Now, instead of walking for kilometres in search of firewood or to buy heating and cooking fuel from another town, the villagers will be able to get energy products from a one-stop centre in Qunu.

An integrated energy centre, costing R8-million, has been built in a joint business and government initiative to provide safe and affordable energy to poor households.

Sasol’s group media manager, Nothemba Noruwana, said the energy centre would sell “illuminating paraffin, diesel, petrol, gas, candles and energy equipment like gasburner stoves”.

It is the fifth such hub to be built in South Africa since 2002.

Villagers will be taught about the safe and efficient use of energy products — and a library, an information centre and a computer room are available for the community.

The centres “are owned and operated by community co-operatives made up by representatives of each village in the surrounding areas”, Noruwana said.

“The aim of these centres is also to inject profits back into the community by building schools, clinics and various other projects.”

Noruwana said the centre’s fuel was delivered directly to the consumer “with no middle man”, so costs were reduced.

A sales network will allow the surrounding community to buy fuel from delivery points without having to go to the centre.