Genesis of the idea:

The idea springs back to the year 1996 when Mr. Joseph Sekiku attended courses in renewable energy technologies at the Centre for Alternative technology (CAT) at Machynlleth, Powys, Wales- UK. This was a result of a scholarship granted by the British Council after the visit of Mr. Dave Thorpe.

The fascination about how life in the rural villages could be improved, impelled him to think of alternatives back in his village of Nyakasimbi, Karagwe district, NW Tanzania. Mr. Joseph Sekiku has a background in agricultural engineering and is worldly known as a strong promoter of agr-based post harvest technologies.

ECAT is a multi-purpose training centre established to transfer skills and demonstrate sustainable solutions in improving the conditions of living of the rural people. It is dedicated to creating a better world for everyone through the use of renewable energy, self-employment creation and sustainable utilization of the natural resources.

ECAT is has the conviction that protecting and enhancing the environment is possible only through using renewable energy sources, a rigorous campaign to sensitise the masses about environmental conservation and participating actively in projects that conserve nature.

ECAT is located at Nyakasimbi village (35 Km from Kayanga) and it is a project of a local NGO called FADECO. ECAT's scope includes all technologies and activities that facilitate sustainable development.

Currently we have been able to demonstrate the following technologies:

Solar fruit drying, tree planting, Organic farming, solar cooking,fuelwood saving stoves, wind energy and solar PV. Our future plan is to demonstrate other technologies: biogas, bio-fuels, compost toilets, micro hydro, low cost housing and energy conservation.

Our current project focus is transferring skills and demonstrating working technologies. We do not want to invent the wheel. We know the wheel has been already invented. Our mission is to seek and to demonstrate that working wheel and to replicate and adapt it to our local needs in rural Tanzania.

We would like thereafter to extend our project focus to designing and manufacturing systems using locally available materials and expertise and the following would be priority areas: solar cookers and solar steam systems, solar fruit and vegetable dehydrators and solar water heaters for domestic and community applications, wind turbines, micro hydro systems, small scale PV solutions for battery charging, radios, mobile phones, lighting.

And our strategy is:

• Promoting fuel saving technologies including improved cooking stoves, solar cookers, bio gas, solar water heating/ pasteurisation through demonstrations and manufacture of prototypes

• Promoting clean household energy solutions that is sustainable and environmentally friendly: wind energy, micro hydro, small scale PV solutions, and other solar powered devices through training and public demonstrations

• Providing entrepreneurial training in manufacturing solar devices, wind turbines, lights, etc.

• Promoting other renewable technologies including bio-gas, compost- toilets, micro-hydro power plants, pedal power, wind energy, solar fruit drying and other non-conventional energy sources.

• Extending expert consultation to all social organizations and individuals for use of renewable energy.

• Educating people on energy conservation.