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February 2009 - Newsletter of the North West Development Trust Zengamina Hydro Electric Project, Rapids HYDRO PROGRESS recognised that 24 hour power would 30 students with plans to increase this Many of our readers will know that the have a significant influence on the number. In the short term this results NWZDT has recently constructed a running of the hospital but the in increased training pressures in the small hydroelectric scheme in the developments have been much faster hospital but should eventually result in Kalene area of Zambia. As a and greater than anticipated. Patients a flow of qualified nurses to staff the consequence the project has already come from hundreds of miles away in hospital. There are also plans to build started to provide cheap, clean and Zambia, Congo and Angola as the a new theatre block as part of the sustainable power to the local area of “bush telegraph” has spread the word ongoing development of Kalene Ikelene and Nyakaseya. Kalene Mission Hospital Mission Hospital has been connected up for some time as will the local TERMITES schools, clinics and orphanages over The high voltage (33kV) transmission the next few months thereby removing powerline construction was the main their dependence on diesel emphasis of this past year. However generation. In addition The Trust there was a potentially serious anticipates good opportunities for setback in the summer when it was Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) discovered (by “accident”, literally) development with up to 1000 rural that the powerline poles were households being provided with power substandard. The problem started on in the first phase of development. The the 13th of March when Enoch (one of provision of power will also reduce the Laboratory staff who, with 24 hour power amd the the linesmen) had a pole collapse dependency on expatriate income for new donated equipment, are able to do so much under him as he was climbing it to the operation of Kalene Hospital and more to help patients. install insulators. Enoch wasn't hurt other institutions at Kalene, and that Kalene hospital can treat but further inspection revealed that promises to be an impetus for general everyone. The interesting variety of many of the poles were badly development in the local area. In short clinical cases that this produces has damaged (eaten by termites – the the project will create the basis of a attracted visiting Zambian and self-sustaining, developing rural international medical students as well economy. Zengamina Power Limited as more visiting medical specialists. has been registered as a commercial All this increases the work load on the company in Zambia to administer the staff who are there full time and who hydro utility on behalf of the Trust. must be commended for all the work they do. If you believe you can help KALENE HOSPITAL them in any way please contact As mentioned, Kalene Hospital and Kalene via their web site Mission have now had a full 18 (www.kalenehospital.com). There is months of electricity supply, only always a need for professional people interrupted once by a lightning strike. to help, support, provide vacation Thankfully that incident resulted only relief and provide the blessings of in a computer being damaged. Until Christian fellowship. Termite eaten powerline poles. we are able to obtain a satisfactory bane of Africa) due to improper lightning protection system - the one In addition, 24 hour power has been a treatment. None of the wooden poles in place was thought capable of factor in the re-opening of the Nursing had been adequately pre-treated by withstanding the rigours of an African School that was originally founded the suppliers in spite of assurances thunderstorm - we have had to resort there by Hilda Wadsworth but had to that they had a lifespan of 30 odd to shutting the turbine down when a close some years ago. There are now years!! The widespread destructive storm comes close. It is too close power of termites is immense and when there is less than two seconds often defies belief. between the flash of lightning and the clap of thunder. To those who have So began a hunt for a better method not witnessed them, African wet of protection – thankfully there is the season storms and the associated Internet! After much research we thunder and lightning are indeed found a good product called a “field spectacular. liner” designed to shield the butt of the pole. Unfortunately the cost was The hospital has benefited from 24 prohibitive. Meanwhile, Charlie Rea hour power for less cost than they (Project Engineer) was working with previously paid for a limited 3 hours of the supplier to get the poles replaced, power a day from a noisy, smoky, Nursing Tutors in the office of the re-opened the end result being an inspection by thirsty diesel generator! It was always Kalene Nursing School. the company's representative, the Brian Woodcock in the Kalene substation which The pole handling "gismo" in action. he prepared for the re-wiring of the hospital. 1000kW main transformer at the turbine house substation. This transformer was ordered from India The final result in the ground. along with a shipment of smaller feverish removal of 200 poles to transformers. By the time they arrived enable the rejects to be shipped to the they were not late, just early for the Copperbelt for re-treatment. When the next hydro project! When the new replacement poles arrived there was transformer was installed the CEC some serious head scratching over (Copperbelt Energy Corporation) team how to better protect them this time. volunteered to come up and test the Eventually we settled on treating each new equipment for which we are pole with insecticide in an absorbent extremely grateful. layer with a tough plastic sleeve fitted James Atkinson (UK), another Painting the pole with creosote. over that. Finally a metal shield would protect the upper end of the sleeve. A electrical engineer, came later and “gismo” was designed and built to lift carried out a survey for the second and support the poles as they were phase of high voltage power being worked on. Even though the transmission. This second phase of process was a messy one (the construction will carry the high voltage insecticide is mixed with creosote) the to other outlying villages in the linesmen were able to prepare a pole Ikelene, Nyilamba and Nyakaseya in 15 minutes. With that process districts right up to the Jimbe border learned, the next task was to replace crossing into Angola. During this the most demanding part of the line – construction period ‘single phase’ from the Zambezi river to the main electricity will be supplied using road (about 6 km). It took some very SWER (Single Wire Earth Return) long days (until 3am one day) to do technology. Partners in New Zealand Wrapping the end of the pole in absorbant material but, aside from one night, we were and Australia have been extremely soaked in insecticide. able to keep the power on at Kalene helpful in training and in the possible Hospital. Thankfully many of the supply of materials for this part of the remaining damaged poles were project. The Zambian government salvaged for use elsewhere within the has been very supportive of the project. project with several visits from the Ministry of Energy, the Energy POWER TO THE PEOPLE Regulation Board and the Rural The end of 2008 saw the completion Electrification Authority. Permission of the first stage (18km) of the 35 km has been granted to operate the hydro high voltage supply to Ikelene and scheme and sell power to the public. Hillwood Farm / Sakeji School on the All income, of course, will be ploughed east side, and to Chief Nyakaseya’s back into the scheme to cover the not palace on the west side of the scheme. insubstantial running costs and maintenance costs and infrastructure Low voltage hardware items (cable, The final covering in a plastic sleeve. development of the area - this is in insulators, connectors, meters etc.) keeping with the NWZDT being a have been ordered for the distribution Trust and not a profit-making lines and will then be erected to allow commercial business. connections to the people who wish to have power for their businesses or THE BOARD homes. Priority will be given to the The Trust Board met in September chiefs, schools and clinics. Ikelene 2008 with several visiting engineers town will be the first area of from N.Ireland in attendance, concentrated effort. supporting the Trust with their expert advice and general encouragement. During the year we had a visit from Two Zambian engineers were our electrical engineer, Brian appointed to the Board – Humphrey Woodcock, from the UK who, along Mulela (CEC) and Mahaku Maloza Erecting the pole after completing the termite with George Banda (Zambian (ZESCO - Zambian Electricity Supply proofing. electrical engineer), installed the new Company) to bring the compliment of trading VERs (Verified Emissions simply because the hydro scheme is Zambians on the Board up to 4 full Reductions) that their client viewed in a very positive light by members. The Board resolved to purchased from the Trust. This trading Climate Care with excellent financial commit to efforts to enhance the brings a new concept of increased rewards. The hydro is seen as a super availability of power both to small revenue towards operational costs ‘green’ enterprise! industrial projects and to schools where educational facilities would be greatly improved. They also determined to continue active support for the fledgling hydro church; this is really what the work of the Trust is about - bringing the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to men and women as well as physical light to their homes. As a consequence the Trust has organised into four branches to concentrate on special spheres of activity though these remain intimately linked (see diagram).

GREEN POWER Climate Care also made a visit to the hydro complex to verify the carbon The organisational structure of the Trust.

My name is John Hagan and I am a had planned and instigated such a pro- they can achieve through effort. Not civil engineer by profession. My ca- ject and those who helped along the only did the project provide employ- reer was in river engineering with the way. ment for many during the construction Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland, lat- phase but there is now the realisation terly in an executive role. I had heard It was clear that from the outset the vis- that the power generated will be the much about the Zengamina Hydro Elec- ion was to do much more than provide stimulus for further development with- tric Project in North West Zambia, and power for Kalene Mission Hospital and in the community, with improved living with my background was interested to other Christian-run facilities. This was conditions in an area where the level know more. Following retirement earli- always a case of Christians taking the of unemployment is obviously very er in 2008 I received an invitation to vis- lead on a project that would benefit high. it the project which I gratefully the wider community. To deliver the accepted and spent two weeks in Zam- construction of such an ambitious pro- During the visit I had the privilege of bia in September. ject, using predominantly local un- being present at the annual meeting of skilled labour with minimal recourse to trustees of the NWZDT. This all-day engineering plant and equipment, has event was memorable in many ways. been truly amazing. The quality of It was such a pleasure to meet outside workmanship is of a very high order in the shade on a Zambian spring day, right down to the stone finished walls adjacent to the tailrace from the power and generator house. I can appreci- generating plant and in earshot of the ate that the local people feel a sense water tumbling down the rapids. The of ownership of the facility having poured time and energy into its con- struction. The experience has no doubt given many confidence in what

John beside the hydro scheme canal that he had only ever seen pictures of. My main purpose was to gain an under- standing and appreciation of what was being accomplished on this project, be- ing open to help in any way that the The turbine house and tail race seen from the Lord might lead. Before travelling I sandy beach beside the Zambezi, where the Trust's AGM was held. had received copies of NWZDT News, had checked the website and viewed meeting commenced with a time of the excellent DVD recently produced. thanksgiving and very practical prayer. While these provided me with good un- Tisa, a local Christian, brought encour- derstanding of the project, they could agement from God’s Word reminding not adequately convey the on-the- us that God has purposes and we ground scale of the project or the re- have the privilege of being part of moteness of the area in which construc- God’s plans that deliver His purposes, tion has taken place. My immediate and it is our responsibility to act in reaction was to applaud the vision, faith. As I listened to discussion faith and commitment of those who Zambians using and learning skills rewiring the throughout the day I recognised that powerhouse substation. of possible development opportunities was discussed and specific actions were determined. Lunch was an excel- lent barbecue, known locally as a braai, down on ‘the beach’ of the Zambezi near the foot of the rapids, or- ganised by Alex McConachie with his trademark attention to detail. It is so encouraging that during the con- struction phase some of the workers and their families came to faith in the Lord partly through the witness of a John with Charlie Rea and Silver, the pastor of Zambian evangelist employed on the Proof that John was at Jimbe on the Angolan the new church. site. This has led to the establish- border, which is very eager to have electricity, a ment of a small church – the Hydro desire that the Trust hopes to be able to meet. Church. Their current facilities are abling power to be transmitted to very basic but it was a real blessing to wider communities. On-going finan- meet with this group on Sunday morn- cial, practical and prayerful support is ing and hear their great singing and wit- required and my prayer is that God ness their enthusiasm for the Lord. It may be truly glorified as the full poten- was also good to witness their joy tial of what is being provided is real- when Charlie Rea was able to share ised. with them that God had heard their prayers and that provision had been I would take this opportunity to thank made for a proper church building. Peter & Isla Gill, Alex & Susan McCon- With gratefulness and excitement they achie, Ray Allen & Sam Phillips for showed the visitors the site chosen for the opportunity to travel with them and Charlie with Silver addressing the congregation. their new church. to share in their experience of ‘return to Kalene’ a place that has been very One afternoon Sam Phillips and I much in their hearts in recent years. headed to the town of Jimbe on the An- Also thanks to Charlie and Daniel Rea golan border. The Zambian Immigra- for the challenge and the camaraderie tion Officer, having satisfied himself -- the Sunday morning ascent of that we were legitimate, took a break Kalene Hill was memorable. from dealing with a workload of one vehicle every three days, and accom- panied us to meet his Angolan counter- parts. The conversation was all about The church building. Zengamina power and the hope that here was a group of multi-skilled, talen- transmission would include Jimbe. ted people from different nationalities This illustrated the wide interest in the and backgrounds assembled by God project throughout the area. What has to deliver this project. The considera- been achieved here under God has tions may have related to electrical been massive – the obvious benefits power but for me it was clear that of uninterrupted power supply at there was a much greater power at Kalene Hospital under phase 1 being work! Progress to date was reviewed, but the start. However the project is current issues were addressed, scope not yet finished and challenges re- for future community benefit in terms main in implementing phase 2 en- Capturing the dawn from the top of Kalene hill.

Trustees Humphrey Mulela North West Zambia Development Trust Peter Gill Makaku Maloza Box 160010 Daniel Rea Charlie Rea Janice Sakwanda Ben Lewis North West Province Les White Zambia Gordon McKillop For further information please Charles Sakanya visit our web site Registered Charity in Zambia The North West Zambia Development Trust is a registered charity in Zambia. In carrying out its work it cooperates closely with the following organisations as all these agencies seek to carry out the Lord's great commission, demonstrating His compassion and with good stewardship of all that He has entrusted us. If you would like to support the Trust in its work please contact any of these agencies or one of the Trustees. Echoes of Service CMML Inc. MSC Canada Medical Missionary News Global Connections in 124 Wells Road P.O. Box 13 509-3950 14th Avenue Unit 1 Mission Bath Spring Lake Markham Victory Close P O Box 744 England NJ 07762-0013 Ontario Fulmar Way Palmerston North BA2 3AH USA L3R 0A9 Wickford Business Park New Zealand +44 (0)1225 310893 +1 732 449 8880 Canada Wickford +64 (0)6 357 8388 www.echoes.org.uk www.cmmlusa.org +1 905 947 0468 England www.gcim.org.nz www.msc.on.ca SS11 8YW +44 (0)1268 765266 www.mmncontainers.com