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30

October
ENERGY ASSISTANCE ASBL: Electrification of a vocational training center, Mpongwe, Zambie
October 30, 2017 EA, Zambia

The foundation ‘GiveThe Children of MPongwe a Future’ (GCMF, see www.mpongwe.nl) has built the George Korsten Vocational Training Center in MPongwe. The centre enables local students to get a degree in organic farming, bricklaying or carpentry.

Once completed, the centre can host up to 500 students. GCMF called on Energy Assistance to assist in the design, planning and installation of the entire electricity system from the nearby Medium Voltage line up to the sockets and lighting in the building.

Throughout 2017, EA and GCMF made an inventory of the skills and a project plan was made which involved the EA volunteers, one subcontractor,  a senior electrician in Zambia, 6 local students and 20 local worksmen.

During this two-week mission mission, the EA volunteers and the local workforce finalized the connection to the Medium Voltage grid, commissioned the MV/LV transformer and equipped rooms with sockets, inside- and outside lighting.

Volunteers on the field : Marcel Didden , Steff De Coster and Paul Heremans

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28

November
PROJECT 308 KATAKO KOMBE (DR Congo)
November 28, 2016 Congo (DR), EA

Two volunteers of Energy Assistance accompanied by Rik Neirynk (Artsen zonder Vakantie) spent two weeks of their holidays to achieve this electrification project in Katako Kombe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Sankuru province).  The objective was to secure the supply of electricity for the operating room of the hospital with 4 kWp photovoltaic panels and storage batteries.
This region of central DRC is difficult to access. The equipment has been procured in Belgium and transported by cargo ship to Kinshasa.  From there, it had to travel 1,300 kilometers on the river and finally by truck.  The volunteers, after a long journey of 3 days (2 flights and 6 hours drive on tracks in the savannah and the rainforest), they arrived safely and ready to get to work.
Despite the usual technical difficulties and the adverse weather conditions (over 40°C during the day and storms in the evening) and thanks to the help of local technicians, the works have progressed at good pace.
After 8 days, the installation operates to the delight of the medical staff, the hospital patients and all the villagers.

Volunteers : Steff  De Coster (Cofely Fabricom),Jelle Christiaens (GEM ENGIE)

Project Leaders :Benoît Braeckman en Roland Rosseel (gepensioneerden Electrabel)

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15

September
Energy Assistance asbl : mission 436 Warang “Les Cajoutiers” – Senegal – September 2016
September 15, 2016 EA, Senegal

This project, in the proximity of M’Bour, about 90 km South of Dakar, consisted of the installation of a solar panel kit producing 2400 Wp. This installation produces and delivers electricity to a grammar school comprising no less than 650 pupils from the 1st to the 6th grade; with on top three classes for the deaf and mute.
21 classes, an administrative building, a kitchen, a sick ward, a library, a toilet block for boys and girls and living quarters for the guard, in other words, 46 light fixtures and various sockets that require power.
Also a night/security lighting and an automatic well pump was installed, both powered by the solar panel produced electricity.
Our three volunteers assisted by Sadio, a local volunteer, needed all their strength and energy to successfully complete this mission, which was quite challenging due to the monsoon season.

Volunteers : Freddy Arzée (retired Cofely Fabricom),Dominique Thomas (ORES), Oriano Vergnanini (ENGIE Electrabel)
Project Leader : Freddy Arzée

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27

August
Energy Assistance asbl : mission 408&462 La Flèche 1&2 – Belgium – August 2016
August 27, 2016 Belgium, EA

In 2016, we made our first project in Belgium in favor of a home for children of the judge located a few hundred meters away from the ENGIE Tower in Brussels.
A mission of consultancy service for the renewal of the high-voltage cabin of La Fleche, Queen Marie – Henriette children’s home in Brussels led to an economy of several dozen thousands Euros.
On the other hand, the installation of an IT-cabled network the last two Saturdays of August by the volunteers’ team allows a secure management of critical data on children.
The first one but unfortunately probably not the last project in our own country where the access to the energy can raise a problem.

Volunteers : Jacques Tilquin, Nicolas Coppée, Steve Begasse, Olivier De Ridder(ENGIE Cofely Services), Olivier Debaets (Sibelga), José Béroudia (ORES)
Project Leader : Jacques Tilquin

 

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26

August
Energy Assistance asbl : mission 425 Ulaanbaatar 2 – Mongolia – August 2016
August 26, 2016 EA, Mongolia

In 2015, Energy Assistance asbl-vzw and ENGIE Asia Pacific worked together to renovate the electrical installation of a school that welcomes visually impaired children in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
This year, a second project concerned the hearing impaired children school. The opportunity for two Energy Assistance volunteers, Jean-Paul Vanherck (Technilift – ENGIE Cofey subsidiary) and Amy Li Jing (ENGIE China) to work at the renovation of the electrical installation. The works included the installation of new electrical boards, cabling, earthing & some lighting. A team of three local volunteers of Ulaanbaatar coordinated by Myagmar Erdenetugs “Tugsuu” (ENGIE Mongolia) has also contributed to the success of this project.
The electrical renovation was urgent as the school set up in the year’s 80 was facing to safety issues.
As last year, part the financing of the project was covered by the Energy Assistance 2015 greeting cards’ sales. This operation wouldn’t have been possible without the help of volunteers and the support of ENGIE Tractebel Engineering.
Thanks also to ENGIE Mongolia which help us in all the logistical Issues on place and especially to Tugsuu.

Volunteers : Jean-Paul Vanherck (Technilift – Subsidiary of ENGIE Cofely), Amy Li Jing (ENGIE China)

Project Leader : Miklos Almasy (ENGIE Africa)

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6

June
Energy Assistance asbl : mission 346 Newton – Sierra Leonia – June 2016
June 6, 2016 EA, Sierra Leone

In 2014 and 2015 an Ebola epidemic raged through Western Africa.  Sierra Leone was amongst the countries struck by the disaster.
Hence, the decision to put the application from “Eye for Salone” and “The Flemish Institute and Primary School” on hold and not to restart it before the end of 2015.
On their wish list : the installation of solar panels (3.0 kWc), batteries, a fridge and 2 computers for the new primary school and training centre in Waterloo, next door to the “Amputee and War Wounded Camp”, where victims of the 1991-2002 Civil War had found a home.
The project went very smoothly, thanks to the helpful locals, who welcomed and supported our two Energy Assistance volunteers during the entire duration.
Frank and Luc witness : “Beautiful weather, sometimes too hot, especially for the roof work.  Luckily we had a cool breeze from time to time.  The first computer lessons were really encouraging.The only fact they have to learn, is that the Belgian ‘Tricolours’ is not horizontal but vertical”.

A good start for the first intervention of EA in Sierra Leone.

Volunteers : Frank Anckaert (ENGIE Electrabel), Luc Brossé(ENGIE Electrabel)
Project Leader : Miklos Almasy (ENGIE Africa)

 

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19

May
Energy Assistance asbl – Mission 354 – Mivakpo – Togo – 2016, May 7th to 19th
May 19, 2016 EA, Togo

The mission managed by two Energy Assistance Volunteers had as target to electrify the day clinic of Mivakpo, situated about a hundred kilometers from the Lomé, the capital of Togo.

Energy Assistance’s action covered four different sites and aimed to secure and to improve the interventions of the medical staff (doctors, nurses) on the spot.

A full installation of 4 solar panels was put in place. The electricity produced by these panels, supplies the lighting in the delivery and the waiting room and foresees the sockets in the medical staff’s office of power. Another two panels are dedicated to powering the fridge, where vaccines and medications are kept.

At the same time, Energy Assistance volunteers, analysed the broken down panels of the orphanage and day clinic at Wli and the day clinic at Meduime. The team managed to replace the batteries and the faulty regulators.
During this stay, the efficient help and the lodging provided by Sylvia Roovers from the Joko Togo Association, were crucial to the succeeding of this multifold mission.

Volunteers : Jean Noel Marchand (Electrabel) and Roland Ronchain (Electrabel)

Project Leader : Willy Vanderelst (retired Laborelec)

 

 

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1

May
Energy Assistance asbl : mission 406 Mukumary – RD Congo – 2016, April 29th to May 15th
May 1, 2016 Congo (DR), EA

Installation of solar panels for the education and health centre.

Mukumary is situated in the middle of nowhere in the province of East Kasaï on the Equator. The nearest “hamlet” is a 5 hours’ drive away. After a 3-day journey, departing from Brussels, the Energy Assistance volunteers were able to start work.
This “twofold” mission, finished by mid-May 2016, consisted of the installation of two solar kits, each 1950 kW, to provide electricity to the education and health centre in Mukumary.

The kit – photovoltaic panels and interior installation – had been bought locally at Kinshasa and proved to be fully functional after having fixed some minor transport damages, due to the last part of the trip through the bush.
An issue frequently encountered during this type of missions is the mounting of the solar panels on the roof. Most of the times, the roof beams are in very bad condition or the roofsurface itself is very undulating. Luckily, the team could count on the help and dynamism of the villagers and in particular the abbot Luhumbu, to solve the issue.

Our volunteers were truly satisfied that they had been able to bring the “electricity fairy” to this isolated community, thus not only improving the education and health standards but also the day-to-day life of woman as they have light in their kitchen now.
The whole project will improve the living standards and enable better and easier community life.

Volunteers : Freddy Arzée (retired Engie Fabricom), Marcel Bavay (retired ORES)
Project Leader : Freddy Arzée

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5

January
Energy Assistance asbl : mission 308 Katako Kombe – RD Congo – January 2016
January 5, 2016 Congo (DR), EA

Two volunteers of Energy Assistance accompanied by Rik Neirynk (Artsen zonder Vakantie) spent two weeks of their holidays to achieve this electrification project in Katako Kombe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Sankuru province). The objective was to secure the supply of electricity for the operating room of the hospital with 4 kWp photovoltaic panels and storage batteries.

This region of central DRC is difficult to access. The equipment has been procured in Belgium and transported by cargo ship to Kinshasa.  From there, it had to travel 1,300 kilometers on the river and finally by truck. The volunteers, after a long journey of 3 days (2 flights and 6 hours drive on tracks in the savannah and the rainforest), they arrived safely and ready to get to work.
Despite the usual technical difficulties and the adverse weather conditions (over 40°C during the day and storms in the evening) and thanks to the help of local technicians, the works have progressed at good pace.

After 8 days, the installation operates to the delight of the medical staff, the hospital patients and all the villagers.

Volunteers : Steff  De Coster (Cofely Fabricom), Jelle Christiaens (GEM ENGIE)

Project Leaders : Benoît Braeckman en Roland Rosseel (gepensioneerden Electrabel)

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12

December
Energy Assistance asbl : mission 414 Tacloban (Leytes) – Philippines – December 2015
December 12, 2015 EA, The Philippines

Tacloban, a city on the Philippine island Leyte, situated in the middle of the Pacific. Just at the edge of a river, is the children’s village “SOS Children” located. A real village with a.o.a community house. In 2013, a typhoon tidal wave very heavily damaged most of the  buildings.

Bob Thielemans (ENGIE Benelux) was on site to help and support the local population. Very fast the idea of an electric project, to create a safe place and protect the children during typhoons and floods, arose. To start with, a solid community house was built.

As the electricity network is frequently out of order during typhoons, a battery operated emergency installation and 16 photovoltaic panels of 250 Wp were installed. This mission was realised in December 2015 with the assistance of Rodolfo Mendiola, Jr (SOS Children Village Philippines) en Gabriel Guariño (on-job training)

This installation provides electricity for up to 2 days for the lighting, two refrigerators, a hydrophone pump, an emergency radio-transmitter and several small electrical devices.

Volunteers : Jos Govaert (ENGIE Electrabel), Jason Fulgencio (ENGIE Cofely Philippines)
Project Leader : Jos Govaert (ENGIE Electrabel)

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