Context and objective
The villages in the rural commune of Dankassari, and more generally in the communes of the Dogondoutchi department, lack access to electricity supply, from the national network provider (Nigelec), however, their needs keep growing. The existing equipment consists mainly of generating sets and some cases solar panels.
The goal of the project is to develop power equipment progressively, according to priorities on the one hand, and financial supply on the other hand. Needs are met through systems that are accessible to local technicians, to guarantee better maintenance.
Priorities
The project is to bring electricity supply to each service of the Dankassari communal center. The requirements of the village are carefully identified, and some appliances have already been installed, namely a borehole fitted with a pump powered alternatively by PV cells and a generating set.
Priority for electricity supply has been conferred on the following facilities:
- Water: pump power for at least 15 hours per day (to guarantee 75m3 with 5m3/h flow), including 5 h nighttime pumping.
- Welfare Center: power for a refrigerator, a fan, medical equipment, and appliances, and nighttime lighting (3 h, and at will in emergencies).
- School: lighting 3 hours at night.
- Millet mills: power in day time.
- Electricity power for computer and multimedia appliances, and charging mobile phone batteries.
Priority actions
During the Mayor of Dankassari’s visit to Cesson-Sévigné in November 2013, the first two targets were identified, namely :
- Lighting, at a highly symbolic and prominent school for the commune, as it goes back 50 years (anniversary in 2014).
- Providing power to the Medical Center (lighting, refrigerator, current for computer) where the only doctor is based.
Two pieces of equipment were achieved in 2015.
Funding: participation of the Young People’s Town Council, of the Cesson Town authorities, Contribution under the Oudin Bill of the SDE 35, Participation of the Dankassari commune (installation)
Equipping Bawada Guida and Gofawa in energy
It entails installing two multifunctional platforms: one in the Gofawa village, with financing from Energy Syndicate 35 and the AESCD partners, and the second in Bawada Guida village, financed by the Nigerien State.
The Gofawa platform, devised by an entrepreneur from Dogondoutchi, is innovative insofar as it includes a generating set that starts the engine. It ensures more comfort and safety for the users who only need to push a button to get it started.
The innovative platform can make it possible to create a mini network in the village.
Equipment of a Maternity, Integrated Health Centers, and health huts
The entrepreneur Omarou Dan-Kounou, known as ODK, based in Niamey, was responsible for all of these installations. Since 2022, he has been accompanied by his deputy, a young person he trained locally for the installations.
In 2016-2017, three further Integrated Health Centers were equipped in Dankassari, in the Goubeye, Bawada Guida, and Rouda villages, thanks to new provisioning from Syndicat de l’Energie 35, the town of Cesson and AESCD’s funds.
By the end of 2018, the new Dankassari maternity ward, located close to the CSI, was fitted with solar energy thanks to further financing from the Energy Syndicate 35, from Cesson Town Council, and AESCD’s funds.
At the start of 2020, the integrated health center of Gofawa and the two health huts of Bawada Dagi and Dogontapki were equipped with solar energy thanks to new funding from the Syndical de l’Energie 35, the city of Cesson, the Brittany Region. and AESCD’s funds. An electrician from Dankassari was introduced to solar energy by observing the installation made by a person from Niamey.
Late in 2020, the Integrated Health Center in Karki Malam and two health cabins in Kaoura Lahama and Kamrey were allotted solar energy thanks to further funding from Energy 35 Syndicate, from Cesson Council to Brittany Region, and AESCD own funds. Recently, a further power line dedicated to charging cellular phones was installed at Kaoura Lahama, Kamrey, and Kari Malam.
Late in 2021, further actions are planned: endowing Saourin Kaihi, Douzou, and Kore Gabass with health cabins, and creating further lines to load cellular phones in the six other health cabins already fitted out with solar panels. A training session is planned for maintenance staff.
At the beginning of 2022, the equipment of the health structures of Saourin Kaihi, Douzou, and Kore Gabass was carried out, as well as the installation of an additional line to charge cell phones in five other health structures already equipped with panels, in Gofawa, Rouda Goumandey, Dogontapki, Bawada Guida and Goubey. Training of staff and COGES in the maintenance of the installations took place. At the end of 2022, the three health structures of Kadandame, Kolmey, and Lougou as well as the Goubey maternity hospital.
For 2023, the health centers in Fanna, Goho, and Maraké-Rogo for the commune of Dankassari, and the health center in Doumé for Dogondoutchi, are targeted for electrification. These centers have been visited to plan the work and prepare estimates. The AECIN and AESCD have indeed received funding from SDE35 for these projects.
In 2024, the program to install solar energy equipment at the three health facilities in Tani, Lillato and Baré-Bari, financed by the Syndicat Départemental de l’Énergie - SDE 35, was successfully completed. On each of the three sites, there are two solar panels, four batteries, a refrigerator, twelve LED lamps, three fans and all the components required for a successful installation. In each case, the sanitary line is supplemented by a line for external services, mainly phone recharging.
Since 2015, thanks to the support of SDE 35, the town of Cesson, the Brittany Region and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, all the health facilities in the rural commune of Dankassari have benefited from solar panel equipment.
Equipping a pilot village with solar lamps
The installation of four charging stations and one hundred and sixty solar lamps, under the responsibility of the children, was financed by the Lama Foundation and the SDE35 to equip families in the village of Rouda Goumandey. The lamps were distributed to the students in January 2023. A collective study is organized in the evening by the director, with five solar lamps to illuminate the board.
