South Africa - Basic Energy & Conservation Interventions

ProBEC Activities

The significant level of modernity and associated infrastructure that exists in South Africa has influenced ProBEC in making Johannesburg its regional base and locating its head office there. It is from here that ProBEC is able to conduct its regional programme at an efficient pace. South Africa is easily accessible from other SADC countries where ProBEC is active and Johannesburg is in close proximity to the SADC base in Gaborone, Botswana. ProBEC thus views Johannesburg as the central node in its organisation that is able to efficiently provide assistance to various countries through information management and processing a vital component in ensuring the success and progress that ProBEC strives for.

South Africa, being the most developed country in SADC, presents particular challenges and issues in terms of household energy use.  ProBEC commenced with limited activities in South Africa in anticipation of a full scale roll-out in May 2008.  ProBEC's strategic partner in South Africa is the Central Energy Fund (CEF) and all activities are structured to support CEF’s mandate in the energy sector, with specific focus on the household sector.  Specific activities include the support of a paraffin market survey and safe paraffin appliance roll-out programme. 

In South Africa, ProBEC aims to acquire a range of producers and partnerships that will optimise our effectiveness in both capacity building & energy efficiency approaches. One such partnership is with AFRECA (see below). 

ProBEC SA already plays a significant part in the legislative development through its chairmanship of two South African Bureau of Standards technical committees.  Here it oversees the refinement of currently one and, later,  a probable second compulsory specification for liquid fuelled (paraffin / kerosene) domestic appliances which is integral to the development of gel- and coal-fuelled domestic appliance standards.

Furthermore, in South Africa ProBEC is engaged in a diversity of energy sectors from Biomass to LP Gas; renewables and grid-connected energy, with a mission to enable significant cross-sectoral partnerships in pursuit of an integrated approach to low-income household energy and poverty challenges.

Understanding the dynamics of household fuel switching as a result of cash flow and income substitution practices combined with environmental, economic and social impacts or influences will help for planning and  projecting the future use or supply patterns for a rapidly urbanising population.  Steps to overcome the high social costs that strain the emerging economy will not only reduce the burden, but also effect an improved quality of life and range of opportunities for the low-income households.

ProBEC is currently engaged in strategic baseline studies and consumer research initiatives to establish a knowledge base from which to apply GTZ field-tested implementation models.  Alignment of the research and implementation programmes with social development agents will optimise our effectiveness in both capacity building & energy efficiency approaches.

ProBEC also supports AFRECA (Association for Renewable Energy Cooking Appliances), an industry association,  to act on behalf of suppliers, distributors, developers and promoters in the cooking technology industry.  AFRECA was formally founded on 18 February 2005 when 24 representatives recognised the need to supply the demand for renewable and energy efficient cooking appliances through an organised, commercially sustainable industry.  AFRECA operates as a division in the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA), thereby capitalising on existing infrastructure.