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A way of achieving consensus on the essential services must be
devised early in the consultations. As much as possible the process
should be transparent and traceable. Techniques to incorporate
the view of the members should not be neglected. Ultimately, this
process may be quite slower than the usual delivery of a solution,
since it seeks to identify the root cause of failures that would risk the
success of the energy service delivery.

that devices function as expected and replaced when required. The utility/OEMs relationship would allow for
the synthesis of data to support system improvement and expansion as original design conditions evolve.

Integrate maintenance triggers.
Establishing a maintenance plan during the design will be another important factor for the longevity of the
system components so that maximum service can be obtained from them. This is not a strange phenomenon
in the design process, considering the use of fuses for instantaneous surges in current or the use of sacrificial
anodes to offer cathodic protection to the base material. The triggers may provide caution when a failure is
eminent, or it can indicate when to capitalize on the excess of the resource supply.

Assess and guide the development of economic enterprises.
In the cities, urban planners develop a plan which also guides power system delivery. A similar approach
in the remote setting would be beneficial. In this instance, the utility could provide oversight to the overall
development plan in remote village.

The implications for the residents
The level of literacy in remote communities should be above 85%. Residents will need to be open to interact
with the utility and other professionals to share their experiences and needs. For residents to correctly express
their specifications it would require some creativity and innovation through analogy. The energy assessment
activity will also help to educate the residents about the various energy technologies and offer a platform for
them to analyze different options. A key output from residents would be their experiences – stories about how
things were done in the past, what the environmental conditions were like, the practices of the community
that will continue, what sacred sites exists, the main beliefs and the modus operandi.

A way of achieving consensus on the essential services must be devised early in the consultations. As much as
possible the process should be transparent and traceable. Techniques to incorporate the view of the members
should not be neglected. Ultimately, this process may be quite slower than the usual delivery of a solution,
since it seeks to identify the root cause of failures that would risk the success of the energy service delivery.
Each household would need to have a member who will participate in the equipment maintenance training
and hence, is able to also monitor the system and communicate with the utility at a technical level.

The implications for the OEMs
OEMs like the utility will be extending their operating scope by working with the residents and the utility. OEMs
will need to understand the delicate ecosystem of indigenous people and apply novel conservative procedures
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to bring about affordable electricity solutions. Research and development (R&D) will be better focused, through
the direct involvement with the end-user and the service provider. The engagement of the OEM/utility/end-
user can save costs by implementing appropriate technologies and present a good company image.

6 Sackur, S.: Robin Hanbury-Tenison: An explorer protecting indigenous lands. HARDtalk (2021)

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