The challenges of darkness

For many families, the small amount of light they have often comes in the form of a candle or a kerosene lamp. Their only choice to escape the darkness is an open flame. For these families, candles can lead to terrible accidents.

Candles, kerosene and poor quality batteries are expensive. Families have to buy these alternatives to electricity because they have no choice.

For the 578 million people living without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, there is not this choice but to use polluting alternatives to escape the dark. A family using a kerosene lamp are essentially burning oil in their own home.

Using a kerosene lamp or a crude oil candle at home is essentially burning oil. A kerosene lamp releases thick, toxic smoke into a family’s home. This causes eye strains, chest infections and leads to more serious health impacts. 4 million people per year die prematurely from illnesses attributable to household air pollution.

Rural families have to use their light sparingly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is expensive and there is the need to prioritise. For a child’s education this can have devastating consequences.

The poorest people on the planet are the ones suffering from a lack of electricity access the most. The solar market has grown, but the market does not reach everyone.

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