JATROPHA VILLAGE POWER IN GARALO MALI A NEW DIMENSION FOR PEOPLE, PLANET AND PROFIT ACTIONS

The project is to setup and run an integrated village electricity production and distribution system that is fuelled with bio-oil from Jatropha plantations around the village, on designated land. The systems also include the seed
to oil conversion press and filtration installations. The installed capacity of the electric power system is 300 KW and this serves 400 connections of which most are village household connections. Productive uses are a crucial aspect of the project, with local small enterprises and community services included, such as metal workshops, carpenters workshops, boutiques, cold stores, restaurants, school lighting, health post lighting etc. This means the electricity available will not
just provide high quality residential services, but will stimulate the local economy. It will also put more disposable income in the pockets of the local people who will grow and sell the Jatropha seed for the project, increasing purchasing power of the families in and around the village. In total 10.000 people are expected to benefit from this system. In this paper an analysis will be given on the project, why it has been funded and is being considered a template for many similar projects. The project has started in September 2006 and the installation will be completed at the beginning of summer 2007. A long period of preparation was necessary to obtain sufficient financial means. Fortunately, these were found. This project can be seen as a first step of this Dutch Foundation to a large scale, decentralised electrification of Mali.

Keywords: developing countries, biofuels, electricity production.