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Mutanda Mini-hydro Power Generation and Distribution Project, Zambia
[top] [end]Project summary[top] [end]LocationMutanda Mini-hydro Power Generation and Distribution Project is situated in the North Western Province of Zambia, at the Mutanda Evangelical Centre. The location is in a high rainfall area with annual average precipitation of more than 800mm.The Mutanda Evangelical Centre, which consists of 82 households, a health centre, a school and an irrigation system, is at least 35Km from the available diesel generated electricity in Solwezi town, which is also the nearest business district to the evangelical centre. The Mutanda Project was the first mini-hydro project to be undertaken by the Technical Development and Advisory Unit (TDAU) of University of Zambia (UNZA), in Zambia. The Mutanda project aimed to demonstrate the viability of mini-hydro projects in small communities which have perennial rivers. [top] [end]Key statistics
[top] [end]Contact detailsMutanda Evangelical Centre,P.O BOX 110079, SOLWEZI, ZAMBIA. E-mail: mkocher@... Technology Development and Advisory Unit (TDAU) University of Zambia (UNZA), P.O BOX 32379, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA. Tel: +260 1 293869 Fax: +260 1 294777 E-mail: TDAU@... [top] [end]Replication potentialThe potential for replication is high especially in areas where there are perennial rivers with relatively high flow rates.[top] [end]FundingThe total cost of the turbine was US$7 500. The cost of the generator was US$3 000 and was funded by the Evangelische Zentralstelle fuew Entwicklungshilfe (EZE), a German church organisation. The total cost of the project was US$30 000 and the balance was raised by the Mutanda Evangelical Centre.[top] [end]BackgroundIn the early 1990's TDAU set up a water turbine for power generation at the Mutanda Evangelical Centre to supply electricity to the centre and surrounding areas. Mutanda Centre situated 35Km west of Solwezi Town has a boarding secondary school, primary school, a hospital, a large farm, staff houses and is surrounded by a large settlement. The village had no reliable and renewable source of energy for water pumping and grinding their maize (staple food). The Mutanda Evangelical Centre therefore started looking at ways and means of attending to the social and economic needs of the village and this led to the project idea of a mini hydro power station.[top] [end]Project descriptionThe main purpose of the project was to provide motorised food processing through the mill and to supply water. However, because of the design of the turbine, whereby all the equipment is connected on the same shaft, the scope of the use of the electricity was widened. The Mutanda Mini-hydro power generation project was to use the water from the Mapunga River, the same river initially diverted into a canal to drive the 2.50kW generator. TDAU designed, produced and installed the turbine. The construction of the canal required manual removal of stones in the area and local people, mobilised from the church, carried out civil works.[top] [end]Cost of serviceEvery household pays a fixed tariff of US$1.05 per month for the supply of electricity. Grinding of a kilogramme of maize at the hammer mill costs USc1.22, but it is also possible to pay in kind; for example to pay with part of the maize.[top] [end]MaintenanceThe maintenance costs consist mainly of purchase of lubricants and replacement of bearings. The maintenance costs are estimated to be around US$1, 300 per year. The design of the plant is simple and the local fitters and electricians handle all the maintenance works. The incomes from the tariffs and the processing fee from the mill are adequate to cover all maintenance costs.[top] [end]Delivery structureThe project idea was conceived and developed by the Mutanda Evangelical Centre and TDAU was contracted to manufacture and install the equipment. The plant was handed over to Mutanda Evangelical Centre for day to day running.[top] [end]Other service infrastructure and needsThe plant generates 2.5kW which is only enough to light an average of three electric bulbs in each homestead. All the 82 homesteads in the community have access to the generated electricity. There is need to increase the generation capacity of the Mutanda Mini Hydropower plant. The planned increase in capacity will involve expanding from the current 2.5kW to 200kW. The expansion project has not yet taken place due to the lack of funding.[top] [end]Implementation progressThe entire project took one year to finish due to the civil works, which had to be done manually, and the construction of the transmission lines, which was also done by the local people.[top] [end]Project management[top] [end]Implementation organisationsTDAU: Design and construction of the turbine, generators, hammer mill and transmission linesMutanda Evangelical Centre: The day to day running and management of the Mutanda Electricity Utility company. [top] [end]Local project personnelMr. Gideon Kajoba is in charge of the day to day running of the Mutanda Center, which includes the Mini-hydro Station, hammer-mill and the farm.[top] [end]Project management team (TDAU)Dr.M.J.Tambatamba: Project Manger, Mr.M.S. Mwanza: Senior Projects Engineer, Mr.M.Imasiku: Project Engineer, Mr.L. Chisesa: Project Engineer.[top] [end]Lessons learnt[top] [end]SocialEnd-user acceptability of project process. The mill has now been operating for the last nine years without a major breakdown. 60 to 100 people come to the mill every day, even though there are only 50 households in the area. People come to the mill from a radius of 12 to 15 km. Although this is not the only mill around, it is the only one providing reliable and quality service at a reasonable charge. The mill has served a lot of time for women who used to pound the maize themselves. The population of the community has grown from 50 households at the commissioning of the project to over 80 as at the year 2001.End-user perception of service. The local people, especially the women, have appreciated the hammer mill and the water supply system because they now have more time to attend to the social, cultural and economic needs. The people would wish to have more electric power so that they could use other domestic appliances such as radios, electric cookers and pressing irons. Connection fee. No installation fee was charged. Theft. There hasn't been any case of theft considering the fact that the type of equipment that has been installed can not be easily moved and that most of the plant is enclosed in a building. [top] [end]EconomicAffordability. The average income of the people of Mutanda is about US$80 per month which is relatively high compared to other rural areas. This can be explained by the fact that most of the residents are teachers and nurses who are also on part time small scale farmers and get income from farm produce sales. As a result of this, they can easily afford to pay for the service compared to other poorer rural areas.Payment history. The tariff is still at US$ 1.04 and all the customers manage to pay [top] [end]TechnicalIntake Weir: The mini hydro system starts operating at the intake weir, where part of the water is diverted from the main river into the canal. The canal has remained intact and the only maintenance carried out is cleaning.Turbine: The turbine which is an impulse turbine of the cross flow type has been operating without major problems so far. Compressor, Generator and Hammer mill: The compressor, generator and hammer mill have all been operating without major problems. Other Accessories: The electrical components such as circuit breakers and fuses have replaced after the elapse of their useful lives. Replacements are purchased from Solwezi or the Copperbelt. [top] [end]Ecological / environmentalThe Mapunga River is not affected by the mini hydro plant because the amount of water used is very small. Only a small part of the water flow is diverted even at the end the dry season and as a result the natural environment of the river has been preserved.[top] [end]Implementation lessonsCommunity participation from the inception of the project idea contributes to the success of the project.It is important to utilise appropriate technology for rural communities and ensure that technology transfer ensures project sustainability. TDAU has never been called to go to Mutanda to repair the plant, since the local people attend to all the faults. Thus real technology transfer took place between TDAU and the Mutanda community. It is important to find a way of absorbing the initial capital of projects such as the mini hydro project. The contribution from the missionaries helped to stabilise the financial status of the project. Actually the plant is running at a profit as can be deduced from the accounts of 2001 below: Table 1: Mutanda accounts brief for 2001
[top] [end]References and DocumentationDr. M. J. Tambataba, 2001. A preinvestment study on the establishment of the Mutanda Mini-Hydro Power Generation and Distribution Project, prepared for Technology Development and Advisory Unit and Mutanda Evangelical Centre Mutanda Mini-hydro Power Generation and Distribution Project Profile | |||||||||||||||||||
 Page created:
06 June 2004; Last edited:
06 June 2004; Version: 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
Pagename: MutandaMini-hydroMini-gridZambia @HEDON: HEBA | |||||||||||||||||||
