FOLOVHODWE SOLAR VILLAGE FACT SHEET

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy

9 March 1999

• The launch of the Folovhodwe Solar Village project in the Northern Province is on Tuesday, 16 March 1999.
• This pilot project is a joint venture between the South African Government and the Bavarian Government to demonstrate the application of solar systems to individual houses and electrification of schools and the clinic in the village.
• Approximately 500 solar home systems have already been installed an the project beneficiaries are the inhabitants of Folovhodwe village, which include 1,500 pupils, 50 teachers and approximately 3,000 community members.
• The community council has identified the households (582), schools (3) and various businesses which needed electrification.
• Local labourers benefit from employment opportunities during the installation by the emerging contractors.
• The developing sector benefits from the implementation of the solar village with extended light hours per day for school, adult education and the upliftment and empowerment of the previously disadvantaged people.
• The State of Bavaria donated equipment to the value of DM 500,000 (R1,500,000) to the project.
• The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) contributes R828,866 to the implementation of this project.
• The community of Folovhodwe will make a monthly repayment, called a service charge, toward the installed systems,
• The paybacks form part of a revolving fund t hat will be used to service the photovoltaic systems.
• South African Government, specifically the DME manages the project as part of the Reconstruction and Development Programme.