Mali-Folkecenter for Renewable Energy Opened

The Danish Folkecenter for Renewable Energy Opened its Representation in Africa in June, 1999 in Mali.

Sustainable development around the world, particularly in developing countries, is one of the priorities of the Danish Folkecenter, a member of INFORSE. Within this framework, the Folkecenter was invited by the President of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konare, to participate in the rural development project for promotion of renewable energy and for sustainable management of natural resources. As a result of the positive discussion with the President and the high level Malian authorities during the visit, the President sent a request to the Director of the Folkecenter, Preben Maegaard, to open their representation in Mali.

The Energy Minister of Mali (right) and the Director of the Danish Folkecenter met to discuss the new Folkecenter in Mali.

The activities of the Mali-Folkecenter are expected to include:

· Supply clean water to people, animals, and irrigation by installing PV pumps.

· Provide electricity to clinics in the rural areas for refrigeration of medicine for sterilisation, and for light by installation of PV panels.

· Electrifying schools by installing PV panels, so that adult people, particularly women, can go to school in the evening. This will increase the literacy rate in these countries (today in Mali it is less than 30%, about 15% for women). In this way, the standard of living of the people in the rural areas will be improved.

· Training rural technicians in renewable-energy technologies and in maintaining equipment in these areas.

· Implement various information and training programs within the field of renewable energy and environmental protection, aimed at the university and technical schools.

· Promote transfer of technology initiating contact between small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) working in renewable energy and Danish SMEs.

· Fight against desertification by building stoves for healthy cooking (without smoke) and for wood saving that will protect the forest and biodiversity. Introduction of household biogas plants, enabling women to cook with the methane from biogas and to have compost for their garden after anaerobic fermentation of the animal manure in the digester.

· Elaboration of national energy policies and programs.

Funding

Presently, the Mali-Folkecenter is financed by the Danish Folkecenter. The Folkecenters are looking for funds to implement the projects and plan to organise contacts to other development organisations and NGOs for realisation of the projects.

For further information please contact:

- Mali Folkecenter: Ibrahim Togola,
Ph: +223-2006 17, fax: +223-200618,
e-mail: mali@folkecenter.dk.

- Denmark Folkecenter: Jane Kruse,
Kammersgaardsvej 16, Sdr. Ydby,
DK-7760 Hurup, Thy, Denmark.
Ph: +45 97956600, fax: +45 97956565,
e-mail: energy@folkecenter.dk,
http://www.folkecenter.dk.