The North West has a new distributor of clean gas energy.

On 16 February 2024, Hakem Energies celebrated the launch of their LPGas-to-customer outlet at the Gateway Junction in Rustenburg.

Hakem Energies founder and CEO, Ms Refilwe Sebothoma was officially appointed by Oryx Energies South Africa as an authorised LPGas cylinder distributor for the North West Province.

Originally from the mining town of Marikana, Refilwe is excited about the opportunity for Hakem Energies to give back to the communities of the North West Province where she has her roots. Establishing an LPGas distribution network in the North West will also create local jobs.

Refilwe has been a client of the NWDC since 2016, where the NWDC assisted her with market access. She participated in the Botswana Global Expo in 2016 and at the Investing in African Mining Indaba in 2018 and 2020. Refilwe remarks that these trade shows taught her about networking, partnerships and the importance of offering solutions suited to a particular market.

The immediate goals of Hakem Energies in the North West Province are to open between five and ten more LPGas consumer outlets in communities; to establish a bulk distribution depot for the North West, which would result in favourable consumer prices; and to train and educate communities on how to use LPGas safely, and the benefit it offers.

Speaking at the launch function, Trade and Investment Manager at the NWDC, Mr Lovemore Makunike remarked that the NWDC supports LPGas as a cleaner form of energy made available for purchase to communities. “We want to see your business reach this local community and grow from there”, he said.

LPG is a cleaner, affordable and more ecological energy alternative to firewood, charcoal and paraffin (kerosene) for the communities of South Africa. It is also considered a safer form of energy, which saves the rural community both cooking time, and the time spent gathering firewood from the veld. Cooking with appliances powered by an LPGas cylinder ensures the gas is available for immediate access and use, and free from the effects of loadshedding.

“Let us go and paint the North West green with our Oryx gas cylinders, and let us improve the lives of our communities – one life, one household and one community at a time.” – remarked the dynamic business woman.

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