Sudan: Solar Energy in Use in Sudan

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000314 SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV ECON EAGR ENRG SU SUBJECT: Sudan: Solar Energy in Use in Sudan ¶1. (U) Summary: During his February 14-17 visit to Sudan, Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Florida) met with Dr. Migdam Elsheikh Abdelgani, Director of the National Centre for Research (NCR) in Khartoum to talk about the work of its 13 research institutes and its premier Renewable Energy Institute (REI.) The REI has produced green alternatives to chemicals used in agriculture and developed renewable building materials. Congressman Grayson also met on February 15 with Professor Taib Idriss, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology who said that the Government of National Unity (GoNU) has provided 1.8 million rural residents with solar lights and batteries. The DCM hosted a dinner for the Congressman during which he met representatives of International Non-Governmental Organizations to discuss their progress and challenges in doing humanitarian work in Sudan. In Darfur, Congressman Grayson observed World Food Program operations and saw, first-hand, how solar energy and biomass are being incorporated to improve living conditions for IDPs in the camps. End Summary -------------- -------------- NCR Develops Solar, Eco-Friendly Solutions -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) U.S. Representative Alan Grayson visited Sudan from February 14-17 to investigate the use of renewable technology and solar energy. During the Congressman's February 15 visit to the National Centre for Research (NCR),a division of the Ministry of Science and Technology whose mandate is to apply scientific research to the country's social and economic development, Dr. Migdam Elsheikh Abdelgani, Director, told Grayson that the Centre's 13 institutes conduct research in a wide range of disciplines, including tropical medicine, genetic engineering, biotechnology and sustainable development. According to Abdelgani, the NCR has 238 researchers of which 28 percent are women. NCR scientists and officials prepare a five-year strategic plan identifying which projects to recommend for approval by the Government of National Unity (GNU). However, the Director said, NCR has no decision-making authority about which projects to work on, nor about how much to spend on each project. ¶3. (U) The establishment of the Renewable Energy Institute (REI) has been among the NCR's most notable achievements, said Abdelgani. REI produces photocells for use in solar energy projects, and developed alternatives to chemicals used in agriculture, replacing chemical-based pesticides with eco-friendly alternatives and bio fertilizers. The institute also developed techniques for constructing low cost buildings using local materials, resulting in savings on the transportation costs of importing building materials. Abdulghani said the REI has fabricated roofing made from local materials and built machines to make bricks for building projects. ¶4. (SBU) Congressman Grayson asked how the NCR determines if the GNU-approved projects have a positive impact on the public. Abdulghani said that the GNU conducts field tests and obtains feedback from the local community. If a local community identifies a problem, NCR will respond by assigning researchers to conduct studies and suggest solutions, he said. NCR's research findings are published in journals in English and in Arabic. Responding to Congressman Grayson's question on the NCR/REI's annual budget, the Director said the Ministry of Finance controls all funds, a primary reason why projects can take a long time to complete. He said that research is slowed further because the GNU does not provide incentives for private companies to conduct independent research. Congressman Grayson explained the U.S. model for applying for federal research grants as well as the decision-making process for approval. He emphasized that using expert panels to review and approve grant proposals helps to spur robust competition among universities and the private sector for funding. -------------- -------------- --- GNU Provides Solar Lights, Batteries to Rural Areas -------------- -------------- --- ¶5. (SBU) Congressman Grayson also met on February 15 with Professor Taib Idriss, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology. Idriss told the Congressman that Sudan, like Phoenix, Arizona, has more than 10 hours of sunlight per day and at 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 F) sustains the optimal conditions for the maximum use of solar energy. The use of solar panels can generate great savings in this environment, Idriss said. Fully 70 percent of Sudan's population of 40 million people live in its 300,000 villages, many of which are difficult to reach because roads are KHARTOUM 00000314 002 OF 002 impassable. The GNU has begun providing solar street lights, portable solar lamps, mobile charging units, and energy for the services sector to people in rural areas, and is reaching out to schools, clinics and religious institutions in villages with 100-500 families, with the goal of reaching 1.8 million residents with solar power. (Bio Note: Dr. Idris is an alumnus of the International Visitors Program in the mid 1990's. He also served as a coordinator for USAID projects from 1983-1990. End Bio Note.) -------------- -------------- - WFP to Develop Use of Biomass As Cooking Fuel -------------- -------------- - ¶6. (U) In Darfur on February 16, Congressman Grayson visited the World Food Program (WFP's) North Darfur facility. WFP representative, Ali Reza, said WFP plans to develop the use of biomass to help people in the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. By diversifying into biomass, WFP will promote the use of biomass as a fuel to replace wood. Women are often assaulted and raped when they go outside the camps to collect firewood for cooking; the use of biomass will reduce the need to leave the camps to collect fuel. In addition, the use of biomass will help improve waste management in the camps by encouraging the recycling of household waste and garbage. ¶7. (U) WFP officials demonstrated to Congressman Grayson a stove developed at the University of California-Berkeley that uses dried compost from food waste and other bio matter for fuel. Unlike solar cookers, the stoves can be used in much the same way as wood-burning stoves. WFP's Reza told Congressman Grayson that WFP has a pilot project in Kabkabia Town where it has distributed 5,000 Berkeley Stoves. The program has been in operation for only one month, Reza said, so impact studies are not yet available. However, the program is expected to improve the safety of women and to reduce deforestation resulting from the collection of firewood in the surrounding areas. The Congressman also visited Abu Shouk IDP Camp in El Fasher, to see solar cookers in use. ¶8. (U) At the WFP distribution center in El Fasher, North Darfur, the WFP provides USAID-purchased sorghum, vegetable oil, salt and other commodities to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). In describing WFP's food distribution system Reza said USAID partners manage the physical distribution of food by issuing ration cards as part of a strict registration and verification process. The food aid benefits 190,000 thousand children and 418 schools. Despite these efforts, Reza said that in North Darfur, there still exists an alarming rate of malnutrition among children under five years. -------------- -------------- Grayson Meets with Humanitarian Community -------------- -------------- ¶9. (U) DCM hosted Congressman Grayson February 15 for a dinner with representatives of non-governmental organizations active in providing humanitarian assistance in Darfur. The Congressman commended the representatives of the humanitarian organizations for their willingness to be on the front line of disaster relief, and recounted from personal experience a chance meeting with a child who told the Congressman U.S. food aid had saved his family from starvation. ¶10. (U) Congressman Grayson did not have the opportunity to clear this cable prior to departing post. ASQUINO