Photo journal of Garalo Bagani Yelen project, with ... - Mali Folkecenter

GARALO BAGANI YELEN
- a new paradigm of energy for sustainable
development
A photo journal of the Jatropha-fuelled
rural electrification project
for 10 000 people in the
Municipality of Garalo
2007
Jatropha nursery with 320 000 seedlings (left), woman collecting Jatropha seed (centre) and
three 100 kW Jatropha bio-oil generators installed in the power house in Garalo village, Mali
(right).
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

SUMMARY
With climate change now a bigger issue than ever, biofuels have become the hot new topic
for energy based development projects in the South. The potential for energy autonomy and
local economic and social benefits for biofuel projects seem almost limitless, but there is
also a downside to this development. In many countries, particularly in Asia, biofuel
projects have been conceived from an export based perspective, with the main focus being
on supplying cheap feedstock for biofuel consumption in the global North. This has led to
massive monoculture production, vast scale slash and burn practices to create new fields for
production, and in some areas has even turned populations into wage slaves on their own
land. In such scenarios, the economic benefits for large international companies are
important, but the potential environmental benefits of biofuel use are completely negated
by unsustainable land exploitation and local communities are not feeling the benefits at all.
MFC has a vision of biofuel as an environmentally sustainable CO2 neutral alternative fuel,
which can provide economic benefits to populations in the south and can allow for energy
service provision for electricity and transport sectors in an equitable way, without damaging
virgin forest or putting food security at risk.
MFC is currently implementing the Garalo Bagani Yelen Jatropha bio-oil project in the
village of Garalo, southern Mali, to provide 300 kW of electrical power to a dynamic village,
as well as all the social benefits and improved living standards associated with electricity.
In addition, the population of the municipality will have the chance to diversify their
incomes by producing Jatropha on part of their land. This project, with deep rooted local
support and ownership, is blazing a trail to provide socio-economic benefits without
harming the fragile Sahel-Savannah ecosystems.
The project is the result of the clear request of the rural commune of Garalo and was
developed by a consortium of international partners. The project is now in its execution
phase. Three generators of 100 kW each have been installed and converted to run on pure
Jatropha oil, and a nursery has been created to produce the 1 000 000 Jatropha seedlings
needed to plant 1 000 hectares of Jatropha in the municipality. This will produce more than
enough oil for power production. The project should be a model for genuinely sustainable
biofuel projects in the future. It is important also to remember that unsustainable,
environmentally damaging biofuel projects are becoming more and more prevalent. If
positive models cannot be provided the biofuel concept will continue to come under
criticism, and a potentially very beneficial new sector may fall victim to bad press. The
difference between sustainable and unsustainable biofuel needs to be highlighted, and
sustainable biofuel projects that first benefit local communities will need both protection
and prioritisation.
The main objective of this project is provide high quality modern energy services to the
local population and stimulate the local economy. Electricity itself will be a catalyst for
many small and medium business opportunities, and the sale of Jatropha seed will generate
new revenues. It is an enterprise-centred project, capitalising on MFC’s experience of rural
energy enterprise development with the AREED programme, combined with capacity
building and participative community development.
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

The project partners are:
MFC Energy Environment (Mali’s leading clean energy NGO),
ACCESS S.A.R.L. (an innovative Malian rural energy service company),
FACT Foundation (a pioneering group of international biofuel experts) and
AMADER (Malian Agency for Development of Domestic Energy & Rural Electrification,
set up as part of a World Bank/GEF/Government of Mali project to support rural
energy development)
Stichting Het Groene Woudt
THE PHOTOS
PROJECT LOCATION
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa
The village of Garalo is in the
south of Mali, 2 hours south of the
regional town of Bougouni. The
population is 10 000, and the
principal economic activities are
agriculture (both subsistence food
crops and cash crops particularly
cotton), raising cattle, and trade
on the local market.
Map of Garalo within West Africa
The Garalo Bagani Yelen Project is moving forward with unexpected vigour, with
simultaneous activities including the creation of a village electricity committee, a Jatropha
planting committee, and the installation of electricity generating hardware, under
supervision of MFC and ACCESS. The Malian Minister of Mines, Energy and Water has also
made another visit to Garalo with a delegation including Ministry of Energy and AMADER
staff. This photo journal has been compiled as a record of the activities that have been
going on down in Garalo.
The project inauguration by the Malian Minister of Energy
A banner saying “Thanks to SHGW & FACT Foundation” (left); the Minister is shown the site by Dr Togola (right).

The village of Garalo
Garalo’s main avenue goes to Bougouni in one direction and to the Cote d’Ivoire border in the other, making the
village an important crossroads (above left); Jatropha can reach a ripe old age, as shown by these plants which
are more than 50 years old (above right).
Sensitising the population on electricity billing
A meeting is held in the village with representatives of women’s, youth’s and village associations, together with
the local municipal authorities. Women at the meeting (above left), Dr Ibrahim Togola explains tariff system
(above right).
Women attending the meeting (above left and right).
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

The genset installation team arrives in Garalo
The installation team meets local elected municipal government at the Mairie (Town Hall) (above left). The
team meets the traditional village leadership and village elders (above right).
Installation of electricity hardware
Crane places genset on power house entry ramp (above left). Genset moved into place on rollers (above right).
Electric valves for 2 tank system, which will be changed to 1 tank system this year (left). Heat exchanger in INOX
which will heat Jatropha oil once the engine is at temperature (right).
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

Test run of first genset
The first genset on test run (above left). The women’s association pays a visit, excited about the arrival of
electricity and the possibilities of Jatropha production (above right).
The three gensets in position (above left). Team photo of installation team, Dr Ibrahim Togola and the
technicians who will run the power station (above right).
Jatropha nursery is in good shape
The Jatropha nursery in front of the power house (above left). Jatropha seedlings being tested for their
resistance to drought (right).
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

The seedlings will soon be planted out into the fields, as soon as the rainy season arrives (above left). Until then
the seedlings are watered (above right). When pressed, the seed will provide oil to fuel the generators and press
cake which can be used as an organic fertiliser, improving productivity in this agricultural zone.
The Jatropha committee is prepared for the coming activities in meetings with all stakeholders (above left) and
the women of the village (right).
Work on the electric grid continues
The electricity poles are being installed all over the village of Garalo to bring power right to peoples homes and
businesses (left); the cable has finally been delivered to Garalo which will allow installation work to go forward
(right).
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

The Malian Minister of Energy visits the project
His Excellency Hamed Semega, the Malian Minister of Mines, Energy & Water, has been a keen supporter of the
Garalo Bagani Yelen project since its inception. He attended the official inauguration of the project and has
made a follow up trip in June 2007 to the village with his delegation of Ministry of Energy and AMADER staff to
see how work is progressing. The delegation visits the power house (left) and gets a detailed explanation of one
of the gensets by technicians trained during the installation process (right).
The Minister meets village elders of Garalo (left); the Minister discusses the project with Dr Ibrahim Togola,
Director of MFC (right).
The Minister’s delegation gets a guided tour of the Jatropha nursery (left & right).
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

Dr Ibrahim Togola discusses the project progress with members of the women’s association, who have been key
actors in project execution, particularly creation of the nursery, and who have an important role to play
producing Jatropha seeds and in other income generating activities to be encouraged by the project and by the
eventual availability of electricity (left); the Minister gives and interview in front of the Jatropha nursery with
the Mayor of Garalo for ORTM, for the Malian national TV station (right).
The Minister discusses with the women of the village about their role in the project (left); the Minister says
goodbye to the village leaders (right).
Energy services in Garalo were highly polluting before the project
Current energy services in the village are based on old diesel technology, which has all the normal CO 2 pollution
associated with diesel and a whole lot more due to the poor state of the hardware (see smoke in from this
generator above left and right).
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

Jatropha seed can be a new source of income
The project will provide a new source of revenue for families, particularly women. Unlike diesel electrification,
where the fuel costs leave the village and the country, in a Jatropha-fuelled system this money is re-injected
into the local community, allowing poor families to produce seed to cover their energy costs. Instead of being a
net drain on domestic economy, it can bring additional money in. So micro and macro economics of Jatropha are
good. Woman picking Jatropha seed (left); women sorting seed (right).
Organic fertiliser - a by-product of Jatropha oil production
If 4 kg of Jatropha seed is pressed, it produces around 1 kg of oil and 3 kg of presscake
(which can also be sold and improves overall economic performance of the Jatropha
technology system). The presscake fertiliser is significantly richer in nitrogen and
phosphates than cow dung, as can be seen from the table below.
Parameters Jatropha presscake
(%)
Cow dung Relation: Jatropha
presscake/cow dung
N (Nitrogen) 5.7 - 6.48 2 280-320 %
P2O5 (Phosphates) 2.6 - 3.1 1.5 170-200 %
K2O 0.9 - 1.0 2 43-45 %
CaO 0.6 - 0.7 4 15-16 %
MgO 1.26 - 1.34 1 126-134 %
Source: Jatropha oil as fuel, GTZ Jatropha Energy Project, October 1995.
1 hectare of Jatropha is estimated as giving 3 tonnes/hectare per year when plants are
mature. This gives around 0.75 tonnes of oil and 2.25 tonnes of presscake which can be used
to produce high quality organic fertiliser. Thus 1 000 hectares of Jatropha planted will
potentially yield around 2 250 tonnes of organic fertiliser per year, reducing use of chemical
fertiliser and improving the productivity of the land.
Therefore the project can stimulate agriculture and gardening activities and improve food
security and food quality in the zone. This can also be a means to higher incomes for the
population as the increase in production can also be sold for profit.
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

Pressing in a screw press (left) produces the press cake (right, in the palm of the hand).
CONCLUSION
The project makes the most of a good business model for the sale of electricity. It combines
good technology and training with an essential community development component, based
on MFC’s many years of experience with rural communities in southern Mali. Without this
consideration and continued work to ensure support of the population for the Jatropha and
electrification activities, the project could not succeed. MFC would like to thank all the
partners for their commitment to this innovative project, particularly the SHGW.
The project will transform conditions in the village. Availability of electricity will mean
people have access to light, refrigeration, radio and TV; and small businesses and workshops
can have electric tools like welding equipment and agricultural processing hardware. The
project brings both improved living conditions and the all-important productive uses of
electricity, which can add value at the village level, create jobs, and generally drive local
economic growth and poverty reduction. But this growth can only occur when the project is
rooted in the local community, with local oil transformation.
This approach, combined with the micro- and macro-economic benefits of Jatropha seed
production and oil use, sets the project apart from many others, which is why the project is
being described as the new paradigm for energy and sustainable development.
It is very important that biofuel projects can be seen as a force for positive change in the
lives of rural people in Mali. The potential opportunities represented by local production,
energy autonomy, CO2 neutral renewable energy sources, environmental protection,
women’s empowerment, local economic development, and job creation are vast.
But if sustainable practice and local benefits for local populations cannot be made a reality,
this opportunity will be lost, and Jatropha and other biofuel crops will become just another
cash crop like cotton or coffee, to be traded on international markets. Any added value
would be created only outside the continent, with relatively limited benefits for rural
African populations.
The Garalo Bagani Yelen Project brings a model which can be replicated in other Malian and
African villages, making biofuels benefit local people.
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa

MFC Nyetaa
African Centre for Plant Oil
Technology
– a division of MFC
MFC Nyetaa
Faladié SEMA, Rue 851, Porte 181,
BP E4211, Bamako, Republic of Mali
Tel. +223 220 0617
Fax. +223 220 0618
www.malifolkecenter.org
Project partners
ACCESS S.A.R.L.
AMADER
Agence Malienne de Développement de
l’Energie Domestique et l’Electrification
Rurale
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR PLANT OIL TECHNOLOGY
A division of MFC Nyetaa
SHGW
Stichting Het Groene Woudt
FACT
Fuels from Agriculture in Communal
Technology
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Images and text not to be reproduced without consent of MFC.
Please contact MFC if you would like permission.