Massive solar project targets 88 villages (Botswana)

http://www.mmegi.bw/2006/March/Wednesday8/927938566330.html

A massive solar-based rural electrification of at least 88 villages is expected to be rolled out countrywide mid this year. Finance Minister Baledzi Gaolathe announced the P34 million National Rural Photovoltaic Electrification Programme during the 2005-2006 budget. He noted that the aim of the project is to improve access to energy services in rural areas and promote the use of renewable energy.

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SolarPower Israel Supplies Solar Energy Systems to Ethiopia

http://www.SOLARBUZZ.COM/News/NewsAFPR23.htm

SolarPower Israel Ltd has won a contract to supply solar power systems for an Israeli system integrator, who installs GSM equipment in Ethiopia. SolarPower provides full system design, supply and support for 13 solar systems that will operate GSM base stations and repeaters.

A total of more than 80KWp of photovoltaic systems will be installed in rural locations, where there is no grid access, and mainly along highways.

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BP Solar Awarded Contract in Zambia

http://www.SOLARBUZZ.COM/News/NewsAFPR14.htm

One hundred and twenty one community-based organizations and 9 schools in rural areas of Zambia will soon be getting BP Solar panels to generate electricity for lighting, radio, television and refrigeration.

The panels will be supplied by Apex-BP Solar, a subsidiary of BP France, which has been awarded a contract through its distributor Electrical Maintenance Lusaka Limited (EML) by Zambia Social Investment Fund. Apex-BP Solar will supply, the solar panels, EML will deliver and install the panels and also train their users in various schools and health centers in Zambia.

The project will produce a peak power of almost 250 kilowatts (kWp).

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and more...

www.uneprisoe.org/PVAfrica/PVExperienceAfrica.pdf

http://rael.berkeley.edu/aSikenya.html

....and some sad news for South Africa and nucular power...

Power woes won't be over for a while

South Africa and the Western Cape in particular face at least six more years of electricity shortages - because Eskom misread the country's economic future.

A government blunder is also to blame. It assumed it could attract private partners to build new power stations and therefore it prevented Eskom from expanding. No private partners came forward.

Damage by a loose bolt to a rotor at the Koeberg nuclear power generator has exposed the serious supply shortfall, resulting in continuing blackouts in the Western Cape.

Planners were horribly wrongThe cost to the South African economy has been at least R500-million, according to the South African Chamber of Business (Sacob).

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