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Acknowledgement
Information on copper theft was provided by Roy Robertson, a former
Lieutenant Colonel in the SAPS and principal director at CPI, a corporate
investigation firm based in Midrand, Johannesburg, which specialises
in the investigation of non-ferrous metal theft. Robertson has been
actively fighting copper theft since 2002.
Focusing specifically on the syndicates that target the electrical
networks of most electricity supply companies and railway networks,
CPI secures and tracks high value cargo, and investigates hijackings
and the theft of non-ferrous metals. Operating mainly on intelligence,
the company has a staggering success rate. The figures speak for
themselves.
In March 2015, the CPI arrested 79 copper cable thieves. Over the
past 10 years, the CPI force has recovered millions of Rands worth of
copper destined for the export market. In 2005, 34 truckloads, each
carrying in the region of 30 to 34 tons of copper, were recovered.
Fact file
• Chinese copper consumption has increased from 2,8
million tons in 2002 to 8 million tons in 2012 and imports
rose from 620 000 tons to 4,4 million tons
• The world’s copper mines now produce 17 million tons
of copper, up from 14,5 million tons a decade ago
• In 2005 copper fetched $0,70 per pound, today’s price is
around $3,15 per pound
• The Statue of Liberty contains over 179 200 pounds of
copper
• Copper is 100% recyclable
• Copper retains 95% of its original value and can be re-
cycled without any property variations
• About 80% of the copper that has ever been produced is
still in existence
• Despite being less valuable than silver or gold, copper has
been dubbed ‘Man’s Eternal Metal’ owing to its versatility
and durability
and performance. With continued load shedding predicted to continue
for at least two years, ensure your standby generator is engineered
to perform at optimum. Diesel engine powered electrical generators
(diesel gensets) are used for primary power delivery and as a back-up
supply that can deliver electrical power in the event of a mains failure.
Good reliability, ease of maintenance, and abundance and relative
cheapness of fuel mean that diesel generators are a common choice
for these applications.
Copper in Aquaculture
The introduction of copper fish cages has tremendous advantages for
fish farming. Copper nets antimicrobial/algaecidal properties are anti-
biofouling which results in healthier and larger fish. Copper holding nets
have strong structural properties, preventing damage from predators.
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY MADE SIMPLE 2015