Energy Efficiency Made Simple Vol IV 2015

Copper is synonymous with electric energy. This special metal is more than just ‘a good conductor of electricity’. Theft of copper has become a national sport and no review of energy can avoid ‘the elephant in the room’: How are we doing in reducing the costs and damage associated with copper theft?

Today’s industry harmed by copper theft E Swanepoel, Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA)

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I t is estimated that copper theft – regarded a ‘high priority crime’ – costs the South African economy about R5 billion every year. It affects everyone. South Africa’s Minister of Energy would like copper theft to be classified as economic sabotage. There are well-organised criminal syndicates operating through- out South Africa that are crippling this country’s economy. These syndicates have international links and influence, including disturbing relationships with scrupulous scrap metal dealers and exporters. Copper thieves have developed several techniques over the years and are becoming increasingly violent. The fact that electrical network theft is extremely dangerous and fatalities are a regular occurrence has not hampered their efforts. Syndicates target the poor and desperate to entice them to carry out the dangerous work while the syndicate members only come into the picture after the fact. The thieves employ ‘Heath Robinson’ type contraptions to steal copper-bearing cable. Long trenches are dug in a very short time to access and steal underground cable; and simple objects, such as wooden poles, are used to ‘trip’ the power so that organised gangs can steal overhead cables, causing severe damage to electrical networks. Government intervention The South African government has instigated a number of measures to curb criminal activities in the ferrous and non-ferrous markets and clamp down on the illegal trade of scrap metal. These measures include the recent amendments to the Second Hand Goods Act and the Export Regulations. The amendments take into account instances where copper cable has been burnt or altered. The general purpose of tightening the export regulations is to retain high quality scrap metal within the South African economy and to prevent the export of stolen scrap metal. In principle, these amendments will help but enforcement and monitoring remain challenging. There are legal disposal contractors who have been appointed to buy redundant copper from municipalities and other utilities. They are there to regulate the processing of the material and to prevent it from entering the market but there are many illegal operators who buy copper. CCTV surveillance videos exist of scrap copper being delivered by workers driving an electrical contractor’s company vehicle to an The theft of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, particularly copper, has increased drastically in recent times. Its place in a discussion on energy efficiency is appropriate as the scale of theft has escalated beyond imagination causing crippling power outages throughout the country, harming business, industry and lives.

illegal metal trader operating locally. The video footage shows the vehicle entering the back of a bottle store’s premises – the ‘front’ for the illegal metal trader’s operation – and the workers unloading copper cable. This video footage proves that every electrical contrac- tor is vulnerable: employees steal cable and sell it to an illegal trader, implicating the contractor, who may find himself being arrested and having to explain the stolen cable to the police. Substantial rewards are offered for related information.

South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) Copper theft barometer: April 2014

The Sacci Copper Theft Barometer for 2014 increased to R12,5 M in April from R11 M in March and R10,7 M in February. The April figure is 26% higher than a year before and the second consecutive increase in the annual growth rate. Hopefully this upward movement can be arrested through intensification of policing efforts and information-shar- ing amongst key stakeholders. Conclusion Legitimate scrap metal dealers can be particularly helpful in the fight against copper theft by reporting stolen material and not buying any metal they believe may have been stolen. When there is no demand, the supply will also cease. General awareness of the seriousness of copper theft would be extremely useful, particularly if the awareness is spread through the community to law enforcement and justice departments as this will lead to more severe sentences being imposed by the court, which will ultimately serve as a deterrent. The Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) is engaging with government to change the laws controlling the export of copper scrap as the current legislation is totally inadequate. The CDAA is keen to expand the use of copper into Africa. The CDAA would like to partner with government and the mines to pursue the downstream beneficiation of copper and produce copper products to benefit all the people of Africa. The production of copper tops for bedside, over-bed tables, door handles, push plates and Intravenous (IV) stands will also create job opportunities and reduce unemployment. General discussion Copper in healthcare The CDAA is actively working to develop the downstream production of copper items, particularly in the healthcare sector by highlighting the dangers of HAIs (Hospital Acquired Infections) in hospitals and clinics. Thousands of patients die in hospitals every year as a result of infections contracted in healthcare facilities. In future, these deaths

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY MADE SIMPLE 2015