For a plethoria of uses

TOTAL Illuminating Paraffin is a high energy fuel available throughout Southern Africa for use in paraffin lamps, stoves, refrigirators, etc.

It is also used as industrial heating fuel and as a solvent.

 Do not use where diesel or power paraffin is required.

Paraffin and Security

• Making the use of Paraffin safer

The alarming number of accidents arising from the use of paraffin and paraffin stoves, and deaths arising out of the drinking of paraffin, has prompted TOTAL South Africa and the Paraffin Safety Association of South Africa (Pasasa) to embark on a project to make the use of paraffin safer. Called Kleen Paraffin, the project has also enlisted the assistance of the SA Black Hawkers and Informal Business Association (Sabiba).

The project aims at eliminating the use of unsuitable and dangerous containers such as empty plastic cool drink bottles for the decanting of paraffin. The Kleen Paraffin project has developed special dedicated containers in which pre-packaged paraffin can be supplied.

Paraffin is now sold throughout the country in one-, two- and five- litre bottles. The project was launched on the East Rand about two years ago as a joint venture between TOTAL, Pasasa and Sabiba.

The use of the pre-packaged containers will ensure that the use of paraffin is much safer and will also eliminate the risk that children will drink paraffin thinking that it is cool drink. The paraffin will also be safer to use as it will not be contaminated leading to fire bursts and the resulting burn injuries.

The specially designed containers also have a childproof safety cap that will prevent children from accidentally opening the container.

Annually some 32 000 people suffer severe burns as a result of paraffin stove fires, while about 4 000 children die after swallowing paraffin and contracting chemical pneumonia.

Paraffin and Black Empowerment

• Project to benefit Emerging entrepreneurs

An Illuminating Paraffin Distributorship programme has been initiated by TOTAL as part of the company's policy to enhance its Black Economic Empowerment programme. The project has as its objective the creation of employment opportunities in previously disadvantaged communities.

At the same time it aims at making illuminating paraffin more readily available in communities. The distributorship programme was launched as a pilot programme in Daveyton and Etwatwa near Benoni and the sale of paraffin has gradually increased since the project was launched.

Potential entrepreneurs in the community are identified, taken through a business skills course and are then appointed as distributors.

Part of their activities includes educating the public on the safe use of paraffin under the guidance of the Paraffin Safety Association of South Africa.

IP is fast becoming a much greater alternative energy source to electricity and gas in spite of efforts to make electricity more accessible in rural areas. The main reason for this is that low-income earners and those who only use minimal amounts of illuminating paraffin can afford IP. Statistics show that just over 50% of the Black and Coloured population in the country use paraffin.

Illuminating paraffin is also used in the manufacturing of a variety of industrial products. These include the production of waxes and polishes, for automotive repairs such as in panel beating, manufacturing of paint, in the food industry in bakeries, for the dry cleaning industry and in nurseries.