Thousands of hinterland residents to soon enjoy electricity – as Gov’t solar home systems being dispatched
Georgetown, GINA, March 14, 2012
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds flanked by Project Coordinator, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Sharon Austin, Principal Regional Development Officer, Anil Roberts, Accountant, Hinterland Electrification Programme, Annie Ramnarine and Electrical Engineer, Office of the Prime Minister, Kevin Vickerie with one of the panels
Government’s Hinterland Electrification Programme is moving ahead as many of the solar home systems which it promised would be made available to residents who have never received electricity because of their location have already been taken to Region Nine, following earlier distribution late last year.
Today, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was on site at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Georgetown where trucks were being stacked with the solar panels and accessories in preparation for leaving tomorrow for Region Nine.
The first batch for 2012 was sent off last weekend, also to Region Nine.
This second batch will see residents from Fly Hill, Kwatatta, Moco Moco, Nappi, Quarrie, Parishara and Semonie, benefitting from electricity, many, for the first time.
Speaking to the media at the storage bond at Sophia Exhibition Center, Prime Minister Hinds said that after much consideration, it was recognised that the 65 -watt photovoltaic systems provide a much more practical way of ensuring that hinterland residents get access to electricity.
This will see each home getting about 12 to 15 kilowatt hours of electricity, which would be enough to supply basic lighting.
Late last year, Government through the Office of the Prime Minister in collaboration with the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, conducted a programme, whereby two persons from every village were trained in installation and maintenance of the systems.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds inspecting the panels and other accessories before being sent off to Region Nine
Additionally, each village will be given two kits with the necessary tools needed for installation and servicing; one for each of the persons that were trained. Moreover, an officer from the Hinterland Electrification Unit which was established under the Office of the Prime Minister will visit each village at least twice per year to ensure that home systems are operational.
Meanwhile, Annie Ramnarine, an accountant attached to the Hinterland Electrification Unit explained that each household will be expected to pay $500 per month as part of a more comprehensive plan which will be used to fund further maintenance, replacement and/or expansion.
The contract for the execution of this programme was awarded to a Danish company, which procured most of the equipment from China.
The Hinterland Electrification Programme entails the procurement of 11,000 home systems for 184 villages, which will provide power for lighting, operation of small household appliances such as sewing machines and radios. Thus far, about 1,888 have already been dispatched to various hinterland villages.
Implementation of this programme is linked to the much touted Amaila Falls Hydropower project which is a major component of the LCDS to transform the country’s economy and eliminate the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and rising fuel prices for electricity generation.
Aishalton residents who participated in the training session with technicians from the Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister
Assessment of the pilot programme which concluded in 2010 revealed that the solar systems helped to improve the quality of life in many households, with increases in appliances owned, increased reading, completion of school assignments and listening to educational programmes. Communities also saw marked increase in economic activities such as sewing, knitting and cake making.
Each package to be distributed includes a Photo-Voltaic Panel, a 6A-12V DC charge controller, a 67 Ah -12V deep cycle gelled electrolyte battery fitted with suitable terminals, sunlight resistant cable, 10 A, 1-pole DC circuit breaker, 9W-12VDC compact fluorescent lamps and a DC lightning arrester, with a unit cost of US$241.
This programme complements the US $28.2M Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP), which saw 1,750 hinterland homes being illuminated via solar power during 2002 to 2010.