TOTAL South Africa has taken a bold step into the future as an alternative energy solutions provider through the pilot launch of its first consumer-orientated range of portable solar products.
Awango, by Total, is an innovative range of portable lighting products each complete with its own mini self-sustaining solar panel.
The innovative range of Awango solar lighting solutions provides a cost-effective, sustainable and safe way to balance the energy mix in the home. The portable products provide superior light intensity and are also safer than candles and paraffin. The cellphone charging capabilities included with certain of the product range is particularly useful to those living off the grid.
Total intends to test the market through an initial roll out in selected service stations in KwaZulu-Natal over the next four months.
While the Awango range can be used in a variety of ways due to the portability and safe-to-use nature of the products, there is a much bigger aim for Total, according to Total South Africa’s managing director, Christian des Closières.
“We want these products to be relevant and useful to households, especially those who may not have access to consistent or reliable power supply. We want to allow for school children living in remote areas to be able to do their homework at night and people living in informal settlements a safer option to paraffin,” des Closières said at the launch in uMhlanga on Wednesday 20 November.
The Awango project also has a very clear intention to uplift communities. By partnering with NGOs, the project utilises a novel approach to its ‘last mile’ distribution, which includes the training of unemployed South Africans who will be empowered to sell the products in their communities.
Awango has been successfully tested and rolled out in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Indonesia, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda.
“Total believes that because of the likely popularity of the Awango range of products, this project has the potential to create new job opportunities through the selling and distribution process,” said Total South Africa’s general manager for specialities, Chris Walkinshaw.
Total South Africa is working in partnership with selected NGOs to create a unique distribution and selling channel aimed at uplifting jobs within communities located outside of the retail footprint that may be far away from service stations.
“Looking at the product, it is clear that this is a good solution for problems faced within rural areas,” Maureen Magubane, the president of Women in Agriculture and Rural Development, said after the launch.
“It looks like even rural areas will have lights this Christmas. I think this is a great solution and will help rural communities communicate better thanks to the cellphone charging capabilities. My house burnt down recently when a candle fell over, so this is definitely a safer solution,” Magubane added.
In fully cloudy conditions the lights still charge up to 78 to 80 per cent. The lights are currently available at the Nandi Drive Petroport, southbound and northbound.
