January 31, 2011

Monday. This morning we left Mundemba at 5:30 am, driving another LBDR.

Along the way we saw more of the rainforest and palm tree plantations, and we stopped at a couple of independent palm oil processing plants because Njoke wanted to take some home to his wife for cooking.  This looks like the hardest, hottest, dirtiest work in the world!

Independent Palm Oil Processing Plant

At Lobe we stopped for a guided tour by Njoke's former classmate, the Engineering Manager of Palmol, the national palm oil processing plant.  This plant began operations in 1961 and the first signature in the guest register is the then president of Cameroon. Virtually all the original equipment is still in use, and they have new steam-driven Caterpillar turbines – the steam is generated by a hand-stoked oven. The plant takes pride in being environmentally friendly – they use all the palm waste materials to fuel their processing systems.

Conveyor Carries Palm Nuts to Steamer

Palm Nuts in Steam Cooker Ready for Processing

Grinder Reduces Palm Nuts to Oily Pulp

Steam-Driven Caterpillar Engines

Hand-stoked boiler drives steam engines

 --More LBDR to Kumba, a day ahead of schedule. In Kumba Njoke called Dominic, the solar oven project director, and to everyone's surprise he was one block away from us in Kumba!  WEH is exploring the possibility of developing a solar bakery as a source of employment and income for WEH women.  Dominic rode to Nguti with us (VLBDR) and answered all the questions that I could think of, and kindly offered details that I hadn't considered.  He referred me to Kay-Kay, a Peace Corps volunteer working with the Nguti Solar Project, for more about the business and production details.
--As soon as we arrived in Nguti we went to several officials' offices for formal introductions.  Then at Dominic’s request, we drove several km down a truly horrible road to see an abandoned wildlife research station where Dominic had worked for 7 years with a World Wildlife Fund project. It was too buggy to explore the vicinity, so we turned down the invitation to hike 45 minutes each way to a lovely waterfall and lake that is a fertile bird-watching destination.  After making our way back to town, we were sent to a bar for beer and peanuts. Before we'd finished, we were directed to follow Dominic behind the bar to the home of the Lord High Mayor of Nguti and Seventeen Villages for formal introductions, visiting and a good meal (boiled plantains, beans seasoned with dried fish, boiled coco yams, and a nice wine.
--Finally we went to see the oven! It’s a large critter on its own trailer so that it can be taken outside to the sunshine for baking.  It has 5 large mirrors on top that open up to collect the heat.  It can  hold a dozen loaves that bake in about 30-45 minutes depending on the day.  The vegetation is more dense in Nguti than in the Mangamba area, but it sounds as if the sunshine is about the same. They estimate they'll use solar energy for baking about 7 months of the year.  The villagers like the solar oven baked goods very well and they are affordable - its enjoying a good beginning. The project has German, Swiss and World Wildlife Fund support which  they've obtained by approaching the donors from a environmental conservation perspective.  Dominic offered their business plan to share with WEH, and I exchanged business cards with Kay-Kay.  We look forward to more discussion, and hopefully a return trip.

His Excellency the Lord High Mayor of Nguti and Seventeen Villages, and Barbara

The solar oven on its trailer in its garage, and admirerers

--Njoke felt we should push on, so we drove through the darkness on more VLBDR to a wonderful bed and shower in Mamfe.