Energy Efficiency Strategy of the Republic of South Africa
Department of Minerals and Energy
March 2005
Energy Efficiency Strategy of the Republic of South Africa
March 2005
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Foreword
In South Africa we take energy for granted, with the consequence that our energy
consumption is higher than it should be. Indeed, our country’s economy is largely
based on minerals extraction and processing which is by its nature very energy-
intensive. Whilst our historically low electricity price has contributed towards a
competitive position, it has also meant that there has been little incentive to save
electricity.
So in many respects we start with a clean slate with little energy efficiency measures
having taken place, apart from many years of work by universities and other
research institutions that have pointed the way. The White Paper on Energy Policy
(1998) recognized that standards and appliance labeling should be the first
measures to put in place in implementing energy efficiency. Indeed such
prescriptive-type measures provide the framework on which any energy efficiency
strategy is based. At the same time consumers of energy also need to perceive the
cost-benefits they can derive from energy efficiency measures and it is here that
demonstrations are essential. In South Africa Government is taking the lead by
using Public Buildings as an example. Cabinet has approved the implementation of
a programme of energy efficient measures in National Government Buildings which
is currently underway and which will be extended to provincial and local government.
The Commercial Building Sector is an area for potential improvement given the rapid
increase in office construction.
The Industrial and Mining Sectors are the heaviest users of energy, accounting for
more than two-thirds of our national electricity usage. Here lies the potential for the
largest savings by replacing old technologies with new, and by employing best
energy ma