Project Background

Garamba National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Park sits at the intersection of conservation, economic development and artisanal mining. The park, which has one of the last large populations of wild elephants has struggled to combat a decades-long struggle against wildlife poaching and the illegal ivory trade. At the same time, economic opportunities are increasing as more people move to the region in search of job opportunities in artisanal and large- scale mining and in the support services to this industry. The proximity of these villages to the Kibali Gold Mine means that artisanal mining is a prominent economic activity for inhabitants. However, in its current form, artisanal mining endangers the biodiversity of Garamba and threatens to spill over into conflict with large-scale mining operations if not managed properly.

Congolese solar developer Nuru is constructing two commercial solar-based hybrid mini-grids with a combined output of 342kW of solar energy in the Tadu and Faradje communities, which comprise more than 46,000 inhabitants. The projects will ultimately serve more than 1,000 residential and small-business customers in the two rural communities.

Role of Peace Renewable Energy Credit

P-RECs were purchased by Google, and revenue from the sale of P-RECs contributed to a portion of the project capital costs, helping the project get financed and built in order to support new electrification from renewable sources and increased access to energy in these communities. More on the significance of this purchase can be found here.

Community profile

Less than 1% of rural communities in DRC have reliable access to energy, and the towns of Faradje and Tadu, bordering Garamba National Park in northeastern DRC, are no exception. These towns have been growing rapidly as residents of smaller villages migrate for the greater sense of security felt in more populated areas and the job opportunities offered by support services to artisanal mining activities. Faradje and Tadu have a combined population of more than 46,000 persons, with a range of small enterprises and public institutions.

Garamba National Park was established in 1938 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park’s 2,000 square miles of savanna grasslands contain significant biodiversity. Garamba has one of the last large populations of elephants - a rare hybrid of savannah and jungle elephants known for their long tusks - and the last wild population of the Kordofan giraffe. Garamba has been the frontline of a 30-year struggle against poaching and the illegal ivory trade, creating a hostile environment for local people and the park’s wildlife. Armed groups continue to decimate Garamba’s elephant population, which has decreased from 22,000 in the 1970s to 1,200 today.