APPROVED IDP DOC 2011-16.BA PHALABORWA.pdf

Paraffin 2 684 (7.9%) 1 741 (5.2%) 182 ((0.5%)
Candles - - 2 541 (7.5%)
Wood 10 413 (30.8%) 11 285 (33.4%) -
Coal 60 (0.2%) 60 (0.2%) -
Animal Dung - - -
Solar - - -
Other - 203 (0.6%) 58 (0.2%)
Total 33 792 33 792 33 792
Source: STATS SA (2007 CS)
Although 91.8% of the municipal population (in households) has access to electricity (and do use
electricity for lighting), only 60% use electricity for cooking and heating. Wood is used as an
alternative source of energy for cooking and heating (used by about 33% of the population). The
wide spread use of wood constitutes a grave danger to the environment as the aggressive denuding
of the natural bush is evident over large areas. One of the main thrusts of the electrification
campaign was to drastically reduce the dependence of the poorer sections of the population on the
use of firewood as a source of cooking energy. From observation this has had very little impact on
the use of wood and it would seem that a lot more intense use of electricity will have to be made
before any significant reduction in the present rate of deforestation will be evident. The anticipated
increases in electricity tariffs will increase the percentage dependant on firewood for heating and
cooking. The Municipality may have to investigate the use of another energy source, such as solar, as
an alternative to both electricity and firewood.
Electricity Supply in Phalaborwa Town
The Phalaborwa network supplies the town business, commercial, industrial and residential areas
and has approximately four thousand connections varying from normal residential connections to
three phase LV business connections to 11kv bulk supplies to large consumers. The Phalaborwa
electricity distribution network is in dire need of reinforcement and refurbishment. A large
percentage of the 11kv switchgear and transformer equipment has been in constant service for
over 40 years. Some 11kV circuit breakers no longer meet modern safety requirements and in fact
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