PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE NATIONAL
ENERGY BILL
SUBMISSION BY
THE PARAFFIN SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN
AFRICA
TO THE
PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND ENERGY
Date:
Time:
Venue:
Wednesday 30 July 2008
9:00-17:15
V227, Old Assembly Building,
Parliament
Introduction
• Submission based on:
– Evidence and research
– The wishes of low income households
• Highlighting
–
–
–
–
Support for the bill
Suggestions for strengthening the bill
Household Energy Safety challenges
Linking energy security with energy poverty
• Call for a household energy “Marshall Plan”
Paraffin Safety Association
of Southern Africa
• Not-for profit organisation
• Established in 1996
Mandate
• to promote safety in the domestic usage of
paraffin for the low income sector
Mission
• to ensure the safe use of paraffin, as part of the
energy mix for domestic users
The Assoc. Supports Energy Bill
As it addresses:
• availability of diverse energy resources;
• sustainability and affordability of energy with
regards to economic growth and poverty
alleviation;
• energy security in South Africa.
• An opportunity to address policy and
implementation gaps in
1998 Energy White Paper
• Includes focus on safety
Key Messages
• Household energy security and safety
system to be implemented for low income
sector
• All energy carriers need equal attention for
safety and efficiency and make optimal
use of all energy carriers
• Bill is touching on it and can be improved in
this area – in accordance with
mandate of our Assoc.
But, Bill needs to be
strengthened
• It needs to give substance in terms of how
the country plans to improve household
energy safety (across all energy sources)
• Clarity on the role of government in
promoting household energy safety
Critical Gaps
• Importance of the principle of public participation and
civil society involvement needs to be highlighted
• The State must lead public energy safety education and
awareness campaigns
• Roles for the other National Departments such as Health
and Education as well as for provincial and local
government departments
• More clarity on the roles on provincial and local
governments in South Africa’s
energy governance and linkages with
their strategies
Critical Gaps
• The issue of standards enforcement needs
to be attended to
– address the lack of capacity to monitor standards
compliance and enforce safety standards
• Necessary to collect information on energy
safety
– propose that the Associations’ household energyrelated surveillance project be used as an established
resource
Energy Safety Problems
• Ingestions of liquid energy carriers, mainly by children
(e.g. paraffin)
• Burns from all energy carriers (e.g. paraffin, electricity, gas)
• Fires (informal houses and settlements)
• Causes
– Behavioral
– Systemic issues
• Appliances
• Lack of packaging, …
– Poverty issues – housing etc
– Lack of policy instruments and
enforcement
Introduction to surveillance
project
Number of Incidents per Injury Causes and Energy Carrier
All Contributing Institutions / May 2006 - July 2008
Asphyxiation
Paraff. contact w skin
700
Ingestion
Burn - Unknown
600
Burn - Contact
Burn - Liquid
Number of Incidents
500
Burn - Food
400
Burn - Flame
300
200
100
0
Candles
Coal
Electricity
Ethanol Gel
LPG
Energy Carrier
Note: 12 contributing healthcare institutions
Paraffin
Wood
Unknown
Other
Number of Energy Related Injuries by Age Categories
All Contributing Institutions / May 2006 - July 2008
500
475
450
Number of Incidents
400
350
300
257
250
200
161
150
112
100
153
151
129
103
100
69
50
40
29
55-64
65+
0
<1
1-2
3-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
Age Categories
Note: 12 contributing healthcare institutions
25-34
35-44
45-54
Number of Paraffin Related Incidents per Injury Causes and Age Categories
All Contributing Institutions / May 2006 - July 2008
200
180
Number of Incidents
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
<1
1-2
3-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
Age Category - Years
Burn - Flame
Burn - Unknown
Burn - Food
Ingestion
Note: 12 contributing healthcare institutions
Burn - Liquid
Contact with Skin
Burn - Contact
Asphyxiation
65+
Joe Slovo, Cape Town - Jan 2005
Submission - born through research &
consultations with household energy
users
• Community-based research
• Surveillance – Burn Units, clinics, households
• Series of Household Energy Summits
– Held in Durban, Rustenburg, Port Elizabeth and
Johannesburg (National)
– Attended predominantly by paraffin users and victims
of paraffin-related injuries
• Participants agreed on a declaration or set of
proposals of what could be done
• This declaration forms the basis
of our submission
The Specific Comments on the
Bill
Purpose of the Bill
• This Bill intends “to ensure that diverse energy
resources are available, in sustainable quantities
and at affordable prices, to the South African
economy in support of economic growth and
assists in poverty alleviation…”
Poverty Alleviation
With regards to poverty alleviation, the participants
of Paraffin Users Household Energy Summits noted
with regret:
• “the limited household energy options of many
households due to economic hardship and
poverty;
• the unsafe housing options available to poverty
stricken people and that the housing provision
does not cater for other energy carriers”
• Improve the safety and availability of all
energy carriers and their systems
• In context of energy crisis, paraffin is and
will remain the energy source of choice for
low income households, therefore:
Strong link between energy
decisions and energy poverty
Concern:
• paraffin price increases this year have had a
disproportionate effect on the budgets of low
income households
• The real price of paraffin has increased by 54%
this year alone
1400
60%
Single Maximum National Retail Price for Paraffin
Source: Department of Minerals and Energy monthly media statements
The last media statement was on 30 May 2008
50%
Monthly Increase (cents/litre)
1000
40%
800
30%
600
20%
400
10%
200
0%
0
-200
Price c/l
Monthly Increase c/l
YTD Increase
-10%
Dec-07
Jan-08
Feb-08
Mar-08
Apr-08
May-08
Jun-08
769
757
759
861
1018
1092
1186
0
-12
2
102
157
74
94
0%
-2%
-1%
12%
32%
42%
54%
Year To Date (YTD) % Increase
1200
Chapter 1:
Definition and Objects
2. Objects of this Act are to (a) Ensure uninterrupted supply of
energy to the Republic;
Participants of the Paraffin Users Household
Energy Summit noted:
• “with regret that inconsistent and
insufficient electricity supply is adding to
household energy incidents”
Chapter 1:
Definition and Objects
(g) Promote evidence-driven energy and
related sectors’ policy formulation
Participants in Paraffin Users Household Energy Safety Summit urged
governmental action:
• “Accelerate the establishment of paraffin policy within the broader
context of other energy options for low-income households. The
policy must clearly outline the stand of government on whether
paraffin will be phased out or not;
• regulation of the paraffin industry, including wholesale and retail
sectors which are a key portal for safety;
• the weaknesses and lack of regulation in the whole paraffin system
(how paraffin is distributed, sold, stored,
burnt or used”
Chapter 1:
Definition and Objects
(j) Facilitate improvement of the quality of life of the people of
Republic;
Participants of Paraffin Users Household Energy Summit are alarmed by:
• “the many energy related incidents, injuries and deaths …;
• the many paraffin-related fires, burns, ingestions, asphyxiation, and respiratory
complications due to indoor air pollution;
• the unacceptable burden borne by children, especially those under the age
of five years old who are most at risk …;
• the unacceptable burden borne by women, especially in rural areas and
informal settlements;
• the number of injuries by hot liquids or foods irrespective of the energy source
used;
• the emotional effects and financial implications
that low income households experience; and
• The lack of counselling services provided to survivors
of paraffin related incidents and injuries”.
Chapter 1:
Definition and Objects
(h) provide for optimal supply, transformation, transportation, storage
and demand of energy that is planned, organised and implemented
in accordance with a balanced consideration of security of supply,
economics, consumer protection and a sustainable development;
Participants in Paraffin Users Household Energy Summit noted with regret:
• “the weaknesses and lack of regulation in the whole paraffin system (how
paraffin is distributed, sold, stored, burnt or used)”
Participants in Paraffin Users Household Energy Summit urged government
action:
• “register all sellers of paraffin and related
appliances”
The victims of the unsafe energy systems are numerous…
…Not for sensitive viewers
Chapter 1:
Definition and Objects
(j) Facilitate improvement of the quality of life of the people of
Republic;
Participants of Paraffin Users Household Energy Summit urge governmental
action:
• “Establish an energy injury/accident compensation fund similar to the road
incident fund to provide financial support for paraffin-related incident victims
and survivors”
Participants of Paraffin Users Household Energy Summit strongly urge, pending
regulation, that:
• “dedicated counselling support be provided for survivors”
Chapter 2: Energy Supply,
Optimisation and Utilisation
1.
•
Provision of data and access to data source
The Assoc. as well as Paraffin Users support 3.(1) to 3. (3) and
propose urgent governmental action:
•
•
•
•
“Mobilize the Department of Health to take over and expand the
Surveillance System that the Paraffin Safety Association is implementing …;
To conduct research and collect user friendly data to monitor the impact of
energy provision and the implementation of improved energy programmes;
This research and data must remain current and accessible and be fed back
to communities.”
Importance of gathering info on energy safety
–
The Assoc.
•
collects and collates information from hospitals and clinics across
the country
•
is willing help and provide whatever surveillance information
including energy-related injury data
•
suggest that the National Health
department plays critical role in this regard.
Chapter 2: Energy Supply,
Optimisation and Utilisation
2. Safety, health and environment
The Assoc. welcome clauses 4.(1) and
4.(2) as they speak to energy safety
- where ‘may’ should be changed to
‘must’
Chapter 2: Energy Supply,
Optimisation and Utilisation
2. Safety, health and environment
4. (1) The Minister MUST, in consultation with … establish … programmes,
not contemplated in other legislation, to minimise the negative
safety, health and environmental impacts of energy carriers.
This clause is directly supported by Declaration:
–
ensure the prevention and reduction of the negative health, economic
and environmental damage through long-term risk reduction strategies;
The Assoc. and Paraffin Users have concerns on current Bill:
–
Importance of defining programmes
• Should include energy safety awareness and education
programmes
• DoE - a leadership role educating the
public by incorporating energy safety
in schools curriculum for all grades
2.
Chapter 2: Energy Supply,
Optimisation and Utilisation
Safety, health and environment
4. (2) “The Minister MUST, … for the purposes of ensuring safe, healthy
and environmentally sensible use of energy, prescribe standards
and specifications, not elsewhere legislated or regulated, for –”
• There are great gaps in current legislation/practice
• Need for safe energy system, including
– Safe packaging for liquid energy carriers (to prevent
ingestions)
– Safe and efficient appliances (cooking, heating and
lighting)
• Enforcement will be critical
– Who, what, how, consequences
need to be highlighted in the Bill
Chapter 2: Energy Supply,
Optimisation and Utilisation
3. Energy access by households
• Household Energy Security is not
happening in SA
• “appropriate forms of energy” - a
definition is necessary
• A mechanism is needed to cushion the
resource-poor consumers from the
vicissitudes of price hikes whilst their
access is limited
Chapter 3: National Energy
Modelling & Information Agency
Additional clarifications are needed:
• What is the rationale for establishing this
structure?
• How different is it from South African National
Energy Development Institute?
Importance of safety information
To produce meaningful outputs quickly:
• Agency should collaborate with this Assoc., UCT’s
Energy Research Centre,
Sustainable Energy Africa, etc.
Chapter 3: National Energy
Modelling & Information Agency
Availability of Information:
• The Declaration states:
“This research and data must remain current and accessible and
be fed back to communities”
• User-friendly language is needed
• Format accessible to communities
• Clauses 8. (1)(i), 5. 30(3)(d), 35.(1)(a) “may”
Chapter 4:
Integrated Energy Planning
16. (1) and (2)
• What is the role of other departments (such as
DPLG) in the development of the Integrated
Energy Master plan?
• What will the role of civil society and public be in
the drafting of the energy master plans?
• What role should paraffin be playing in this master
plan?
Chapter 5: SA National Energy
Development Institute
Additional clarifications are needed:
• There are potential risks of overlap or conflicts between
NEMIA and SANEDI
• What will the differences be between this structure and
SANERI?
Clause 18(2): Propose that civil society and
community representatives be included in Board
of SANEDI
Chapter 8:
General Provisions
35(1) “The minister MUST, …, make regulations
regarding:”
• Regulations “must”, not “may” be made where
users’ safety is at risk
• The Bill does not provide regulation on paraffin
and energy carriers’ price, where declarations
states that
– “Price increases for paraffin must be regulated”
CONCLUSION
• National Energy Bill is welcomed
• More emphasis on:
– National household energy policy
– Health and safety issues
• Promising that the Bill focuses on resources
• Willingness to collaborate expressed by the
Paraffin Safety Association of Southern
Africa