Abstract:
The conservation of energy in the South African manufacturing industry is a topic that has not received much research to date. With the large increase in the price of crude oil since the 1973 Energy Crisis and the related increases in the various costs of energy, it was considered necessary to examine this aspect in more detail. This highlights the impact of energy savings on the national economy. It also indicates the excellent return on capital investment that is associated with projects developed to save energy. To achieve the necessary perspective, the first chapter briefly summarizes the world energy situation by considering present and future production, consumption and reserve lives of major energy sources. The so-called "1985 energy crisis" is also examined together with its affects on world energy requirements for the next century. In addition, an overview of present oil exploration activity is presented together with a brief view of the American Energy Conservation Programme and the political standpoint of the OPEC countries as they would affect South Africa. The second chapter outlines the South African energy picture in terms of present and future production and consumption of various energy sources and the subsequent effect on energy reserve lives. Economic aspects are also considered in terms of the Balance of Payments. Finally the strategic necessity for South Africa to develop its own Energy Policy is stressed to make the country more self-sufficient as regards energy and less vulnerable to boycotts and sanctions from foreign energy suppliers. A survey was then conducted to gauge the present status of energy conservation within the manufacturing industry and whether scope exists to encourage energy conservation on a national scale or not. To illustrate a typical approach to energy conservation in practice, a study was made at an industrial installation at The Dickinson Robinson Group in Cape Town. From the study and energy conservation survey, it is clear that potential does exist within the economy to save energy both for economic and strategic reasons: economic in the sense that an average payout on energy conservation projects of 1-2 years is possible, and strategic in that savings in foreign exchange of up to R280 million per annum are possible. It is therefore recommended in Chapter 3 that a national energy policy be implemented to co-ordinate the efficient use of energy throughout the country and also for individual companies to initiate their own formal energy conservation programmes. In this respect, the last chapter concludes by providing a list of suggestions how manufacturing industry as a whole can save energy in the use of electricity and combustible fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
