African Utility Sector Gains New Insights into Power Pole Longevity

New Study Highlights Success of Polesaver Rot-Guard™ Sleeves in Combating Decay and Termite Damage

A new independent field study conducted in Uganda has revealed compelling evidence supporting the use of Polesaver Rot-Guard™ sleeves to maximise the life of wooden electricity distribution poles. The findings are expected to guide utility companies and infrastructure specifiers across Africa toward more cost-effective, durable solutions.

Conducted by Dr. Paul Mugabi, Associate Professor-Consultant at Makerere University’s School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, the study is the first of its kind in East Africa to evaluate ground-line protection technology under local conditions.

What Are Rot-Guard™ Sleeves?

Polesaver Rot-Guard™ sleeves are dual-layer, heat-shrinkable barrier sleeves designed to protect the most vulnerable part of a wooden pole—the ground line—from fungal decay and termite attack. This area, where the pole meets the soil (and 6inches below ground), is highly susceptible to biological deterioration. An outer thermoplastic layer shrinks to the pole preventing water and oxygen ingress, while an inner bituminous layer seals the wood, forming a long-lasting, impenetrable barrier.

Despite competition from steel and concrete, wooden poles remain the preferred choice for power distribution in many African regions due to their lower cost, ease of installation, lighter environmental footprint, and local availability. However, premature failure—often within 10 years—due to rot and termites continues to burden utility providers. Between 2017 and 2021, Uganda spent over $8 million replacing decayed wooden poles—more than 85% of failures were attributed to biological deterioration.

Study Results

In the study, 200 wooden poles installed in central Uganda were examined: 113 protected with Polesaver Rot-Guard™ sleeves, and 87 untreated control poles, each in the ground for up to eight years.

Key findings include:

No decay of sleeved poles, compared to 4.6% decay of un-sleeved poles
No termite attack of sleeved poles, compared to 5.75% attack of un-sleeved poles

“These results demonstrate how a relatively simple, cost-effective, and proven technology can deliver substantial benefits for utility providers,” said Richard George, CEO of Polesaver. “By extending the lifespan of poles, Rot-Guard™ sleeves can dramatically reduce replacement and maintenance costs, while improving network safety and reliability.”

The report provides strong evidence for wider adoption of barrier sleeve technology in tropical and subtropical climates and offers a roadmap for enhancing power infrastructure resilience across the continent. With Mission 300 funding rounds now underway, the findings are especially timely. The initiative’s ambitious target—delivering electricity access to 300 million new customers by 2030—will only succeed if investments prioritise solutions that extend the lifespan and reliability of these critical assets.

Get in Touch

For more information about including Polesaver Rot-Guard Sleeves in your upcoming projects, please get in touch with the team.

Polesaver Celebrates One Million Sleeves Sold Across Africa

Polesaver, a global leader in wood life extension products, is proud to announce the delivery of its millionth Rot-Guard™ sleeve into Africa – marking a major milestone in the company’s mission to improve the reliability, longevity, and cost-efficiency of wooden utility poles across the continent.

For over 30 years, Polesaver has provided its innovative dual-layer ground-line barrier sleeves to utilities and rural electrification projects worldwide. Across Africa, these sleeves are helping utilities overcome the challenges of fungal decay, termite damage, and harsh soil conditions, which traditionally cause premature pole failures and high pole replacement costs.

Trusted Across the Continent

From Cameroon to Uganda, and beyond, Polesaver Rot-Guard™ sleeves are helping power providers maximise the lifespan of their infrastructure in remote and often extreme environments.

In Cameroon, a long-standing partnership with ENEO has seen over 300,000 sleeves installed since 2016. These installations have played a vital role in improving grid reliability and cutting inspection and replacement costs – savings estimated to exceed $11 million to date.

In Uganda, a major rollout by utility company Umeme saw over 400,000 poles protected with Rot-Guard™ sleeves as part of a nationwide grid expansion. Following implementation, Umeme reported significantly extended pole life and a dramatic drop in failure rates, with substantial long-term savings.

In rural and remote regions, utility companies and rural electrification programs have integrated Polesaver Rot-Guards™ into national distribution projects to maximise pole lifespan, especially in off-grid and hard-to-access areas where replacement logistics are difficult and costly.

An African Success Story

The use of wooden poles remains vital in electrification efforts across Africa due to their availability and ease of deployment. However, their durability is often compromised by biological threats and environmental stress. Polesaver’s Rot-Guard™ sleeves provide a simple, cost-effective solution to these challenges – enabling utilities to maintain wooden pole infrastructure with confidence.

“Reaching one million poles protected across Africa is a proud moment for our company,” said Richard George, CEO of Polesaver. “It reflects the growing trust in our products and the measurable benefits they bring – longer-lasting poles, fewer outages, and substantial cost savings. We’re delighted to be able to support utilities and electrification programs across Africa with simple and affordable solutions as they expand and modernise their grids.”

As many African nations work toward ambitious rural electrification goals, the role of durable, low-maintenance infrastructure is more critical than ever. By preventing ground-line decay – the number one cause of wooden pole failure – Polesaver Rot-Guard™ sleeves extend asset service life by decades, reducing downtime and keeping communities connected.