September 6, 2016
VIOLET MENGO
Lusaka
THE growing of one’s business is the dream of any entrepreneur, but usually, the limiting factor for many is capital.
For 33-year-old James Mukupo, a businessman of Mpanta village in Samfya district in Luapula Province, the opposite is reality.
Mr Mukupo always had the dream of expanding his business with enough savings, he was all set to grow his business but he was limited because the village did not have electricity.
With an already existing market to buy his goods, not having electricity restricted him with a variety of merchandise he could sell.
Luckily, the government through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), in 2013 built the first mini-solar plant in Mpanta village.
REA is a government institution established by an Act of Parliament No. 20 of 2003.
Its primary aim is to provide electricity infrastructure to the whole nation targeting rural communities as mandated by Government.
And Mr Mukupo did not have to change his location of his business for it to grow because electricity was taken to Mpanta village by REA.
The US$1.3 million 60kW mini-solar plant is providing electricity to 480 households, a school, market, rural health centre, churches and the harbour.
The primary use of the electricity generated at the mini-solar plant is for household and commercial lighting, refrigeration, cell phone charging and entertainment through radio and television.
Since the installation of the solar power plant in Mpanta, Mr Mukupo has been able to expand his business.
“My business has greatly expanded because of solar power. I am able to sell electronic gadgets such as DVD players and radios, I am also able to sell perishables which need refrigeration,” Mr Mukupa says.
Mr Mukupo is also able to fulfil the main purpose of establishing his business, which is to support his family since his profit has increased.
According to him, the installation of solar power in Mpata has improved his life. Through his business, he is able to support his family and pay school fees for his children.
With a business like his, earning a K15, 000 in a good month as profit is something that brings a smile on his face and this keeps him eager to develop even more.
Mr Mukupo is not the only entrepreneur in Mpanta village whose business is slowly expanding as a result of the provision of electricity by REA.
Demero Chola, 32, is another businessman. He is a father of five.
“We used to knock off as early as 17:00 hours for security reasons but not anymore. After the installation of solar power, we now knock off as late as 23:00 hours, making our businesses more profitable,” Mr Chola says.
The installation of the mini-solar plant to supply power to Mpanta village has not only cheered traders with large amounts of capital, even the smallest of entrepreneurs like Magarate Kalaba who sells tomatoes.
“In the past when business was difficult, I would only sell my tomatoes before sunset, but now with the provision of solar power, I am able to conduct my business for longer hours,” Ms Kalaba says.
These are some of the success stories from Mpanta village whose businesses are flourishing following the electrification of the area.
REA is committed to ensuring that communities in rural areas have access to electricity, a tool that helps improve productivity and people’s quality of life.
As evidenced from entrepreneurs of Mpanta village, REA envisages that through the provision of electricity, rural communities will be able to enhance their productivity and effectively contribute to national development.
REA corporate affairs officer Choolwe Kosamu says Mpanta is the first mini- grip project targeting solar.
Since REA started the implementation of rural electrification projects in 2006, it has done 928 solar projects countrywide.
Mr Kosamu says using the Rural Electrification Master plan (REMP) developed in conjunction with Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), the authority has been able to implement at least one project in each province per year using different technologies.
The project beneficiaries have been public institutions such as schools, rural health centres, local courts and other government institutions. Chiefs’ palaces, business centres, farm blocks and private households are other beneficiaries.
Renewable energy sources such as solar are comparatively cost effective, efficient and environmentally friendly.
In many rural areas, the provision of these energy sources has contributed to reducing the pressure on natural forests on which rural populations heavily rely for their energy requirements.
The Mpanta solar mini grid, which was financed with the support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), was commissioned in September 2015.
“The business model of managing the plant is a community-based model. A local co-operative called Kafita Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited has been engaged through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be responsible for the management of the mini- solar power grid,” Mr Kosamu says.
The main focus of the electrification programme is to target public facilities, commercial undertakings and their surrounding areas.
The electrification programme will go on until all rural areas in Zambia have been electrified by either the extension of the national grid or other forms of energy like solar between now and 2030.
VIOLET MENGO
Lusaka
For 33-year-old James Mukupo, a businessman of Mpanta village in Samfya district in Luapula Province, the opposite is reality.
Mr Mukupo always had the dream of expanding his business with enough savings, he was all set to grow his business but he was limited because the village did not have electricity.
With an already existing market to buy his goods, not having electricity restricted him with a variety of merchandise he could sell.
Luckily, the government through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), in 2013 built the first mini-solar plant in Mpanta village.
REA is a government institution established by an Act of Parliament No. 20 of 2003.
Its primary aim is to provide electricity infrastructure to the whole nation targeting rural communities as mandated by Government.
And Mr Mukupo did not have to change his location of his business for it to grow because electricity was taken to Mpanta village by REA.
The US$1.3 million 60kW mini-solar plant is providing electricity to 480 households, a school, market, rural health centre, churches and the harbour.
The primary use of the electricity generated at the mini-solar plant is for household and commercial lighting, refrigeration, cell phone charging and entertainment through radio and television.
Since the installation of the solar power plant in Mpanta, Mr Mukupo has been able to expand his business.
“My business has greatly expanded because of solar power. I am able to sell electronic gadgets such as DVD players and radios, I am also able to sell perishables which need refrigeration,” Mr Mukupa says.
Mr Mukupo is also able to fulfil the main purpose of establishing his business, which is to support his family since his profit has increased.
According to him, the installation of solar power in Mpata has improved his life. Through his business, he is able to support his family and pay school fees for his children.
With a business like his, earning a K15, 000 in a good month as profit is something that brings a smile on his face and this keeps him eager to develop even more.
Mr Mukupo is not the only entrepreneur in Mpanta village whose business is slowly expanding as a result of the provision of electricity by REA.
Demero Chola, 32, is another businessman. He is a father of five.
“We used to knock off as early as 17:00 hours for security reasons but not anymore. After the installation of solar power, we now knock off as late as 23:00 hours, making our businesses more profitable,” Mr Chola says.
The installation of the mini-solar plant to supply power to Mpanta village has not only cheered traders with large amounts of capital, even the smallest of entrepreneurs like Magarate Kalaba who sells tomatoes.
“In the past when business was difficult, I would only sell my tomatoes before sunset, but now with the provision of solar power, I am able to conduct my business for longer hours,” Ms Kalaba says.
These are some of the success stories from Mpanta village whose businesses are flourishing following the electrification of the area.
REA is committed to ensuring that communities in rural areas have access to electricity, a tool that helps improve productivity and people’s quality of life.
As evidenced from entrepreneurs of Mpanta village, REA envisages that through the provision of electricity, rural communities will be able to enhance their productivity and effectively contribute to national development.
REA corporate affairs officer Choolwe Kosamu says Mpanta is the first mini- grip project targeting solar.
Since REA started the implementation of rural electrification projects in 2006, it has done 928 solar projects countrywide.
Mr Kosamu says using the Rural Electrification Master plan (REMP) developed in conjunction with Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), the authority has been able to implement at least one project in each province per year using different technologies.
The project beneficiaries have been public institutions such as schools, rural health centres, local courts and other government institutions. Chiefs’ palaces, business centres, farm blocks and private households are other beneficiaries.
Renewable energy sources such as solar are comparatively cost effective, efficient and environmentally friendly.
In many rural areas, the provision of these energy sources has contributed to reducing the pressure on natural forests on which rural populations heavily rely for their energy requirements.
The Mpanta solar mini grid, which was financed with the support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), was commissioned in September 2015.
“The business model of managing the plant is a community-based model. A local co-operative called Kafita Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited has been engaged through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be responsible for the management of the mini- solar power grid,” Mr Kosamu says.
The main focus of the electrification programme is to target public facilities, commercial undertakings and their surrounding areas.
The electrification programme will go on until all rural areas in Zambia have been electrified by either the extension of the national grid or other forms of energy like solar between now and 2030.
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