AbstractThe growing depositories of fine and discard coal, produced as a result of increasing beneficiation practice, as well as the problems associated with the disposal of timber and agricultural residues, have prompted an investigation of their use as briquetted and pelletized fuels for domestic application. More specifically, the viability of introducing such reconstituted fuels into areas of South Africa which have no access to electricity, and rely principally on fuelwood for energy supply, is assessed. The contribution which high calorific value reconstituted fuels could make to national energy supply is estimated at 224 peta joules (PJ) per annum, or roughly 10 per cent of total demand. This is in excess of 80 per cent of current consumption within underdeveloped areas and is equal to total fuelwood consumption. The cost of producing reconstituted fuels, at centralized facilities, is estimated for a number of processes, including coal briquetting with, and without, the addition of binding agents, extrusion of a coal/paper composite, and extrusion of wood waste. Their overall economic viability is assessed for eleven communities which are thought to cover the range of settlement patterns within the underdeveloed sector. If waste coal is made available at a price proportional to the cost of disposal and reclamation, rather than one linked to its inherent energy value, then, in most cases, the minimum ‘as delivered’ price of the waste derived fuel product is less than current energy expenditure. It is felt that the introduction of reconstituted fuels into the underdeveloped sector would be favourably met, particularly where it is seen to offer a clean burning alternative to current practice. Areas which produce high quality discard coal are identified, and its use discussed as part of a strategy for implementing a ‘waste‐to‐energy’ scheme. It is stressed that energy shortages in underdeveloped areas are largely the result of the existing socio‐political order, and that a national energy programme should consider the introduction of reconstituted fuels as only one, short‐term, way to ameliorate