Chambamontera Micro Hydro Scheme

Question 1

Q: Where is Chambamontera located and why was development restricted?

Answer 1

t is an isolated community in the Andes Mountains of Peru where nearly half the population survives on just US$2 a day. Development was severely restricted because its low population density made a connection to the national electricity grid uneconomic.

Question 2

How was the US51,000 micro-hydro scheme funded?

Answer 2

The project was supported by the charity Practical Action with investment from the Peruvian government and Japan. Additionally, local families contributed an average of US750 each, aided by credit facilities.

Question 3

Q: What are the social benefits regarding health and education

Answer 3

Healthcare improved because refrigeration now allows for the safe storage of medicines, and education benefited from domestic lighting that enables children to do schoolwork after dark.

Question 4

Q: What are the economic opportunities and impacts on migration?

Answer 4

Reliable electricity allows for the use of machines for coffee de-husking and processing. These new business opportunities have reduced rural-urban migration, causing the community’s population to grow.

Question 5

Q: What are the environmental benefits of the scheme?

Answer 5

The scheme reduces the need to burn wood for heat, which prevents deforestation and the risk of soil erosion. It also helps regulate water flow, which reduces the danger of local flooding.

Question 6

Q: Why is this scheme considered sustainable for the future

Answer 6

A: The project is sustainable because it utilized local labor and materials during construction and has very low maintenance and running costs. It is designed to provide reliable power for at least 25 years.