A reflection on our visit to Lusaka, April 2023
Three of our Dublin-based REHEATZ team, Aonghus McNabola, Paul Coughlan, and Madhu Krishna Murali aka ‘the Lusaka Lads’ were in Zambia in late April meeting our Zambia-based team members, our industrial partners, and a wide range of stakeholders over a busy week. We asked them each three questions to summarise their trip and the progress they hope to make in the next few months.
Our three visiting team members enjoying their trip to the Novatek Animal Feeds manufacturing plant in Lusaka a little too much.
What was your favourite part of the trip?
Aonghus: My favourite part of the trip was meeting the Irish Ambassador and her team at the Irish Embassy in Lusaka.
Paul: The trip to Zambia was my first to any part of Africa. I really enjoyed the contrast with Ireland. The streetscape and landscape were radically different and the people we met were wonderfully friendly, professional, and welcoming.
Madhu: Zambia is a fascinating country, and they face a unique set of challenges in their food and water industries. I really enjoyed gaining an additional perspective of these industries in Zambia, even if it was only through a brief visit this time!
What did you feel was your biggest learning from the Trip?
Aonghus: My biggest learning was the differences between the uses of hot water for food processing between Ireland and Zambia and the differences in heating arising from this.
Paul: The green economy and the environment are on the agenda in Zambia, driven by internal and external stakeholders. Yet, it is possible to access key influencers in Zambia who are open to listening to a proposal for improved environmental sustainability of food production.
Madhu: I was pleased at the level of interest in sustainable technologies in Zambian industry and government bodies. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) training is even being organised by the peak manufacturing body in Zambia! This meant that we found a lot of interest in our proposal and technology with almost everyone we spoke to.
What do you hope to achieve by the time you are back in Zambia?
Aonghus: I hope to have gathered an interesting set of data from the wastewater heat resource monitors we left in place in Zambia and to have been able to design and build a heat recovery system that we can have ready to bring to Lusaka in December.
Paul: The technology-based energy recovery system will develop over the coming months. It is critical that the various stakeholders in Zambia remain committed to its co-development, co-deployment and demonstration. Before returning to Zambia, I hope to build and deepen that commitment so that there is a readiness to implement and learn from a system that fits local needs.
Madhu: I hope to have completed a deeper analysis of the data we collected on our trip and collaborate on an appropriate design for a heat recovery system with our partners.