ELKAP, the electrification of rural Kapanga, contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations

ELKAP makes the difference:

• Access to electricity will help hospitals and dispensaries to improve their medical interventions and to store pharmaceuticals appropriately. → As public health in the territory will develop, maternal and infant mortality will decrease.
• The availability of electricity in schools will strengthen education by facilitating the use of machinery and computers. → Improved and additional school programmes will positively influence children and youngsters’ development prospects and contribute to overcome literacy.
• The construction, maintenance, and management of the plant and grid is providing further income opportunities for the local population.
• Women will benefit from the possibility of setting up small businesses.→ ELKAP will diminish the dependency of women on their husbands and promote gender equality.
• Improved income generating prospects are expected to reduce rural migration, which will help to à stabilise family and community structures and at the same time prevent precarious jobs and exploitation.
• The local population will also benefit from the energy supply as end users of Information and communication technology. → Closing the ICT gap is indispensable for improved education and recreation as well as for the development of democratic societies, active citizenship, and good governance.
• ELKAP will also have a positive impact on local administration. → It will improve the work environment and thus facilitate citizens’ active participation, strengthening their role in local development.
• The project has been developed with particular attention to the involvement of local ethnic groups. → As these tribal organisations and their leaders still play an important role in Congolese rural society, the project sustains their involvement in decision making processes.
• Thanks to information campaigns and training on energy, health, and safety issues, the population of Kapanga will improve its awareness of the advantages of renewable energy sources. → The daily view of the power plant and its output will make the population more caring about the environment.
• ELKAP reduces dependence on fossil energy resources. → A diminished use of diesel oil will have a positive environmental impact. Spillage from storage tanks and during transportation will be avoided. Emission of greenhouse gasses and pollutants will be reduced – the avoided CO2 emissions would be around 1,000 tons per year.