Tanzania Project
The Problem
Tanzania, with a per capita GDP of US $1300, is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 80% of the population of 40 million lives in rural areas and is employed primarily in agriculture. Recently, severe droughts have limited Tanzania’s capacity for hydroelectric power generation, which provides 60% of the country’s electricity. Under these circumstances, limited access to unreliable electrical grids leaves the majority of Tanzanians without access to good-quality household lighting.
Most Tanzanians rely on fuel-based systems as their main sources of lighting, with average families spending an estimated US $12 on kerosene each month. Considered in proportion to household income, such lighting systems are extremely expensive. For many, lighting expenses are second only to the cost of food in the family budget. Despite the high cost paid for lighting, only very poor quality light is provided. The emission of harmful fumes, the risk of fire and insufficient light have become daily concerns for many Tanzanians.
The Benefits of Changing to Solar Lighting
- Improved air quality in homes with the elimination of the harmful fumes emitted with fuel-based lighting systems
- Reduced risk of fire from the burning of candles and kerosene lamps
- Improved light quality for reading and reduced eye strain
- An opportunity for children to read at home after dark
- Portability and function as a safety light for travel in the dark
- The ability for families to afford better food, education and health care with the elimination of spending on kerosene and candles
The Solution
Our products and systems have the versatility to permit many models for the introduction of solar lighting to replace kerosene. Lamps are available with individual solar panels for true lighting independence. Or, lamps can be charged from a central charging station powered by a solar system. This latter mode of operation opens up new operating models:
- A loan group is formed, borrowing for a solar system and for lamps. Lamps are charged centrally (with either revolving or assigned responsibility) and surplus solar capacity can be used to charge cell phones for a fee. Surplus capacity can also be used to charge other types of batteries, or perhaps to power lighting at the charging facility.
- An entrepreneur is enabled through microcredit. Using the same technology of central charging, the entrepreneur could generate income from charging lamps and from charging other devices such as cell phones. They would have several options within their own businesses, such as: renting charged lamps, exchanging charged lamps for discharged ones, selling lamps with solar panels, charging lamps for a fee, etc.
In Tanzania, Glenergy offers a turnkey solution, from the provision and installation of equipment to the training of users and the financing of the group or entrepreneur.
Your Contribution
The rate that we can implement the transition from kerosene to solar lighting is limited by the funds available to us. Your money can help. We have established a microcredit capital account and will accept loans or donations to that account. It will be used exclusively for the support of solar entrepreneurs and loan groups operating solar systems. We are not a charity and cannot issue tax recepits. However, in co-operation with the Rotary Club of North Renfrew, Canadian tax receipts can be issued for donations received. Loans are for a five-year term at 0% interest with repayments at annual intervals. This allows us to offer end-user and entrepreneurial financing at very low rates. $1500 will provide a charging system and lamps for a group 15 women, along with a cell-phone charging capaibility for supplemental income generation. A group can repay this loan in one year just from avoided kerosene costs, while sharing the revenue from cell-phone charging.
Donate now to the Tanzania Project