Anomalous geothermal gradients and heat flow in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: Implications for geothermal energy exploration

2017 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.Q.W. Jones
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Heat Flow ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Geothermal Fields

Abstract The crustal rocks of South Africa are generally regarded as too old and cold for utilisation of geothermal energy. However, demands for alternative energy and the introduction of new technology have instigated a number of research projects in this and surrounding countries. Higher than average heat flow and the occurrence of several thermal springs in the northern Limpopo Province suggest that this region is a potential target area. Geothermal measurements in the eastern part of the Province yield anomalously high rock temperatures, thermal gradients (up to 90 K/km) and heat flow (up to 200 mW m-2). The anomalies are attributed to deep-seated circulation of meteoric water that provides an effective mechanism for concentrating geothermal heat. Heat flow studies of this kind may reveal more extensive potential geothermal fields elsewhere in South Africa.

Heat flow in the Garibaldi volcanic belt, a possible Canadian geothermal energy resource area

1981 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 366-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Lewis ◽  
Alan M. Jessop
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Conduction ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Volcanic Belt ◽  
Geothermal Reservoir ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Groundwater Movement ◽  
Uplift And Erosion

The geothermal heat flow has been determined in four boreholes drilled within the area of the Garibaldi volcanic belt of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The program was designed to investigate a suspected geothermal reservoir and the surrounding area as part of a continuing program of the Canadian Federal Government to assess the geothermal energy potential in western Canada.The measurements, after application of corrections for sediment diffraction, topography, Pleistocene thermal history, and uplift and erosion, fall into two distinct catagories. Three of the measurements, at distances greater than 10 km from Mt. Meager, have a mean of 79 mW m−2 with a standard deviation of 10 mW m−2, and the single measurement near Mt. Meager indicates a heat flux of 132 mW m−2. All these measurements are suspect to a certain degree because of groundwater movement at and around the measurement sites. The three distant observations are similar to others in the Cordilleran thermal zone, whereas the result at Mt. Meager appears to be anomalous. This pattern suggests that near the Mt. Meager area heat is being transported by means other than simple thermal conduction, consistent with other studies that indicate the presence of a geothermal reservoir of unknown size.

scholarly journals South Africa’s geothermal energy hotspots inferred from subsurface temperature and geology

2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (11/12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taufeeq Dhansay ◽  
Chiedza Musekiwa ◽  
Thakane Ntholi ◽  
Luc Chevallier ◽  
Doug Cole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Regional Analysis ◽  
Subsurface Temperature ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Alternative Energy Sources ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Tectonic Features

South Africa intends to mitigate its carbon emissions by developing renewable energy from solar, wind and hydro, and investigating alternative energy sources such as natural gas and nuclear. Low-enthalpy geothermal energy is becoming increasingly popular around the world, largely as a result of technological advances that have enabled energy to be harnessed from relatively low temperature sources. However, geothermal energy does not form part of South Africa’s future renewable energy scenario. This omission may be related to insufficient regional analysis of potentially viable geothermal zones across the country. We considered existing subsurface temperature and heat flow measurements and performed solute-based hydrochemical geothermometry to determine potentially anomalous geothermal gradients that could signify underlying low-enthalpy geothermal energy resources. We correlated these findings against hydro/geological and tectonic controls to find prospective target regions for investigating geothermal energy development. Our results show a significant link between tectonic features, including those on-craton, and the development of geothermal potential regions. In addition, potential regions in South Africa share similarities with other locations that have successfully harnessed low-enthalpy geothermal energy. South Africa may therefore have a realistic chance of developing geothermal energy, but will still need additional research and development, including new temperature measurements, and structural, hydrogeological and economic investigations.

How effective is local beneficiation policy in enhancing rural income and employment? The case of agro-processing beneficiation in Tzaneen, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-345
Author(s):  
Alexis Habiyaremye ◽  
Evans Mupela
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Empirical Evaluation ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Target Area ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Action ◽  
Rural Income ◽  
Rural Unemployment

Confronted with a sluggish growth and very high rates of rural unemployment, South Africa has put local beneficiation at the core of its strategy for employment-intensive re-industrialisation. Its industrial policy action plan identified agro-processing as one of the priority areas for this strategy because of its potential employment multiplier in rural areas. Despite the appeal of its industrialisation potential, beneficiation strategy is often contested and its effectiveness as a viable engine of industrialisation in African countries is recurrently questioned. This paper presents an empirical evaluation of the income and employment effects of an agro-processing beneficiation programme launched by the Department of Science and Technology for the processing of abundant mango harvest in the area of Tzaneen in Limpopo province. Using inverse probability weighting estimation on a sample of 385 households residing in and around the beneficiation target area, we find clear positive income effects of the agro-processing project for the beneficiary households. The success of this project in the domestic and international agro-processing markets suggests that local beneficiation strategy can provide a sound basis for rural industrialisation if adequately prepared.

Lived Experiences of Young People who Live with Mental Healthcare Users in Limpopo, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamakota Maggie Molepo ◽  
Faniswa Honest Mfidi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Young People ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Burden Sharing

Mental illness is more than just the diagnosis to an individual – it also has an impact on the social functioning of the family at large. When a parent or relative has a mental illness, all other family members are affected, even the children. The purpose of the study was to provide insight into the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users and the way in which their daily coping can be maximised. A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological research was undertaken to explore and describe the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Audiotaped, unstructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 young people who grew up and lived with a family member who is a mental healthcare user in their homes, until data saturation was reached. A content analysis was used to derive themes from the collected qualitative data. Four major themes emerged as features reflective of the young people’s daily living with mental healthcare user, namely psychological effects, added responsibilities, effects on school performances, and support systems. This study recommends that support networks for young people be established through multidisciplinary team involvement and collaboration and the provision of burden-sharing or a relief system during times of need. With the availability of healthy coping mechanisms and support systems, the daily living situations and coping of young people could be maximised, thereby improving their quality of life while living with their family members with mental illness.

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