The scarcity of domestic energy : a study in three villages.

Very little information is available on domestic fuel consumption in African villages in Southern Africa. And yet, it is a problem that concerns a large number of people, and which is contributing to environmental deterioration. At three villages, in Lesotho, Transkei and KwaZulu, the collection and consumption of wood, dung and paraffin were recorded. The largest quantities of energy are consumed in KwaZulu with the least in the Transkei (only slightly below Lesotho). The total consumption of energy largely depends on the availability of wood. When wood becomes scarce, dung is burnt for heat and cooking. Paraffin is used for light, and for cooking by some women. Wood and dung are burnt at efficiencies of below 3%. The most obvious short term solution, to shortages of energy, is to raise the efficiency with which fuel is burnt. In the long term, alternative energy sources must be developed.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Environmental and Geographical Science

Year dc:date.issued

1979

Author dc:creator

• Best, Marc

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fuggle, Richard Francis

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12563

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12563