Polokwane

Polokwane is one of the largest cities in northern South Africa with a population of approximately 400,000. The city is the economic hub of the region of Limpopo – the Northern Province. The project will focus on the peri-urban areas of Polokwane where it is estimated that 80,000 households could benefit from the use of solar and fuel-efficient stoves.

The population currently cooks primarily on traditional open wood fires. An average wage of a household’s bread winner is 1,500 Rand, and as for other poor regions, approximately 25% is spent on fuel . Any reductions on this demand would bring significant economic benefit to the individual household and to communities.

The households of Limpopo that are not grid connected are highly dependent on Wood with 78% of them using wood for cooking, (Figure 8). Other fuel types are used for cooking in the region, including 15% using paraffin, however wood use is the dominant type used.

Polokwane has experienced a turbulent political history. After being first settled in the 1840s by 100 settlers it was abandoned not long after due to clashes with local tribes. In 1885 it was re-settled again and during the Boer War became the location of a British concentration camp for 4,000 women and children. In 1992 the settlement became a city and it was finally named Polokwane in 2003.

Polokwane has a dry climate with a summer rainy season and a pronounced dry spell during winter. Average annual rainfall is only 495mm, making this a suitable solar project location. The vegetation around Polokwane is highly degraded shown by the map.

The larger region of the Polokwane municipality's area accounts for 3% of Limpopo province's total surface area and about 10% of the Lampoon’s population resides in the central area. This sprawling population provides options to extend the initial project further.

Source: Sugrue, A. 2005. Energy for Sustainable Development, presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Minerals and Energy. 9 March 2005.