106 - The International Resource Journal

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100 AFRICA Helvetic Solar Contractors“Just as energy is the basis of life itselfand ideas the source of innovation, so isinnovation the vital spark of all humanchange, improvement and progress”– Theodore Levitt, American Economist andformer professor at Harvard Business SchoolNot unlIKe many areas of Africa, Tanzania is arapidly developing region, rich in resources – in thiscase an abundant supply of sunshine – but facinga power crisis due to the high-level of growingdemand and unfortunate lack of supply. Until veryrecently, that is.At the age of 19, an ambitious Patrick Ngowitook a hard look at his country’s dire situation anddecided to put his gap year to good use by studyingsolar energy in China, where they were alreadylooking for alternative energy sources to cater tothe market.Once he returned to Tanzania, a 22-year-oldNgowi took the entrepreneurial route and launchedHelvetic Solar Contractors, a company that startedwith “humble beginnings” supplying one householdafter another, to expanding into the renewableenergy solution provider of choice for the Tanzaniangovernment and international clients like the UnitedNations.Currently the company has offices across Tanzaniain Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar, withthe fourth office in Mwanza anticipated to launch in2013.“I decided that solar energy was the best wayforward, given that it is sustainable and it is a cleanenergy source,” says Ngowi, founder and managingdirector of Helvetic Solar. “Tanzania as a whole isvery sunny and there is such a demand for power.I thought the best way to get that power would betapping into solar. At the same time we are not onlyoffering a power source, but we are offering a greenpower source. So it is catering to two aspects.”Products and ServicesOne only needs to look as far as the company’swebsite to see that Helvetic Solar offers a widerange of products to its customers, on a retail andwholesale level.The company provides specialised customsolar power kits, offering a wide range of productsincluding solar panels, solar water heaters, solarrefrigerators, solar street lighting and garden lighting,solar water pumping systems, solar batteriesas well as solar generators.Ngowi is keenly aware that not only are theproducts important – many of which are importedfrom Canada, Germany and the United States – butthe service is paramount to the branding as well,something the company strives to provide excellenceon.
FEBRUARY 2013 The International Resource Journal101“Helvetic is unique because we offer the bestproduct in the region,” says Ngowi. “But with thebest product, you need the best installation. Noother team in Tanzania has the type of techniciansand engineers Helvetic has.”Helvetic’s qualified team of installers gothrough rigorous training and as the companybrings in subject-matter experts from NorthAmerica or Germany based on the project, localtechnicians are also undergoing onsite training toensure Helvetic’s workforce is constantly advancingwith the technologies and trends as well.In the business of energy and power, uptimeis the name of the game. Helvetic offers a hightouchsupport system for its customers and workshard to ensure any problems are resolved within24 hours. The company has substations acrossTanzania with technicians on site around-the-clockto offer everything from troubleshooting remotelyto on-site maintenance.“At the end of the day, solar is expensive andthe initial investment you make as a customer, youexpect to get the best out of it,” explains Ngowi.“We’re not selling you the battery, not the panel
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EDITOR’S NoteAs our readers will
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IRJ TeamJuliet Langton | Editor | j
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Table of ContentsFEBRUARY 2013 | VO
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10 SECTION TitleNEWS in FOCUS
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12 SECTION TitleNEWS in FOCUS“de
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14 SECTION TitleNEWS in FOCUSminer
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16 COVER FEATURE Mining in Latin A
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may del24 Brazil Political impasse
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26 Brazil Political impasse may de
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28 BRAZIL Miners under the spotlig
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30 BRAZIL Miners under the spotlig
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32 THE RESOURCE CHANNEL Is obesity
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40 MINERALS Lithium in 2013040Lith
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42 MINERALS Lithium in 2013Chris B
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44 MINERALS Lithium in 2013covery
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46 MINERALS Lithium in 2013
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48 MINERALS Cobalt Development Inst
Page 50 and 51: 50 MINERALS Cobalt Development Inst
Page 58 and 59: 58 RISK The Chinese are catching o
Page 64 and 65: 06Alara ReShifting64 AUSTRALIA Ala
Page 66 and 67: 66 AUSTRALIA Alara Resources
Page 68 and 69: 68 AUSTRALIA Alara ResourcesAll th
Page 70 and 71: Chinalco YCopper ResDeeper undergro
Page 72 and 73: 72 AUSTRALIA Chinalco Yunnan Coppe
Page 78 and 79: 0778 AUSTRALIA Red Mountain Mining
Page 82 and 83: 82 AUSTRALIA Red Mountain MiningRe
Page 86 and 87: 86 AUSTRALIA Red Mountain Miningth
Page 88 and 89: GoldplatUncoveunexpe088
Page 90 and 91: 90 africa Goldplat
Page 92 and 93: 92 africa GoldplatRecover Gold and
Page 94 and 95: 94 africa Goldplat
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Page 123 and 124: oalews rollCANADA
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Page 144 and 145: 144 CANADA MarathonOwned by a numb
Page 146 and 147: 146 CANADA MarathonDiscover Marath
Page 148 and 149: 148 CANADA MarathonOur experienced
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150 CANADA MarathonPremierServiceT
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152 CANADA MCW Energy Group152MCWE
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154 CANADA MCW Energy GroupOil san
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156 CANADA MCW Energy GroupUTAH’
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158 CANADA MCW Energy GroupShovel-
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160 CANADA MCW Energy GroupMCW has
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Rio VerdeNutrient richFertiliser mi
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164 CANADA Rio Verde
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166 CANADA Rio Verdestates current
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What'shAPPENING 2014-7 Investing in
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Mar20133-6 PDAC 2013 International
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May20135-8 CIM Conference & Exhibit
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July20131-3 The Australian Mine Ven
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176 EVENTS What's Happening 2010Se
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178 EVENTS What's Happening 2010No
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AT THE FOREFRONTOF THE GRAPHENEREVO
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