Safe paraffin appliances and their contribution to demand side management

Abstract

Many accidents have resulted from using of paraffin as a fuel for cooking and heating. These accidents were caused because of leaks and the paraffin appliances could consequently burst into violent flames. As a result, compulsory standards for the construction and operation of these appliances have been introduced, and the sale of the unsafe appliances has been banned. Safe paraffin appliances could contribute to the management of the electrical demand. Domestic cooking makes up about 4% of the total demand during the daily peak in electricity consumption. The widespread introduction of safe paraffin cookers to replace electrical cookers would save about 1 500MW. It would cost about R25bn to install generating capacity of that magnitude. Replacing electrical stoves would cost about R8bn.