Stockholm Convention on Per-sistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s)identifies cement kilns firing haz-ardous waste as a potential sourceof dioxins, furans and heavy metals;

• No alternatives including the ‘no-go’option were discussed; and

• The emission inventory was notbased emission measurements ormass balance. Louise du Plessis, of the LRC who

acted on behalf of Earthlife Africa,Johannesburg, indicated that it isencouraging to see that the provincialdepartment considered the matter socarefully and had the good judgementto implement the precautionary princi-ple.

Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg,spokesperson on this issue, RichardWorthington, indicated that, ‘Holcim’sproject is a classic case of opportunismdressed up as altruism: turning a blindeye to toxic emissions such asorganochlorines (dioxins and furans),fudging the details of proposed ‘fuels’and claiming environmental benefits.

Such projects seek to turn the pol-luter pays principle on its head - insteadof industries accepting the costs ofredesigning processes or products toavoid hazardous wastes, they nowmarket their wastes as a commodity,

which is presented as a ‘clean fuel’ onthe basis of avoiding one or more of thepollutants associated with coal (tradi-tionally the dirtiest fuel). It is encourag-ing that such attempted slight-of-handhas been rejected by authorities.’

Llewellyn Leonard, groundWork’sWaste Coordinator, visited the localmunicipality in Lichtenberg in 2004,and in an address to the Mayor, Mr. J.Bogatsu and his officials, presented thehealth and environmental concerns ofburning hazardous waste in cementkilns. This was followed up with a simi-lar meeting with the National Union ofMineworkers who organise in thecement industry nationally. ‘It is onlythrough careful and systematic buildingof our knowledge base on the dangersof hazardous waste incineration, thatthese proposals will be halted’,stressed Leonard.

Various civil society organisations,including groundWork, Earthlife Africa,Wildlife and Environment Society ofSouth Africa, the South Durban Com-munity Environmental Alliance andInjiya ya Uri have consistentlyaddressed their concerns on the burn-ing of hazardous waste in cement kilnsto the Ministry of Environment andTourism, calling on the Ministry todevelop clear policy guidelines through

a consultative process to determinehow hazardous waste is treated inSouth Africa. These organisations haveworked together to challenge variousproposals on the burning of hazardouswaste.

Bashiru Abdul, spokesperson forAgenda, an environmental justice NGObased in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,who is presently in South Africa, statedthat they were delighted at the victorynews since this precedence set inSouth Africa would not allow for cementcompanies to set up similar processesin other African countries.

There has been an internationalfocus on these proposed developmentsby the Global Anti Incineration Alliance.Manny Colonzo, of Global Anti Inciner-ation Alliance, welcomed the decisionby government, and maintains that ‘theSouth African government’s decisionputs them in a leadership position inensuring that hazardous waste is nottreated inappropriately.’

l Contact: Richard WorthingtonSustainable Energy and Climate

Change Project Co-ordinator

Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg

Tel: (011) 339 3662

Cell: 082 446 6392

Fax: 086 686 8434

Nkosana Rakitla


Llewellyn Leonard

groundWork

Cell: 082 464 1383

Louise du Plessis

Legal Resources Centre

Cell: 082 346 0744

Websites:

www.groundwork.org.za/Press%20Rel

eases/07Oct2005.asp


eases/06May05.asp

www.groundwork.org.za/HCW%20and

%20Incineration/HCWI_workshop-

pressrelease.asp


eases/POPs.asp

Positive

precedence

against

incineration

of

hazardous

waste


Participants at Earthlife Africa’sEnergy Policy Unit inceptionworkshop in August called for

capacity building workshops on Ener-gy Policy – processes and contentand whether these are working for thepeople. Energy professionals areencouraged to register their interest inthese workshops.

When and where are the

workshops?

The workshops will be held in the thirdweek of February 2006 and will run inJohannesburg, with dates to befinalised according to the availabilityof participants. There is some moneyavailable to support participation fromparticipants from outside of Gauteng.

Who are the workshops for?

The workshop are for energy activistswanting to influence how South Africadevelops and uses its energyresources, so that everyone hasaccess to energy that is affordable,appropriate and sustainable.

The workshops are based on aparticipatory learning approach, whichrecognises prior learning and experi-ence. Preference will be given toapplicants actively involved with ener-gy policy (e.g. participants of theEnergy Caucus), whose organisationor community group supports theirapplication.

What will you get from the

workshops?

At the end of the workshops, you’llhave a greater understanding of whatpolicies are in place and opportunitiesfor influencing policy, where energypolicy comes from, and where it isgoing.

Requirements to be part of the

workshops

• Have access to e-mail (as assign-ments will be e-mailed to partici-pants)

• Speak English, as the workshopswill be run in English

• Live in South Africa • Have one week block for the work-

shop (third week of February)

• Broadly support the principles ofthe South African Energy Caucus– www.earthlife.org.za/seccp

• Sign a Memorandum of Under-standing in which you commit tofully participating in the course

Do you want to be part of

workshops?

Send your CV (which includes yourname and contact details) and a letterof motivation to Nkosana Rakitladescribing:• Why you are interested in partici-

pating in the workshops (yourinterest in energy policy)

• What you hope to get from theworkshops

• Your experience of activism• Your availability during the period

13 – 24 February 2006

The deadline for applications is 13January 2006.

l Contact: Nkosana RakitlaEarthlife Africa

Fax: (011) 339 3270 or 086 686

8434

11th Floor East Wing, Auckland

House, 185 Smit Street, Braam-

fontein

PO Box 11383, Johannesburg, 2000


Capacity building for

energy policy


Canada this year played host tothe Eleventh Conference of theParties (COP 11) to the United

Nations Framework Convention on Cli-mate Change (UNFCCC) and the firstMeeting of the Parties (COP/MOP1) toits Kyoto Protocol. The Conferencetook place in Montréal from 28 Novem-ber to 9 December 2005.

‘This year’s COP has finally seensome real outcomes on adaptation,’said Elin Lorimer of the South AfricanClimate Action Network (SACAN), whoserved on the South African delegation.‘The international community is finallyfacing up to the fact that climatechange impacts are a reality, anddeveloping countries in particular needsupport to adapt to these changes.’ TheMontréal Conference was a dual-trackapproach for future climate action thatwas established.

The most talked-about outcome ofthe COP and COP/MOP was agree-ment on a process to discuss future cli-mate change commitments post-2012(particularly for industrialised countries,excluding the USA and Australia), whenthe Kyoto Protocol’s first commitmentperiod expires. Discussions of futurecommitments for developed/industri-alised nations were decided uponunder the Kyoto Protocol, while a sep-arate process has been initiated to dis-cuss broader co-operative action toaddress climate change under the Con-vention (including developing countryparticipation).

In the Protocol track, a process wasinitiated to consider further commit-ments by Annex I Parties (under Article3.9). The process will be run by an‘open-ended ad hoc working group’,starting in May 2006. No specific enddate was agreed, but it must happen intime to ensure that there is no gapbetween the first and second commit-ment periods. Given that it takes 2 – 3years to ratify targets, this implies theywould have to be agreed by 2009.

The second track is a dialogueunder the Convention on ‘long-termcooperative action’. This track does notset new commitments, but ratherexplores what developing countriescan do by fully implementing the Con-vention. Various elements are included,sustainable development, technologytransfer, adaptation and using marketinstruments. There is scope to explore

incentive-based approaches and othernew ideas. The US tried to insert lan-guage that would allow it to also usethe Convention approach only, but wasnot allowed to ‘pick and choose’. Thedialogue will happen in four workshopsduring 2006 and 2007. In a way, theSeminar of Government Experts fromMay 2005 will be extended, but now aspart of the formal process.

South Africa played a significantrole in achieving this outcome from theconference, despite the Bush adminis-tration efforts to scupper the processand premature US media reports of the‘death of Kyoto’ and the system of bind-ing targets.

‘This is a significant victory in thecontext of these highly contested nego-tiations,’ said Richard Worthington,SACAN Co-ordinator. ‘While over-allprogress to limit global greenhouse gasemissions is still unacceptably slow,these outcomes offer the possibility ofmulti-lateral actions, within the shrink-ing window of opportunity, sufficient toavert a climate chaos that would giverise to hundreds of millions of environ-mental refugees.’

Another significant outcome fromthe conference was agreement on afive-year programme of work on adap-tation to climate change, which willbegin in 2006. The climate changenegotiations have long focused primari-ly on efforts to reduce greenhouse gasemissions, but increasing evidence ofcurrent and future climate change hasemphasised the need to boost efforts toadapt to the adverse impacts of climatechange. The work programme recog-nises adaptation as a high priority, par-ticularly for the most vulnerable devel-oping countries, and should provide the

necessary scientific and technicaladvice and support to kick-start adapta-tion activities at local, national andregional levels.

This conference saw the formaladoption of over 30 decisions, knownas the ‘Marrakech Accords’ (includingthe compliance regime), which willeffectively operationalize the KyotoProtocol - currently the only legallybinding mechanism for reducing green-house gas emissions, which sets fixedemission caps for developed countries.To make them legally binding, however,the compliance system needed to beestablished. It was agreed that thiswould in two ways, immediatelythrough a decision in Montréal to applythe system, and secondly, through initi-ating an amendment to the Protocol(proposal by Saudi Arabia). The firstlegally-binding multilateral environmen-tal agreement was therefore fullyestablished.

Developing countries also stand tobenefit from projects under the CleanDevelopment Mechanism (CDM) of theKyoto Protocol, which are aimed atsupporting local sustainable develop-ment, while assisting developed coun-tries to meet their Kyoto commitments.In Montréal, discussions also tookplace on how to streamline CDMprocesses, although this should notaffect rigorous assessment of projectsto ensure that they are environmentallysound and additional to business asusual.

l Contact: Richard Worthington SACAN Co-ordinator

Cell: +27 82 4466392

Elin Lorimer+27 11 339 3662

Jodi Williams

[email protected].

Harald Winkler

Energy Research Centre



Websites:

http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_11/item

s/3394.php (full list of decisions)

http://unfccc.int/2860.php (official

press release)

Montréal

Climate

Conference

yields

significant

outcomes


There are a number of reasonswhy ‘green energy’ – energy gen-erated from renewable resources

has remained on the fringes. The mostimportant is cost and the related issuesof generating a financially attractivereturn on investment in renewableenergy technologies (RETs). Coal fuelsaround 92% of South Africa’s electricityneeds, and round 74% of the total ener-gy supply. The abundance of coal andits relation to low mining costs con-tribute to making South Africa’s elec-tricity one of the world’s cheapest,therefore putting any other generationtechnology at a price disadvantage.

In his paper ‘Meeting South Africa’s

Renewable Energy Targets’ (December2004) - University of Cape Town Ener-gy Research Centre (ERC) ResearchOfficer, Thomas Alfstad, estimated thatgenerating an additional 4Tetra Watts(TWM) from Renewable Energy by2013 would cost R10billion more overthe next nine years than generatingthat from non-renewable sources.

Another study ‘The potential contri-

bution of renewable energy in South

Africa’ commissioned by the Sustain-able Energy and Climate Change Pro-ject (SECCP) shows that South Africahas the opportunity to generate up to50% of its total energy requirementsfrom renewable resources by 2050,and that Renewable Energy Technolo-gies (RETs) could be cost competitivewith conventional technologies before2015.

The reason why generating energyfrom non-renewables is less expensivethan renewable, it that non-renewableenergy generation does not includeexternal costs such as adverse healtheffects and air pollution which are paidfor by the public, not by the power utili-ty. Now is the time to apply real triplebottom line accounting to South Africa’senergy industry, as that will then illus-trate the economic, social and environ-mental costs acquired from non-renew-able base energy generation. Thisapproach would change the relative

cost equation, which has to date,reduced the attractiveness of renew-able energy for South Africa’s’ energyplanners, investors and consumers.

There are three reasons why SouthAfrica’s planners, investors and con-sumers should start to look seriously atthese renewable energy options. First-ly, it is not true that coal is the abundantenergy source in South Africa - it isfinite and will run out. The abundantenergy source in South Africa is renew-able energy, and it has largely beensolar and it will never run out.

Secondly, Renewable Energy (RE)can achieve other public benefits likeopportunities to achieve social objec-tives, such as job creation. The poten-tial for RE to address the high unem-ployment rate is especially strikingwhen compared to thousands of joblosses in the electricity sector in the last20 years. A study into ‘The employment

potential of renewable energy in South

Africa’ that was undertaken by AGAMAEnergy in 2003, shows that ‘If South

Africa generates just 15% of total elec-tricity use in 2020 using RenewableEnergy Technology, it will create 36 400new direct jobs, without taking any jobsaway from coal-based electricity.

Thirdly, our country is faced with achallenge to mitigate the environmentalimpact of energy production and con-sumption including climate change.Therefore, we need to make a just tran-sition to sustainable energy away fromfossil based energy.

l Contact: Thomas AlfstadEnergy Research Centre



Website: www.erc.uct.ac.za

Nkosana Rakitla

SECCP


Website: www.earthlife.org.za/seccp

Renewable Energy Finance and

Subsidy Office established

The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) has established the Renew-able Energy Finance and Subsidy Office (REFSO), whose mandateincludes the management of renewable energy subsidies.

The provision of advice to developers and other stakeholders on renewableenergy finance and subsidies, (including size of awards, eligibility, proceduralrequirements, etc.), as well as opportunities for accessing finance from othersources is available from this Office.

Renewable Energy developers are requested to submit Expressions of Inter-ests as early as possible to the DME’s RE Finance Subsidy Office. The decisionsregarding the award of Letters of Registration and the subsequent awarding ofsubsidy contracts will be made by the Departmental Renewable Energy SubsidyGovernance Committee (SGC), which will meet three times a year.

l Contact: Renewable Energy Finance and Subsidy Office (REFSO)Department of Minerals and Energy

Tel: +27 12 317 8569


The time for renewable

energy, has it come?


At the high-level BIREC 2005Conference held on 7–8 Novem-ber 2005 in Beijing, attended by

industry leaders and key decision-mak-ers (30 Ministers and around 1200 par-ticipants from 100 countries were pres-ent), a strong signal was sent for astronger commitment towards rapiddeployment of renewable energies.Nevertheless, the industry had hopedfor a stronger declaration for renew-ables coming out of the Beijing Confer-ence. Participants in BIREC sharedexperiences for renewable energydevelopment and exchanged informa-tion on policies, finance mechanismsand technology accomplishments.

‘Whilst the overall development isvery promising, we are missing evenstronger signals and more concretecommitments not only from some gov-ernments’, said Oliver Schäfer, PolicyAdvisor of the European RenewableEnergy Council (EREC). ‘At a timewhen the renewables industry is mov-ing forwards, political signals should bestrong and mandatory. In this respect,the declaration is rather weak, but stillthe conference was a success and can-not only be measured by the declara-tion.’

The process initiated with theseministerial conferences on renewableenergies shows that there is a strongcommitment from decision makers allover the globe in renewables.

‘By hosting the conference andcommitting to new, ambitious renew-able energy targets, China sent out astrong signal that economic develop-ment and renewable energy are on thesame side of the coin’, added Schäfer.

‘Oil prices have more than doubledin the last two years and it is becomingincreasingly risky to rely primarily onimported energy. Renewable energiescan help countries to develop local,clean energy sources and thus diversi-fy their energy portfolios to hedge these

price risks and create sustainabledevelopment’.

‘The European Parliament recentlycalled for an integrated approach toenergy policies that will give renew-ables a 25% share by 2020. Consider-ing climate change, issues of securityof supply and energy price volatility, Ithink the European Union shouldindeed seriously consider adopting thisambitious target’, said EU EnvironmentCommissioner, Stavros Dimas, in hiskeynote address. This was only one ofmany strong signals that renewableenergy will play, and a much moreimportant role in the future energy mixall over the world.

At a business forum, one of themain discussion fora at the conference,organised by the EREC, the NDRCVice Chairman Zhang Guobao, theGerman Environment Minister, JürgenTrittin, the British Secretary of State forthe Environment, Margaret Beckett,and other decisions makers togetherwith 30 CEOs from the world’s leadingrenewable energy manufacturers anddevelopers, debated the necessarypolitical framework conditions, supportschemes and cost developments.

‘This was the first time that so manyleading CEOs and politicians cametogether and discussed concreteissues and challenges for furtherdeployment of renewable energies.

The exchange between policy makersand the industry is of the highest impor-tance and we are glad that it hap-pened’, said EREC Secretary General,Christine Lins.

l Contact: Luisa Colasimone Communication Director

European Wind Energy Association

(EWEA)

Renewable Energy House

26 rue du Trône

B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: + 32 2 546 1981

Fax: + 32 2 546 1944


Website: www.ewea.org.

Oliver Schäfer

EREC Policy Advisor

Mobile: +32 496 652 837

Christine Lins

EREC Secretary General

26, rue du Trône – 1000 Brussels,

Belgium

Tel: +32 2 546 1933

Fax: +32 2 546 1934

Mobile: +32 478 962 191

Website: www.erec-renewables.org

Beijing Renewables Conference sends

strong signal but declaration still weak,

says RES Council EREC


INTRODUCTION

In Kenya, more rural households gettheir electricity from solar energy thanfrom the official rural electrificationprogram (REP). The spread of thephotovoltaic systems has been recent,rapid and market-driven. The serviceis as good as the grid for the lowpower loads that prevail in many ruralareas, and the price is competitivewith other options for low loads.

Rural Electrification programmeexpansion is slow because funding istight. The program consists of extend-ing the already existing national elec-tricity grid, establishing decentralizedgeneration capacity in combinationwith a local grid, or helping those whoproduce power for their own consump-tion to start serving surroundinghouseholds and small commercialenterprises. New connections requiresubstantial government and donorfinancing and subsidy. The rate atwhich the program reaches house-holds would have to increase tenfoldfor it just to compensate for currentrural population growth. At present,only 0.5% of rural households haveaccess to the grid.

Therefore, solar power is a seriousand fast-growing option for those ruralhouseholds with limited powerdemand and enough money to affordit. More households could afford it ifthe Kenyan Government removed‘‘obstacles’’ like high duties, whichmake the solar systems more expen-sive than they need to be. Theirremoval would be good rural pre-elec-trification policy. With easier access tosolar power, the Government couldachieve higher living standards morequickly for more Kenyans than it canthrough the existing rural electrifica-tion program.

A THRIVING MARKET

Today more than 1 MW of photovolta-ic power has been installed in Kenya.Around 20 000 households have pur-chased solar energy for their homescompared to the 17 000 connected toofficial rural electrification. About 17.7million people live in rural areas, andless than 0.5% have access to gridelectricity compared to 30% or less ofthe 4.4 million urban population. Woodis, and will remain, the predominantform of energy for the near- and medi-um-term future.

Better access to electricity wouldmake a big difference to the quality of

rural life. Although many rural peopledo consume conventional modernenergy, they do so in small amountsonly. They also pay for it dearly: dry-cell batteries provide electricity forabout $3 to $10 per kWh. A candle ora kerosene wick lamp does give a highquality light, but households need,respectively, about 60 or 20 of them toobtain the same amount of light as thatemitted by a single 60 W incandescentlamp or a single 12W compact fluores-cent.

Solar power can match the gridservice partly because rural house-holds do not consume much electricity– at least for the first few years.Household electricity usage for thosejust connected to the grid is often lim-ited to a few lamps (3 - 6), a radio,and/or a television, or 30-60 kWh permonth. These services can also easilybe provided by solar systems. House-hold demand remains low for at least acouple of years, after which house-holds will start to add higher powerconsuming appliances, such as ricecookers, tea kettles, or refrigerators ifthe grid capacity allows. Though solarelectric systems are modular andmore photovoltaic modules can beadded, thermal applications (such ascooking and heating) are not feasibleas this would be too expensive. How-ever, thermal applications are oftennot possible either with grid-basedrural electricity.

Solar systems are price competi-tive with the rural grid or a genset (asmall kerosene/petrol generator set)assuming a low level of electricity con-sumption and an ‘‘equal’’ level of serv-ice. Like the grid, the genset option iscapable of satisfying higher demandfor power and energy than the rural-

user normally makes. The capital costis similar to a 50 W solar electric sys-tem, but gensets need imported fuel tooperate and their service life is muchshorter.

BETTER POLICY

Although the actual numbers anddetails differ, similar circumstancesare found in many other African coun-tries. Despite substantial amounts ofmoney that have been invested in theAfrican power sector, only a minority ofAfrican households are able to enjoymodern services provided by electrici-ty.

The majority of rural householdshave no grid-based electricity, and willnot receive it in their lifetime either.Government least-cost electricity ext-ension programs usually exclude look-ing seriously at alternative approach-es, such as (low load) electricitygeneration through photovoltaic pan-els placed in individual households. Itwould make sense to do so, particular-ly given the low population density incombination with the small demand forpower and energy in rural Africa.

The solar power option is an effec-tive first step. And it can be market-driven rather than depending on cash-strapped governments or aid donors.Governments should be encouragingthis option rather than penalizing it bytaxing imported components.

Rural householders would benefitif the Kenyan Government removed atleast three significant impediments tothe solar power market. First, a morerational (comparable to that for ruralelectrification program equipment)import duty and tax regime should beapplied. Second, financing mecha-nisms should be put in place to makesolar electric equipment more accessi-ble to a larger share of the population.Third, technical standards for solarelectric systems should be establishedand applied. Solar electric companieshave been compromising technicalstandards to offset the increase inprice after the recent devaluations ofthe Kenyan shilling. More frequentequipment failures may have a long-term negative impact on the develop-ment of the market, and thus of thefuture use of electricity in rural areas.

l Contact: Robert Jan van der PlasC/o Nkosana Rakitla

E-maill [email protected]

Website: www.ieiglobal.org

Solar energy:

a neglected

answer to rural

power in

Africa

ROBERT JAN VAN DER PLAS


Barriers to renewable energy sys-tems in Zambia include the lackof information and capacity, as

well as insufficient finance to take careof high initial costs.

A project, which will be supervisedby the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP), will have a totalvalue of $7.8 million with co-financing.The United Nations Industrial Develop-ment Organization (UNIDO) will exe-cute the project in close cooperationwith the Ministry of Energy and WaterDevelopment and the DevelopmentBank of Zambia. This venture isexpected to demonstrate sustainableways for meeting the country’s goal ofincreasing from 2 percent to 15 percentover the next five years the number ofrural communities enjoying electricitysupply. Also, directly or indirectly, it willreduce carbon dioxide emissions bysome 2.2 million tons over the lifetimeof the intervention.

“This is an exciting project, one thatshows how you can help provide elec-tricity, using renewable-energy technol-ogy, to a rural community while havinga positive effect on national electrifica-tion policies and making an impact onthe environment, both within Zambiaand at the global level,” said GEFChairman and Chief Executive Officer,Len Good. “This project takes on addedsignificance in view of the GEF’s com-mitment to contribute to the goals of theNew Partnership for African Develop-ment.”

The key to achieving the projectgoals will be the demonstration effect ofthree types of pilot mini-grids. Thethree types will use biomass gasifica-tion, solar energy and mini-hydropower stations, respectively. They areintended to demonstrate the technicaland financial viability of renewableenergy in rural electrification to poten-tial investors, financing institutions,ZESCO (the country’s public utilitycompany), equipment suppliers, ener-gy service providers, and governmentplanning and regulatory officers. Untilnow, electricity expansion plans havebeen focused on diesel-power genera-tion - which is less environmentallyfriendly - but has lower start-up costs.

As the main national grid reachesthe remote areas in which the demon-stration projects are installed, they caneasily be integrated into the grid. Theproject will help develop institutions,policies and regulations, designed toprovide a level playing field on whichrenewable-energy technologies mightbe able to compete with more conven-tional diesel-based power-generationprojects.

Of the three technologies beingaddressed by the project, the mini-hydro has the greatest likelihood ofbeing widely replicated. However, afterwitnessing biomass electrification atwork in India, officials of the nationalpublic utility have expressed willing-ness to use this technology in place ofdiesel generation in up to ten locationsalready identified and possibly manymore to follow. A ten-fold increase inthe adoption of biomass gasificationtechnologies is foreseen over the longterm. Also, there is considerable hopeof a successful experiment with solarphotovoltaic (PV) lighting in fishingcommunities, not only to electrify hous-es, but also to replace kerosene inlanterns on fishing boats.

A specially established revolvingfund is expected to help foster adoption

of renewable energy and to ensurelong-term sustainability of the projectinterventions. The fund, to be locatedwithin the Development Bank of Zam-bia, will bear the financial risk associat-ed with this kind of innovative under-taking, which commercial banks are notusually willing to take. The revolvingnature of the fund will increase the pos-sibilities that investment in renewableenergy resources will continue longafter the six-year duration of the proj-ect. The proposed fund helps set thestage for private-sector engagement,one of the defining characteristics ofthis venture.

Another characteristic of the projectis that extensive consultations havebeen carried out with all relevant stake-holders, including ZESCO and a num-ber of potential private investors. Thefishermen consulted expressed a will-ingness to try the solar technology sug-gested for the fishing village, and to payto have the lighting fixtures on theirboats recharged by the solar PV mini-grid.

Capacity building and policy devel-opment are other important features ofthe project. Training will be arranged fortechnology experts, planners, policy-makers, university personnel, businessleaders and other key stakeholders.Banks and other financial institutionswill be equipped with the expertise toevaluate rural electrification endeav-ours based on renewable energyresources.

The key indicator of success for thisproject would be the spread of renew-able-energy technologies in the Zam-bian countryside. Also, given Zambia’sfull integration into the Southern AfricanDevelopment Community (SADC), theCommon Market for Eastern andSouthern Africa, and the New Partner-ship for African Development (NEPAD),possibilities for the replication of anysuccessful models in the region andeven beyond seem promising.

l Contact: Nkosana Rakitla


Removing

the many

barriers to

renewable

energy

systems in

rural

Zambia


Annual Meeting of the

International Energy Workshop

2006 27 - 29 JUNE 2006, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Workshop Announcement

The 2006 meeting of the International Energy Workshop (IEW) will be heldin Cape Town, South Africa, from 27 – 29 June 2006. The IEW is a networkof global energy experts who meet annually to discuss a wide range of top-

ics, with particular emphasis on global as well as world regional energy issues.The annual meetings focus on energy assessments and try to understand thereasons for diverging views of development in the energy sector. The 2006 IEWwill have the unique opportunity to expand this network and take a closer look atAfrica and its current energy issues, with a special emphasis on its efforts toachieve sustainable development, promote clean energy, and deal with climatechange. Organizers include: the International Energy Agency, the Stanford coor-dinated ‘Energy Modeling Forum’, the International Institute for Applied SystemsAnalysis, and local hosts for 2006 are the Energy Research Centre at the Uni-versity of Cape Town.

Abstract submissions are invited for the following topics:• Economically efficient energy development and needs (increasing access,

affordability, innovation, deployment of cleaner technologies, while pursuingenergy security and sustainable development)

• Investment, infrastructure, appropriate transfer of technologies and bestpractice

• Sustainable advanced local rural as well as municipal energy-economicdevelopment (including appropriate distribution options)

• Climate change actions compatible with accelerated development (better useof energy, developing resilience and integration of adaptation goals for sus-tainable development strategies)

• Policy, regulatory and financing frameworks African primary-energy produc-tion, regional integration and their potential role in global energy supply

• Environmental and health consequences of existing energy use patternsAfrica’s global agenda

The Abstract submission deadline is 28 February 2006.

Workshop Venue

The workshop venue is the Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, Cape Town (see fullcontact details below).

l Contact: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria

Tel: +43 2236 8070

Fax: +43 2236 71 313

Website: www.iiasa.ac.at

Mark Howells

Program Leader: Energy Modelling Group

Energy Research Centre


Tel: +27 21 650 3898 / 3230

Fax: +27 +21 650 2830


Website: www.erc.uct.ac.za

Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, Cape Town

Convention Square, Lower Long Street

Cape Town 8000 South Africa

Tel: +27 21 412 9999

Fax: +27 21 412 9001

Website: www.sheraton.com/capetown

SA

Government

committed to

energy of the

future

Recently the Deputy Ministerof Minerals and Energy, LuluXingwana, launched the

Second National IntegratedResource Plan (NIRP 2) of theNational Electricity Regulator(NER), which is the predecessor ofthe new National Energy Regulatorof South Africa (NERSA).

The NIRP is a long-term plan bythe NER to inform the construction,licensing and decommissioning ofpower plants in South Africa. Thegovernment has alluded to the factthe energy sector is undergoing along term reform process in itsstructure generation, transmissionand distribution, and the diversifica-tion of energy sources in order tomeet the growing demand for ener-gy.

The objective of the NIRP2 is todetermine the long term least costof electricity supply options in thecountry under current market condi-tions, introduce competition in theElectricity Supply Industry (ESI) andintroduce Independent Power Pro-ducers (IPPs). Further, the NIRP2 isdrastically improved compared tothe predecessor NIRP1, in that itprovides moderate and high elec-tricity demand forecast, a completedatabase of the cost and perform-ance of the generation plant consid-ered in the optimisation, detailedoutput results, methodology appliedto the planning process, and riskand sensitivity analysis.

The National IntegratedResource Planning of the NER isavailable on the NER website.

l Contact: Nkosana RakitlaE-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.ner.org.za


It’s not often you find a brand newVolkswagen Golf on the ‘dissectionslab’ of a university mechanical

engineering laboratory.University of Cape Town (UCT)

mechanical engineering students willnow enjoy the benefits of an in situ,left-hand drive Golf 1.6 FSI, donatedby Volkswagen South Africa, andintended for inspection and study.

The vehicle will be used as ademonstration model in the designand dynamics sections of theircourse. The department has yet todecide on an optimal method ofdemonstration: they can either par-tially disassemble the vehicle or cutaway sections of the bodywork toshow the various working parts.

The vehicle will also give studentsfirst-hand experience of the variousfeatures of modern vehicle design,from architecture to engine designand braking systems.

Lecturer Trevor Cloete says it willbe an invaluable teaching tool.

Volkswagen is also making paral-lel donations of gear sets, brakingsystems and an engine, to be usedfor laboratory practicals and demon-strations. The donation is the result ofclose collaboration between thedepartment and Volkswagen, led bynew Managing Director and ChiefExecutive Officer, Andries Tostmann,and his team. From UCT’s side, thedeal was tied up by Professor ChrisRedelinghuys.

The donation follows the Volkswa-gen’s Student Orientation Pro-gramme on Automotive Manufacture(SOPAM), in which 15 third-yearmechanical engineering students vis-ited the Volkswagen manufacturingplant in Uitenhage, accompanied bylecturer Steve Marais. Here the stu-dents witnessed a modern manufac-turing plant in action, complete withrobotic and automated productionprocesses. The visit also gave them achance to explore collaborativeresearch initiatives and even jobopportunities.

The Department of MechanicalEngineering sees the collaboration asa welcome opportunity to form bondswith industry, while exposing studentsto the competitive world of top-flightproduction engineering.

(With acknowledgements to UCT’s Mon-

day Paper – Volume 24 No. 30)

l Contact: Helen TheronSenior Writer

Media & Information

Department of Communication &

Development


Tel: (021) 650 4145

Fax: (021) 650 3780


Prof. Bob Tait

Department of Mechanical Engi-

neering



Revved up: Volkswagen South Africa has donated a Golf 1.6

FSI to the Mechanical Engineering Department. Taking

delivery are (from left): Head of Department - Prof. Bob Tait,

Trevor Cloete, Prof. Kevin Bennett and Steve Marais (Absent:

Prof. Chris Redelinghuys)

Car anatomy under the

scalpel in mechanical

engineering lab


FEBRUARY 2006

2 – 4

DELHI SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

New Delhi, India

Contact: The Summit Secretariat, The

Energy and Resources Institute, Dar-

bari Seth Block, IHC Complex, New

Delhi – 110 003, India

Tel: +91 (0)11 2458 2100 or 2468 2111

Fax: +91 (0)11 2468 2144 or 2468

2145


Website: www.teriin.org/dsds

19 – 22

SECOND IESSA AGM AND

CONGRESS

Protea Wilderness Resort, Wilder-

ness, South Africa

Contact: Illumination Engineering Soci-

ety of South Africa (IESSA), P.O. Box

344, Olifantsfontein, 1665, South

Africa

Tel: (011) 238 0104

Fax: (011) 238 0185

E-mail: iessa.org.za

Website: www.iessa.org.za

APRIL 2006

4 – 6

DOMESTIC USE OF ENERGY

Cape Town, South Africa

Contact: Prof. Nico Beute, Cape

Peninsula University of Technology,

Cape Town Campus

Tel: +27 21 460 3657

Fax: +27 4603701

Cell: +27 (0) 82 457 3539

E-mails: [email protected] or

[email protected]

5 – 7

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON

APPLIED MODELLING AND

SIMULATION

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Contact: Gerson Cunha, LAMCE

COPPE, UFRJ, Brazil

Tel: +55 21 2562 8413

Fax: +55 21 2562 8414


Website:

www.lamce.ufrj.br/grva/ams2006

MAY 2006

9 – 11

HART’S WORLD REFINING AND

FUELS CONFERENCE

Brussels, Belgium

Contact: Sandrine Dixson-Declève

Tel: +32 (0) 2 661 3080


Website:

www.worldfuelsconferences.com

10 – 12

ENERGY TALKS OSSIACH ’06

Stift Ossiach, Carinthia, Austria

Contact: Dr Albrecht Reuter

Tel: +43 (1) 409 79 3666


Website: www.energytalks.com

Karin Auer, Event Coordinator

Tel: +43 (1) 409 79 3622

Fax: +43 (1) 409 79 3691

Mobile: +43 (699) 1924 2415


Website: www.energytalks.at

14 – 18

VALDOR SYMPOSIUM

Stockholm, Sweden

Contact: Kjell Andersson, Karinta

Research

E-mail: kjell.andersson@karinta-kon-

sult.se

Website: www.congrex.com/val-

dor2006

22 – 24

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL

USE OF ENERGY

Cape Town, South Africa


29 – 2 June

BUILDING ENERGY AUDIT

TRAINING COURSE

Emperors Palace (Caesars), Gaut-

eng

Contact: Christina den Heijer

Cell: +27 (0) 82 334 0923

Fax: +27 (0) 18 294 7174


CERTIFIED ENERGY MANAGER

COURSE


eng


Cell: +27 (0) 82 334 0923

Fax: +27 (0) 18 294 7174


JUNE 2006

12 – 14

2ND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC

SYMPOSIUM ENVIRONMENT AND

TRANSPORT INCLUDING 15TH

CONFERENCE TRANSPORT AND

AIR POLLUTION

Reims, France

Contact: Robert Joumard and Jacques

Beaumont, Léa Sire, Nicole Teillac,

INRETS – case 24 – 69675 Bron

cedex – France

Tel: +33 (0) 4 72 14 2300

Fax: +33 90) 4 72 37 6837


Website: www.inrets.fr/services.e.html

AUGUST 2006

13 – 18

2006 ACEEE SUMMER STUDY ON

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN

BUILDINGS

Asilomar Conference Centre, Pacif-

ic Grove, California, USA

Contact: Rebecca Lunetta, ACEEE

Summer Study Office, P.O. Box 7588,

Newark,

DE 19714-7588 USA

Fax: (303) 282 3965


OCTOBER 2006

16 – 20

CERTIFIED ENERGY MANAGER

COURSE


eng

Cell: +27 (0) 82 334 0923

Fax: +27 (0) 18 294 7174


17 – 20

BUILDING ENERGY AUDIT

TRAINING COURSE


eng


Cell: +27 (0) 82 334 0923

Fax: +27 (0) 18 294 7174


Energy events 2006

Visit www.erc.uct.ac.za forfurther events and details

Subscribe to

The Journal of Energy in Southern Africa (JESA) has been running for fourteen years, and has provedto be of a consistently high standard and to have a widening subscription base. The key receivers of

this quarterly journal are researchers, consulting engineers, energy producers, energy consumers anddecision makers.

The publication is balanced, representative, up to date and authorative. It is becoming increasinglyknown in other countries especially in Africa.

The JESA is a successful vehicle for the dissemination of information on the latest results and activitiesin the Southern African energy field, publicising results achieved and stimulating future activities. Thepotential impact in terms of distribution is the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. It covers matters of local

and regional interest as opposed to the internationally high technology content of other journals servingenergy interests.

It is the intention to keep the subscription rate relatively low to allow as many people as possible tohave access to the JESA.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES (FOUR ISSUES)

Individuals (Africa): R150 (single copy R48)Individuals (beyond Africa): US$102 (single copy US$36)

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Back issues: R30/US$22 eachCost includes VAT and airmail postage.

Cheques should be made payable to the University of Cape Town and sent to the address given below.Contact: Ann Steiner, Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town,

Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.Tel: (021) 650 2834Fax: (021) 650 2830


The newsletter is published quarterly by the Energy Research Centre (ERC) of theUniversity of Cape Town. (ERC is an amalgamation in 2004 of two organisations at

the University: the former Energy Research Institute and the Energy and DevelopmentResearch Centre.)

Energy Management News is available free of charge. The articles do notnecessarily reflect the views of the editor or of ERC.

Enquiries, comments, articles, and information on energy events are welcome, andshould be sent to:

Richard DrummondEnergy Research CentreUniversity of Cape Town

Private BagRondebosch 7701

South Africa.Tel: (021) 650 3894Fax: (021) 650 3230


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