date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 10:27:41 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
from: Julie Burgess <J.Burgess@uea.ac.uk>
subject: KERN InfoBrief: March 2001 - Renewable Energy: Experience and
to: cru.all@uea.ac.uk

   MELISSA Program - Managing the Environment Locally in Sub Saharan Africa



   KERN InfoBrief March 2001: Renewable Energy: Experience and Practice in Sub Saharan Africa



   Contents
   Counterbalance: Renewable Energy in a Nutshell
   Publications
   Websites
   Training
   Conferences: Commission on Sustainable Development, 9th Session New York, 16-27 April 2001
   Campaigns: Earth Day Network: Who says you can't change the world?
   Showcasing African Experience
    Diesel Engines in a multipurpose platform project in Mali.
    Community Water and Electricity Services Supply in Mauritania
    Renewable Energy for Rural Social and Economic Development in Ghana
    Biomass Electricity in Kenya
    South African Renewable Energy Resource Database
    Solar Home Systems in Zimbabwe
    Renewable Energy Systems on Remote High Biodiversity Islands: Practical Lessons Learned
   from Cousin Island Reserve in the Seychelles
    Renewable Energy Training Centre in Lesotho
    Implementation Strategy for renewable energy in South Africa
    Earth Day 2001 - Africa and Alternative Energy



   Counterbalance: Renewable Energy in a Nutshell



   The World Energy Assessment Report  indicated in 1998 that 14% of the world primary energy
   consumption comes from renewable energy, with the largest percentage supplied by
   traditional biomass and to a lesser degree large hydro and modern biogas supply.  Other
   supply technologies include small hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar and marine energy.
   Products from these sources include energy for heating space, cooking, electricity,
   hydrocarbon and methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, biogas and steam. Some technologies are used
   widely and commercially, while other technologies are in pilot or demonstration phases.



   Biomass is the use of any organic material (wood, dung, straw etc.) for the purposes of
   creating energy and it is most often used for cooking and heating in the developing world.
   Low level pollution and thus incidents of poor health often accompany the use.  Other
   environmental considerations of this technology include the size of the land surface as a
   supply, negative impacts on soil fertility, use of chemicals, impacts on water,
   biodiversity and landscape.  For modern technologies to be absorbed into traditional way of
   life, barriers of uncompetitiveness, efficient energy conversion technologies, biomass
   characteristics community acceptance, socio-economic and organisational factors need to be
   overcome.
   Some strategies to improve access to efficient cheap biomass energy include increase in
   Research and Development spending, gain more experience with the improvement in production,
   creating markets for production trade and use, internalising external costs and benefits.



   Wind energy is used as an addition to the existing electricity grid supply and can be used
   for water pump and power supply in remote areas.  Technical difficulty to secure continuous
   supply is one of the biggest challenges, as wind is intermittent. Environmental impacts of
   this technology are seen as limited.



   Photovoltaic solar energy is the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity.  The
   economic potential continues to be debated. Its technical potential is great, as the
   generated energy can be added to the existing grid; it is often generated close to where it
   is consumed; it is often used for the electrification of houses, villages and community
   infrastructure; higher efficiencies can be obtained and costs can be reduced; it can be
   stored in batteries.
   Solar thermal energy uses solar radiation to produce high temperatures, which can generate
   electricity. This energy is best utilised in deserts, where there is little cloud cover.
   Technically this energy is appropriate for small remote power production and connection to
   existing grids.



   Low temperature solar energy is the direct conversion of sunlight into low temperature heat
   as it is used in domestic hot water systems, large water heating, solar space heating,
   district heating, heat pumps, solar cooling, and solar crop drying.



   Hydroelectricity is seen as non-polluting and limitless renewable energy source, and it is
   economically attractive. Recent evidence has shown that hydropower energy supply
   contributes to Greenhouse Gas emissions (from the flooded vegetation) and has local
   environmental and social impacts (such as the effect on the standard of living due to the
   loss of land and access to resources). It is regarded as a mature technology.



   Geothermal energy is confined to new volcanic, seismic and magmatic activity and can be
   used for space heating, industrial use and electricity production.



   Marine energy technologies use the ocean's kinetic energy from wave and current action. It
   is often far from the areas of consumption, thereby increasing distribution costs. Some of
   the technologies have been used successfully (tidal barrages and wave action) and some more
   recent theoretical technology (marine biogas fuel, salinity gradient and osmotic
   technology) is not yet deemed economically feasible.



   Trends in the renewable energy sector include increasing accessibility and choice,
   innovative technology and liberalisation of markets. Other issues for consideration
   include:
    The characteristics of the renewable energy sources
    The electricity design system
    The integration of existing grid and the intermittent renewable energy sources
    Storage of energy
    Policies



   Over 2 billion people in the rural world rely on biomass for their energy needs. The
   challenge is to provide appropriate technical solutions and make the necessary
   institutional changes to support the implementation of renewable energy.



   Publications
   Individual requiring any of the following publications are requested to contact the
   publishers directly. Where possible, contact details have been provided in the KERN
   InfoBrief.



   Allderdice, A & Rogers, J. H., 2000. Renewable Energy for Micro-enterprise. National
   Renewable Energy laboratory, USA



   Annecke, W., 1999. Concept Paper for Energy and Women: Lessons Learned. EDRC, University of
   Cape Town, South Africa.



   Barnes, D. F., Openshaw, K., Smith, K. R. & van der Plas, R, 1994. "What makes people cook
   with improved biomass stoves?" World Bank Technical Paper No 242, Energy Series, World
   Bank, Washington, DC USA.



   Cabraal, A., Cosgrove-Davies, M. & Schaeffer, L., 1996. Best Practices for Photovoltaic
   Household Electrification Program.  The World Bank, Washington DC, USA.



   EC/UNDP (European Commission and the United Nations Development Program), 1999. Energy as a
   Tool for Sustainable Development for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries.  New York



   Gregory, J., Silveira, S., Derrick, A., Cowley, P., Allinson, C. & Paish, O., 1997.
   Financing Renewable Energy Projects: A Guide for Development Workers. Intermediate
   Technology Publications, UK.



   Hankins, M., 1993. Solar Rural Electrification in the Developing World, Four Case Studies:
   Dominican Republic, Kenya, Sir Lanka, Zimbabwe. Solar Electric Light Fund, Washington DC,
   USA



   International Labour Organisation, 1987. Linking Energy with Survival: Energy, Environment
   and Rural Women's Work.



   Jimenez, A. S. & Lawand, T., 2000. Renewable Energy for Rural Schools.  National Renewable
   Energy Laboratory, USA



   Senelwa, K & Sims E. E, 1999. "Opportunities for small scale biomass-electricity systems in
   Kenya", Biomass & Biomass Energy, 17:239-255



   Saurez, C. E., 1995. "Energy Needs for Sustainable Human Development" in Energy as an
   Instrument for Socio-Economic Development.  UNDP, New York.



   UNDP, 1997. Energy After Rio: Prospects and Challenges. United Nations Publications, New
   York.



   UNDP, 2000. Sustainable Energy Strategies: Materials for Decision-Makers. UNDP Energy &
   Atmosphere Programme, USA



   UNDP, 2000. Bioenergy Primer: Roles for Biomass Energy in Promoting Sustainable
   development. UNDP Energy & Atmosphere Programme, USA



   UNDP, 2000. World Energy Assessment: Laying the Groundwork of a Sustainable Future. UNDP
   (USA), UN Dept of Economic and Social Affairs (USA) and World Energy Council (UK).



   Wamukonya, L. & Davis, M., 1999. Socio-economic impacts of rural electrification in
   Namibia: Report 1 Comparison between Grid, Solar and Unelectrified Households.  EDRC,
   University of Cape Town, South Africa.



   WEC, 1995. Financing Energy Development: The Challenges and Requirements of Developing
   Countries. World Energy Council, London.



   Websites



   African Centre for Energy and Environment (ACEE) [1]http://www.acee.co.za



   African Energy Policy Research Network: [2]http://www.afrepren.org



   United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development: [3]http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/



   Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics: [4]http://www.pbgap.org



   Global Environment Facility: [5]http://www.gefweb.org



   Implementation Strategy for Renewable Energy in South Africa:
   [6]http:///ww.dme.gov.za/energy/renewables.htm



   International Energy Agency: [7]http://www.iea.org



   National Renewable Energy Laboratory: [8]http://www.rsvp.nrel.gov/rsvp



   Netherlands Energy Research Foundation: [9]http://www.ecn.nl/eii/main.html



   Stockholm Environment Institute: [10]http://www.sei.se



   UNDP - Energy and Atmosphere Program: [11]http://www.undp.org/seed/eap



   UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment: [12]http://www.uccee.org



   UNIDO Energy and Environment: [13]http://www.unido.org/doc/online.htmls



   World Energy Council (WEC) [14]http://www.worldenergy.org



   Training



   Galillee College, the leading management institute in Israel training senior managers from
   developing countries, will hold the Environmental Management Program on March 7 - 26, 2001
   and October 17 - November 5, 2001. The three week intensive Environmental Management
   program includes lectures, workshops and study tours, enabling the participants to gain
   further knowledge in their professional field, learn from Israeli experience and visit
   places of historical, religious and tourist interest in Israel, while networking and
   exchanging knowledge with colleagues from other developing countries world-wide.  Tuition
   Scholarships are available for citizens of developing countries with a minimum of a first
   degree and fluent English or French. For the benefit of French speaking countries in
   Africa, this course will be held in French on May 2 - 21 , 2001 and November 14 - December
   3, 2001. For further information and registration, candidates are welcome to visit our
   website ([15]http://www.galilcol.il) or email Ms Rachel Gottlieb, Director African Division
   (English) [16]rgottlieb@galilcol.ac.il or M. Jacques Faktor, Directeur du Departement
   Francophone: [17]jfaktor@galilcol.ac.il  Galillee College, P O Box 1070 Tivon, Isael 36000.
   Tel: +972 4 98 37 444 Fax: +972 4 98 03 227



   Conferences
   Commission on Sustainable Development, 9th Session New York, 16-27 April 2001
   In 1992, more than 100 heads of state met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the United Nations
   Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The Earth Summit was convened to address
   urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development. The assembled
   leaders signed the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological
   Diversity; endorsed the Rio Declaration and the Forest Principles; and adopted Agenda 21, a
   300-page plan for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century. The Commission on
   Sustainable Development (CSD) was created in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of
   UNCED; to monitor and report on implementation of the Earth Summit agreements at the local,
   national, regional and international levels. The CSD is a functional commission of the UN
   Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), with 53 members. It was agreed that a five-year
   review of Earth Summit progress would be made in 1997 by the United Nations General
   Assembly meeting in special session.  Earth Summit + 5: The Special Session of the General
   Assembly held in June 1997 adopted a comprehensive document entitled Programme for the
   Further Implementation of Agenda 21 prepared by the Commission on Sustainable Development.
   It also adopted the programme of work of the Commission for 1998-2002.



   The Commission on Sustainable Development consistently generates a high level of public
   interest. Over 50 ministers attend the CSD each year and more than one thousand
   non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are accredited to participate in the Commission's
   work. The Commission ensures the high visibility of sustainable development issues within
   the UN system and helps to improve the UN's coordination of environment and development
   activities. The CSD also encourages governments and international organizations to host
   workshops and conferences on different environmental and cross-sectoral issues. The results
   of these expert-level meetings enhance the work of CSD and help the Commission to work
   better with national governments and various non-governmental partners in promoting
   sustainable development worldwide.  CSD Secretariat: Secretariat of the United Nations
   Commission on Sustainable Development United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-2220 New York, New
   York 10017, USA Tel: + 1 212-963-3170 Fax: + 1-212-963-4260 E-mail: [18]dsd@un.org



   Campaigns



   Earth Day Network: Who says you can't change the world?
   Earth Day -- April 22 -- each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern
   environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day was founded in the United States by Gaylord
   Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. Nelson proposed the first nationwide
   environmental protest "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto
   the national agenda".
   Highlights from Earth Day 2000 include the following:
    A talking drum chain travelled from village to village in Gabon, Africa, protesting
   against deforestation.

    Under the slogan, "Clean Energy Is our Constitutional Right!" the South African NGO
   groundWork organized a march of local residents in the centre of Durban to protest against
   the high levels of pollution emitted by the two large oil refineries located in South
   Durban, and to call for a national transition to cleaner fuel production and clean energy
   technologies.



    Linking climate change to human rights and the ecological impacts of fossil fuel
   exploration, representatives from indigenous peoples on five continents released a joint
   Earth Day Solidarity Statement that called for a global transition to clean energy.



    Car-Free Day events were held in major world cities on Earth Day 2000 to draw attention
   to air pollution.  Hundreds of thousands of people stayed out of their cars and
   participated in open-air festivals or bike rallies in Italy, Indonesia, South Korea, Nepal,
   Australia, Japan, India, Kenya, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Argentina, Brazil,
   Mexico, Ecuador and Palau.
   Now, the fight for a clean environment continues. Earth Day Network has adopted the theme
   of energy and global warming for Earth Day 2001. No other environmental issue is as
   pervasive, and its consequences as severe, as the energy we use and the sources we employ
   to get it.
   Earth Day Network has mounted a powerful clean energy campaign to mobilize international
   forces on some of the most critical aspects of energy and global warming. The aim of the
   campaign is to expose the dangers associated with fossil fuels and nuclear power, and to
   point the way toward a clean energy future, for all life on Earth.
    The Human Rights and the Environment campaign defends powerless communities in developing
   countries who suffer human rights and environmental abuses when big oil companies extract
   and transport oil, coal and gas from and across their lands. Partners: Amnesty
   International, Sierra Club and Oilwatch.
    The Green Energy Funding campaign is steering the international funding that pours into
   developing countries away from polluting fossil fuel projects and towards clean,
   sustainable energy sources such as the sun, the wind, and hydrogen. Partners: Rainforest
   Action Network, IPS/SEEN, Friends of the Earth, and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).
    The Green Energy Commitments project is fostering government commitments to renewable
   energy, particularly in island nation states, whose very existence is threatened by the
   rising tides associated with global warming. Partners: Climate Institute, Counterpart
   International, and Winrock International.



    The Safe Power: No More Nuclear campaign aims to stop nuclear power, and all its
   associated dangers, from being accepted by the international community as part of the
   solution to global warming. Partners: World Information Service on Energy (WISE), and
   Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS).
    The Power Save: Habits for Energy Efficiency campaign shows individuals, businesses and
   schools, particularly in the USA, how they can use less energy and use it more wisely, for
   the sake of the environment, and the economy. Partner: Alliance to Save Energy.
    The Earth Car Free Day event on 19 April will see hundreds of thousands of people the
   whole world over stay out of cars as part of a coordinated global call for sustainable
   transportation. Partner: The Commons.
   Wherever you are this April, if you take action for the Earth, you are joining a powerful
   force for change. List your event plans on the Earth Day website at [19]www.earthday.net,
   and share your efforts with the world. Earth Day Network can be contacted by email at
   [20]worldwide@earthday.net, by telephone at +1 206 876 2000, by fax at +1 206 876 2015, or
   by mail at 811 First Avenue, Suite 454, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA. Be part of this
   global movement for change!
   Showcasing African Initiatives



   Diesel Engines in a multipurpose platform project in Mali. (Source: WER, pp 376, 2000)



   In Mali, 450 multipurpose platforms will provide mechanical power and electricity at the
   village level by 2003, through diesel engines to 10 percent of the country's rural
   population. A slow diesel engine was selected as it had low initial capital cost; low
   prices for its spare parts; its ability to operate without damage on the relatively
   low-quality diesel fuel; its ease of operation, maintenance and repair by local artisans
   and the availability of a network of sellers and servicers throughout the country.  The
   typical platform should be able to power a variety of equipment, such as a cereal mill,
   husker, alternator, battery charger, pump, welder and carpentry machines. Social and
   economic benefits would be empowering to local women. The platforms would be coupled to
   water and electricity distribution networks. The project thus provides much needed
   entrepreneurial activity.



   Community Water and Electricity Services Supply in Mauritania (Source: Sustainable Energy
   Strategies, UNDP, 2000)
   The 3 000 member community of Keur Macene on the Senegal River in Mauritania have access to
   clean water through the provision of a 2kWe wind turbine. The turbine powers a floating
   electric pump, which pumps water through the slow sand filtration unit then to covered
   storage tanks, where drip chlorination provides disinfection. The water is distributed to
   the houses via underground plastic pipes. The community no longer need to access the badly
   polluted river water and the incidences of serious water related disease had decreased from
   over 80 % to 5%.



   Renewable Energy for Rural Social and Economic Development in Ghana (Source: Sustainable
   Energy Strategies, UNDP, 2000)
   The Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) is the first of its kind in Sub Saharan Africa
   in 1999. It was established in response to the need of over 4 000 communities lacking
   electricity. A US$ 2.5 million UNDP/GEF, US $ 1 million from the Ghanaian government and
   Photovoltaic equipment from a Spanish bilateral development assistance loan enabled the
   RESCO to provide off grid electricity to households, community and economic productive
   uses. Customers include NGOs, CBOs, local government offices, farmers, fisherman,
   co-operatives, small enterprises and households. The RESCO has been planned as a for-profit
   organisation with the financial and managerial discipline needed to supply services and
   collect fees for services. The company intends to own, maintain and repair the electricity
   supply equipment. An initial survey indicated the communities' willingness and ability to
   pay for the services.



   Biomass Electricity in Kenya (Source: Senelwa, K & Sims E. E, 1999. "Opportunities for
   small scale biomass-electricity systems in Kenya", Biomass & Biomass Energy, 17:239-255)
   The study estimated how much electricity might be generated from biomass for off-grid
   villages in Kenya. 99% of the rural population is not connected to the electricity grid and
   the country has no known fossil fuel reserves. The study investigated the three most likely
   wood-energy sources: government forests and logging wastes, farm trees and sawmill wastes.
   The practicable and economic resources (including technical and financial constraints) were
   however not estimated in the study. The wood processing residue was the most promising and
   given the supply of residues it might be economic to install a wood gasifiers to power a
   gas turbine or diesel generator. The option of the government forests and farm forestry did
   not seem feasible, due to remoteness from consumers and not enough organic materials to
   sustain power generation.



   South African Renewable Energy Resource Database
   A national renewable energy resource database has recently been compiled for South Africa.
   The renewable resources include: biomass, mini and macro hydro, and solar energy
   potentials.  The South African wind resource is in the process of being compiled and will
   be completed by the end of June 2001.



    Biomass potential has been modelled from wood (unprocessed and processed), agricultural,
   and grass residues on an annual basis.
    Hydro potential has been modelled for both macro and micro power potential on an annual
   basis.  Macro power potential represents accumulated river flow, while micro power
   potential reflects local river flow or non-accumulated flow (i.e. flow over a 1 km stretch
   of river).
    Solar energy potential, mean annual and monthly, has been modelled for global (direct
   plus diffuse) radiation.  The model includes the atmospheric components of cloud cover and
   transmissivity, as well as the geometric component.



   Each renewable resource has been modelled within a geographical information system (GIS) at
   a horizontal spatial scale of one square kilometre (i.e. 1 x 1km grid cell size).  The
   database is valuable for national scale research; to highlight areas of potential which can
   then be targeted for more detailed analysis.  A hybrid optimisation model will be linked to
   the renewable energy database, allowing for analysis of the optimum design of a hybrid
   system based on the available renewable energy resources.  The optimisation model includes
   all of the four above-mentioned resources (biomass, micro hydro, solar, and wind). The
   CSIR, Eskom, and Department of Minerals and Energy jointly fund the project. Details of the
   resource potentials can be found at the following URL:
   [21]http://www.csir.co.za/environmentek/sarerd/index.html Contact Details: Jillian Muller
   CSIR - Environmentek PO Box 395 Pretoria 0001 Tel: +27 12 841 3992 Fax: +27 12 841 2028
   Email: [22]jmuller@csir.co.za



   Solar Home Systems in Zimbabwe (Source: Sustainable Energy Strategies, UNDP, 2000)
   The UNDP/GEF photovoltaic project in Zimbabwe has stimulated the establishment of dozens of
   photovoltaic suppliers and installation companies and over 7 000 systems have been
   installed over the past seven years. The majority of these suppliers, however, did not have
   a very firm commercial base and have closed down after the project ended. The two main
   support structures were the credit facility with the Agricultural Finance Corporation and
   the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority established a pilot free-for service business
   operation for 500 systems. Bulk components were purchased through the United Nations
   Procurement centre thus achieving economies of scale. This eliminated the capital risk
   associated with a small company maintaining an inventory of expensive equipment. An
   evaluation suggested that the fee-for-service is a preferable way to use the Photovoltaic
   systems for off-grid communities.



   Renewable Energy Systems on Remote High Biodiversity Islands: Practical Lessons Learned
   from Cousin Island Reserve in the Seychelles Nirmal Jivan Shah, Chief Executive, and
   Kerstin Henri, Project Manager,  Birdlife Seychelles, , P O Box 1310 Mahe Seychelles Email:
   [23]birdlife@seychelles.net



   Cousin Island is a small granite island in the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean
   on the East coast of Africa. Purchased by Birdlife International in 1968, the island
   reserve including the entire fringing reef, is managed as an integrated "sea and island
   reserve". It is an important site for nesting hawksbill turtles in the Western Indian Ocean
   and has a large marine fish biomass, with colonies of seven globally important bird species
   as well as many other endemic land bird species, native reptiles and invertebrates. The
   reserve is self-financing through controlled eco-tourism and provides funds for other
   conservation projects. In 1998, the management of the island became the function of the
   newly established NGO, Birdlife Seychelles. A priority of the new management was to
   maintain a safe, effective and sustainable physical infrastructure on the island and to
   "green" its operations. The generator was replaced by a solar energy system. As it was not
   possible to source the system in the Seychelles or to get foreign exchange to import the
   necessary panels, the funding was sought form the Dutch Trust Fund for Seychelles.  The
   staff of the Energy Affairs Division of the Ministry of Industry and International Business
   assisted Birdlife Seychelles with the writing of the proposal, the ordering of the
   appropriate equipment and the installation of the system.



   The seven permanent staff and visiting scientists have electricity 24 hours, which is a big
   change from the previous system when the noisy diesel generator provided power for a few
   hours each evening. Each house had a set of solar panels as well as a band of batteries to
   store energy for use after sunset. The new system provided enough power for each house to
   run several lights, a TV, and a specially designed energy saving refrigerator or freezer.
   The reserve manager also has access to a computer and other several small appliances
   through the system provided to his house. Communal facilities include a solar water pump,
   which provide clean efficient alternative to the old diesel pump.



   We have learned a few important and practical lessons from this project, which may not be
   self-evident to people living in developed countries. These lessons include the following:



    It is difficult to acquire appropriate renewable energy systems in many small island
   developing states and insular areas.
    Foreign exchange to purchase good quality equipment, which remain expensively priced, may
   be limited.
    Expertise to design, choose, and install the appropriate system is critical.
    Certain "off-the-shelf" equipment such as PC computer and freezers will not run
   efficiently on solar energy and replacements will have to be catered for.
    All equipment, particularly solar panels, have to be robust and "tropilcalised" to
   withstand the harsh environmental conditions prevalent on tropical coastal areas.



   Renewable Energy Training Centre in Lesotho (Source: Jimenez and Lawand, 2000. Renewable
   Energy for Rural Schools)
   The Bethel Business and Community Development Centre (BBCDC) based in Lesotho is a private
   agency whose goal is to develop the human, economic and technical potential of the area
   through practical training. From 1993, the students and staff, without prior knowledge or
   experience installed the renewable energy systems. The energy system types and services
   included photovoltaics, solar ovens, solar water heaters, underfloor solar mass heating
   systems, water tank mass heating systems, solar greenhouse, radiative nocturnal cooler,
   passive solar design, daylighting, hydraulic ram pumps and biomass from fuel wood coppice.
   This energy system supplies energy to four staff houses, a guest flat, a conference centre
   and a library-office building. Contact: Ivan Yaholnitsky, Bethel Business and Community
   Development Centre, Box 53, Mt Moorosi 750, Lesotho.



   Implementation Strategy for renewable energy in South Africa
   The vision of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) is to access to adequate and
   affordable energy to developing communities through a balanced mix of alternative energy
   resources at a reasonable cost. The main objective of renewable energy should be the
   empowerment of the deprived so that development and job creation can take place. The
   majority of the population in South Africa live in the rural areas. There are a number of
   ways to supply energy to these areas. The DME has embarked on several programmes to supply
   energy to these rural areas. Some of these programmes include:
    RDP Schools and Clinic program
    Solar villages
    Solar Home Systems
    Wind Energy
    Solar water heating and pumping
    Solar thermal energy



   Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Mineralia Centre, 391 Andries Street, Pretoria,
   South Africa Chief Director: Communication Mr Kanyo Gqulu Tel: (+ 27 12) 317 9537 Fax: (+27
   12)
   Mail: Private Bag X59, PRETORIA, 0001 E-mail: [24]yonelas@mepta.pwv.gov.za



   Earth Day 2001 - Africa and Alternative Energy



   The Africa region participated in Earth Day 2000's "Clean Energy Now!" campaign in
   unprecedented numbers. Engaging millions of people through fairs, protests, lectures, art
   competitions, seminars, music, theatre and dance, Earth Day continues to provide people in
   Africa with a powerful bulwark against environmental degradation. This year, alternative
   energy continues to take centre stage, both in the domestic and international sphere. Earth
   Day 2001's Clean Energy campaign will provide a platform for people around the world to
   show they care for the planet, and demonstrate their support for renewable energy. Earth
   Day celebrations will culminate with the ninth Convention on Sustainable Development (CSD9)
   in April, where the case for alternative energy such as biomass, solar, wind, and
   geothermal power will be presented. In no other region has the struggle against the fossil
   fuel industry  been more remarkable than Africa, where poverty and corruption has severely
   debilitated the environmental sector.  In spite of this, environmental groups and NGOs in
   Africa are blazing the trail in the movement towards clean energy; working with very little
   to effect meaningful, real changes in their communities. By tying their activities with
   Earth Day 2001's campaign for clean energy, these groups are placing the emphasis on clean
   energy necessary for it to become ingrained in public consciousness, putting aside their
   differences and joining forces in a common plight. Climate change and the abuse of human
   rights by multinationals have spurred environmental initiatives across Africa, and the
   following are but a few examples of what is being planned for Earth Day 2001:



   Indigenous communities in Nigeria are working hand-in-hand with an NGO coalition to regain
   their pride and rebuild their traditions - which are intimately connected to their natural
   environment. In the rural villages of the Cross River States region of Nigeria, small,
   grassroots projects are providing people with alternatives to denuding precious
   rainforests. Entrepreneurial projects, such as snail and mushroom farming, are uplifting
   people economically, while giving them the environmental and legal know-how to challenge
   corporations and national governments. Contact: NGO Coalition for the Environment (NGOCE)
   Earth Day 2001 event: Solar energy workshop Address: 18 Orok Ita Str., Big Qua Town, PO Box
   2839,Calabar, Nigeria. Email: [25]ngocenvironment@yahoo.com Tel: 234 87 22 35 03 Fax: 234
   87 230 681



   In Tanzania, the Kilimanjaro Environment Facility (KEF) is holding a public awareness event
   for Earth Day 2001 under the theme of "Fight Against Global Warming - Help Protect the Snow
   of Mount Kilimanjaro." Thousands of people from the town of Moshi are expected to attend,
   including students and government representatives. Posters, drawings and other media will
   be distributed to educate the public about climate change. Arts and cultural groups will
   contribute with song and dance. Contact:   Kilimanjaro Environment Facility Contact person:
   Joseph Swai Email: [26]KEF_TZ@excite.com Address: P.O. Box 6928, Moshi-Tanzania



   In Ethiopia, the Heinrich Boell Foundation is organizing a one-day forum on Environment and
   Food security for Earth Day 2001. There will be an exhibition to demonstrate the use of
   solar energy for cooking. The event aims to promote greater awareness about alternatives to
   cutting down trees for fuel wood. Contact: Heinrich Boell Foundation Address: P O Box
   41079, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: 251 1 624860 Fax: 251 1 615439 Email:
   [27]aasferachew@hotmail.com



   In Ghana, seminars and exhibitions are being held for Earth Day 2001 to educate the public
   about alternative energy. The League of Environmental Journalists is running a two-day
   workshop to explore the role of the media in the promotion of clean energy technologies in
   Ghana. About thirty journalists will attend presentations to better inform them of
   energy-related issues. The workshop will be followed by field trips to renewable energy
   installations. Contact: the Green Earth Organization Earth Day event: seminar and
   exhibition on the theme of sustainable energy, to be broadcast on the radio, television,
   and newspapers. Contact: League of Environmental Journalists Contact person: Mike Anane
   Address: P.O. Box 2062, Accra, Ghana Email: [28]lejcec@ghana.com Phone: 233 21 221 849



   In Egypt, Friends of the Environment and Development Association (FEDA) will be running a
   workshop on the theme of clean energy with the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs.
   Contact: Friends of the Environment and Development Association (FEDA) Contact person: Adli
   Bishay Address: 88 El Qasr Al Aini Str, Garden City, Suite 31,Cairo Tel: 20 2 795 3346 Fax:
   20 2 795 7637 Email: [29]eda@idsc.net.eg



   In Kenya, the Environmental Trust of Kenya is planning a two-day workshop for youth, which
   will include a presentation on clean energy open to the public. The ETK will also be
   publishing an article on clean energy in the local and national newspapers. Contact: the
   Environmental Trust of Kenya Contact person: Fatema Rajabali Address: P.O. Box 90193,
   Nairobi Phone: 254 222503 Fax: 254 11 311789 Email: [30]ETK@supercopiers.africaonline.com



   To see what other activities are being planned in accordance with Earth Day 2001's Clean
   Energy campaign, please visit the website at [31]www.earthday.net and click on "Find an
   Event." To enter events of your own, please email [32]leigh-anne@earthday.net .
   _________________________________________________________________________________
   We invite you to contact the MELISSA Program for further information, contributions,
   comments and suggestions regarding the KERN InfoBrief at:



   Program Co-ordinator, The MELISSA Program, c/o World Bank Country Office P O Box 12629,
   Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa.  Tel +2712 349-2994 Fax: +27 12 349-2080 Email:
   [33]melissa@melissa.org Website: [34]http://www.melissa.org







   Bridget McBean
   The MELISSA Program/ World Bank Office in South Africa
   P O Box 12629, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
   Tel (+27 12) 349-2994 Fax (+27 12) 349-2080
   email: [35]bridget@melissa.org Website: [36]www.melissa.org

