Protecting wood utility poles to achieve greater energy access

Rolling out reliable infrastructure hinges on expanding the grid and reinforcing it

In the rolling farmlands outside Kampala, Uganda, an independent field study is shedding fresh light on a perennial infrastructure challenge: wooden utility poles that succumb to rot and termites long before their intended lifespan.

As countries across Africa race to electrify more communities—and commit to delivering power access to 300 million new customers by 2030 under the Mission 300 initiative—this could not be timelier.

The research, led by Dr Paul Mugabi of Makerere University’s School of Forestry in Uganda, examines what many utilities know all too well: wooden poles, while affordable and locally sourced, often fail within a decade due to biological decay at their ground-line.

In Uganda alone, between 2017 and 2021, utilities spent over $8 million replacing poles damaged by rot or termite attack—more than 85% of failures were tied to this issue.

How to protect wood utility poles from rot and decay

One company, Polesaver, which has pioneered the production of rot protection products for over thirty years, offers a potential solution: Rot-Guard™ sleeves—a deceptively simple yet effective solution.

These dual-layer, heat-shrinkable barriers wrap around the pole’s most vulnerable section.

The outer thermoplastic layer seals out water and oxygen; the inner bituminous layer penetrates the wood, creating an airtight, fungus-proof, termite-resistant shield.

The results are compelling

Of 200 poles monitored over up to eight years, 113 were fitted with Rot-Guard™, and 87 were left unprotected. Among sleeved poles, there was zero decay or termite damage.

By contrast, 4.6% of unprotected poles showed signs of rot, and 5.75% suffered termite infestations. It’s a small sample—but one packed with implications for Africa’s ageing electricity infrastructure.

Within just eight years of being installed without a protective sleeve, more than 10% had already failed and were nearing replacement. Estimating the total number of poles this could impact across Africa’s infrastructure is almost impossible.

“These results demonstrate how a relatively simple, cost-effective, and proven technology can deliver substantial benefits for utility providers,” reflects Simon McArt, Global Sales Manager for Polesaver.

Indeed, extending the lifespan of poles not only slashes replacement costs—it also steadies the grid and safeguards communities reliant on consistent access.

For African transmission and distribution utilities, these findings are a roadmap toward resilience. Wooden poles offer low upfront cost, ease of installation, and environmental advantages over steel or concrete—but only if they “put in” the years.

Rot-Guard™ sleeves offer exactly that: a low-tech, scalable safeguard, ready for deployment across tropical and subtropical networks.

Reinforcing a sustainable energy grid

In the context of Mission 300, such innovations are essential.

Rolling out reliable infrastructure to millions hinges not just on expanding the grid, but also on reinforcing it. Longer-lasting poles mean fewer service interruptions, better value for investment, and quieter networks.

At the forefront of reinforcing the grid is Polesaver. Trusted by utilities worldwide, the company is delivering cost savings, safety, and sustainability, ensuring reliable energy infrastructure performance while reducing replacement frequency and environmental impact.

The Uganda data now enriches a growing global evidence base supporting barrier sleeve technology—and for forward-thinking utilities and policymakers across the continent, the timing could not be more opportune. As electrification targets loom, solutions like Rot-Guard™ are emerging as quiet game-changers—protecting wooden and steel poles and powering progress.

Cover photo: By ESI Africa