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Bibliography: pages [201]-220. ; The long-awaited birth of political democracy in South Africa in 1994 has led to a fundamental re-assessment of policy in most sectors of society. Although the energy sector has witnessed a clrar shift away from the self-sufficiency concerns of the apartheid era, to more universal goals of economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability, there has, as yet, been very little analysis of problems at the energy-environment interface. In this context, this thesis investigates environmental externalities arising in South Africa's energy sector. Two questions are posed: first and foremost, which environmental problems give rise to the most significant social costs? Secondarily, how helpful is an environmental economic analysis in this context? With respect to the first question, it is hypothesised that the external costs arising from two sectors are significant: the electricity generation sector, and the low-income, unelectrified household sector. Of these two, it is suggested that externalities in the latter are most serious. After reviewing the literature on externalities and environmental valuation, the thesis undertakes an empirical investigation of external costs in both energy sub-sectors. A classification system is developed and used to select those externalities in each sector which are potentially serious and regarding which there is sufficient information for quantification purposes. After reviewing a larger number of impacts, data are collected from both published and unpublished sources for four environmental externalities in the electricity sector, and six in the household sector.

This paper, and the Energy Policy Research and Training (EPRET) Project of whom it forms part, focus on energy-related environmental problems occurring at the household level, since the environmental conditions at this level have the greatest effect on the quality of life of the largest number of people. The two objectives of the paper are: (1) to identify and analyse the energy-related environmental problems currently experienced by poor households, and to suggest policy responses where these are necessary; and (2) to assess the potential environmental impacts of energy policy proposals. (DÜI-Hff)

This paper describes the financing and economic impacts of the household energy policies emanating from the Energy Policy Research and Training (EPRET) Project which aims to identify policies which will widen access to basic energy services for the urban and rural poor in South Africa. The two objectives of the paper are: (1) to assess the financing requirements of policy proposals in the main energy subsectors and to propose ways of mobilising and allocating finance in areas where this is required; and (2) to assess the potential impacts of policy proposals on important macro- and micro-economic variables, in order to ensure the consistency of policy proposals with broader macro-economic and development policy conditions. (DÜI-Hff)

Eskom, South Africa's electricity generator, has committed itself to producing the cheapest electricity in the world. This book investigates the charge that South Africa's electricity price is artificially low because inadequate attention has been paid to the environmental and associated health costs of its generation. Using an internationally tested methodology, the author traces the social, human and environmental costs of electricity generation and provides a series of estimates of their price effects. (DÜI-Hff)