public hearings on the national energy bill submission by the paraffin safety association of...

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE NATIONAL ENERGY BILL

SUBMISSION BY THE PARAFFIN SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF

SOUTHERN AFRICA

TO THEPORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND

ENERGY

Date: Wednesday 30 July 2008Time: 9:00-17:15Venue: 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 1996Mandate• 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 energy-

related 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 CarrierAll Contributing Institutions / May 2006 - July 2008

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Candles Coal Electricity Ethanol Gel LPG Paraffin Wood Unknown Other

Energy Carrier

Num

ber

of I

ncid

ents

Asphyxiation

Paraff. contact w skin

Ingestion

Burn - Unknown

Burn - Contact

Burn - Liquid

Burn - Food

Burn - Flame

Note: 12 contributing healthcare institutions

100

161

112 103

151

257

153

6940 29

475

129

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

<1 1-2 3-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Age Categories

Num

ber o

f Inc

iden

ts

Number of Energy Related Injuries by Age CategoriesAll Contributing Institutions / May 2006 - July 2008



0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

<1 1-2 3-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Age Category - Years

Num

ber

of I

ncid

ents

Burn - Flame Burn - Food Burn - Liquid Burn - ContactBurn - Unknown Ingestion Contact with Skin Asphyxiation

Number of Paraffin Related Incidents per Injury Causes and Age CategoriesAll Contributing Institutions / May 2006 - July 2008

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

povertyConcern: • 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

Single Maximum National Retail Price for ParaffinSource: Department of Minerals and Energy monthly media statementsThe last media statement was on 30 May 2008

-200

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400M

onth

ly In

crea

se (c

ents

/litr

e)

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Yea

r To

Dat

e (Y

TD) %

Incr

ease

Price c/l 769 757 759 861 1018 1092 1186

Monthly Increase c/l 0 -12 2 102 157 74 94

YTD Increase 0% -2% -1% 12% 32% 42% 54%

Dec-07 Jan-08 Feb-08 Mar-08 Apr-08 May-08 Jun-08

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”


(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”


(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”.


(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


(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 Utilisation1. 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 Utilisation2. 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 Utilisation2. Safety, health and environment4. (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

Chapter 2: Energy Supply, Optimisation and Utilisation2. 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 Utilisation3. 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

AgencyAdditional 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 informationTo 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

AgencyAvailability 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 Planning16. (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

InstituteAdditional 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

public hearings on the national energy bill submission by the paraffin safety association of...

Documents