In 2023, NRECA International celebrated with the community in Ntatumbila, Zambia, on forming the Ntatumbila Power Electric Cooperative (NPEC), the country’s first electric cooperative. This was the culmination of the Zambia Electric Cooperative Development Program (ZECDP), an initiative that was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with Zambia’s Rural Electrification Authority.
Earlier this year, as the construction of the solar-powered mini grid neared completion, NPEC’s new general manager and staff were hired and trained. A celebration was also being planned with the community, government partners, and the NRECA International team for Ntatumbila’s brighter future with electricity.
In January because of major funding cuts, the lights did not come on as planned in Ntatumbila.
However, NPEC and NRECA were not about to let this stop them. They came up with solutions, and showed the resilience of the cooperative model and spirit.
Follow the link below to discover this incredible story and read in the words of NRECA International how they overcame their setbacks, and read an excerpt of an interview with NPEC’s General Manager Choolwe Chuuno.
