When Zambia meets America's Energy Experience

This week we spare some time to profile our working experience with two American engineers by the name of Ryan D Tailor and Jasmine Pearcey. Ryan and Paul met in California during the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship program to which Paul was an energy fellow of the first energy institute at the University of California Davis representing Zambia and Ryan was participating as one of the Fellowship Assistant being a Alumni of UC Davis. On the other hand, Jasmine is a chemical engineer based in Texas and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers where her and Ryan met. Ryan and Jasmine where on a short but serious week long Zambian visit for the first time under the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange program by the State Department to try and fulfill their promise to a better Africa through assisting with the installation works and developing a strategic plan of the Mabo village Energy Exchange Project located in Samfya District of the Luapula Province, Zambia. This initiative is a $10,000 funded project by the United Stated Africa Development Foundation (USADF) which was awarded to Zambia's Energy Diverse Integrations Ltd an energy service company based in Samfya.

During arrival of Ryan and Jasmine at KK International Airport

Day 1

This Day begun with a visit to the local traditional leader by the name of Chief Kalasamukoso of the people of Mabo Village as per custom in Zambia, one cannot commence any works before paying a curtesy call to Traditional Leaders. 

With His Royal Highness Chief Kalasamukoso

After a successful long journey to the chief's palace, the chief was elated with our visitors and expressed hope that after Mabo Village being neglected in the past by previous governments, he was delighted that young men and women took the challenge to come to the people's aid by offering an alternative solution to their energy needs. After meeting the chief, an hour's travel was spent to Mabo village to commence with the installation works for the solar re-charge station.

With the District commissioner and Sub chief Mabo third and forth from left in Mabo Village

We spent the first day meeting the local stakeholders which included the district commissioner and the sub chief Mpanta. Consequently, we did initial planning and analysis of the project activities including the sun movement over the roof top and also observing any hindrances in the form of shedding from the trees. Arrangements were made to have some branches from the tree to be cut off as well as to ask the staff on site to observe the sunrise time the following day. Initially this day seemed like a waste but alas, engineers always know how best to do things right.

Jasmine, Ryan and Paul During planning at Samfya Lodge

Day 2

This day was spent on  making final conclusions on were to set the frames and Solar Panels. A request was made earlier to have batteries brought by clients just to sample some of them and also in order to develop a log for previous use and expectations from the users. This day was also coupled with creating an inventory of the tools and equipments to be installed to ensure that we had the right supplies as well as identifying other required installation materials to be used.

Clients Batteries in the delivery room

Everything went as planned and we received about 40 batteries of different types and information we gathered indicated that we had about 115 batteries in the village. We also conducted an analysis on the set-up of the room and the work flow from the time the battery is to be brought for charging up-to its delivery. We also identified which space to be the control room and also the reception and delivery room.

Ryan and Jasmine during planning of the project

Day 3

This day was very important as it marked the beginning of fixing of the frames and installing the solar panels. Works immediately commenced after Ryan showed us how the panels where to be set to better harvest the sunlight. We begun by mounting the frames just on the side of the room that was selected as best fit for the control room. It was amazing just to watch how Ryan and Jasmine moved the frames about mounting and dismounting them to ensure that they are perfectly set.

Jasmine, Paul and Ryan Fixing the Panel to the frame

By 4pm we had managed to install all the three solar panels on the roof and also managed to configure a series connection to pass through the roof into the control room where a 900W capacity charge controller was installed. This Day ended on a good note as we had achieved our plan for the day in time to launch the project the following day much to the expectations of the community.

Ariel view of the recharge station after final installations

Day 4

This day was exciting as we enforced another technician by the name of Danny Kasolo to make final touches to the project installation works. The launch event commenced at about 10:00am with songs and traditional dances from the women and the school pupils who showcased tantalizing dance movements to the amusement of our visitors. At the event the guests of honour were Mr. Folela Bernard the area councilor as well as the sub chief for the village himself his royal highness Chief Mabo Kunda. The councilor in his speech thanked Energy Diverse Integrations, the US government and also the American visitors of a very inspiring project which was a big relief in tackling the energy challenges of the village. Mr. Folela encouraged the people to guard the facilities jealously and to also support the initiative as it was a clear demonstration of the best things to come to the village. 

Jasmine and Ryan in the Middle With the Area Councilor at the far end during the project launch ceremony

At the same event, Mr Ryan Tailor pledged his continued support to the project and thanked the people of Mabo for the warm welcome and indicated the enormous potential the village had and how he hoped that the partnership would bring more hope for the people of Mabo.
Ms Pearcy also expressed joy for the being in Zambia and also interacting with the people of Mabo village. She indicated that for her, it was her dream that being a female engineer more young girls in the village would hope to persue their dreams of becoming better people to serve the community better.

The launch ended with the presentation of gifts upon which the school gave the visitors a goat which according to the tradition meant that they were welcome to stay in Mabo village. A present was also offered to Mr. Ryan Tailor by Mr. Nkumbula the CEO of Energy Diverse Integrations Ltd as a demonstaration of the continued relationship and strong relation between Zambia and the American people. 

After the presentation, the entire village rushed to the project site to catch a glimpse of the launch of the project much to the amusement of everyone present as the Sub-Chief cut the ribbon.

During the cutting of the Ribbon by Sub Chief Mabo Kunda

Paul then took the guests round the premises just to show them how the facilities will be utilized by the community.

Paul showing the guests the installed equipment of the project

This day marked a new era of strides made to bring to an end to people's use of unsustainable and harmful sources of energy such as candles, cell lamps, Kerosene lamps, poor quality solar panels and generators with a new way of sustainable energy through quality battery recharge and rechargeable LED lamps for a brighter and clean future for all.

Lessons Learnt

·         Taking more time to plan is very important than rushing to do the actual work. It really pays.

·         An approach of looking at a project in its entirety is cardinal in the overall direction of its performance. We can’t do away with it.

·         Women are an important element in providing critical input to any projects. We should never ignore them.

·          The success of any energy project in rural communities will only be assured if they will translate in taking our people out of poverty sustainably. That’s real development.