XelaTeco steps in a crucial time to help La Fe and Chantel communities with a micro-hydroelectric repair.

Processing coffee from cherry to bean uses considerable energy. XelaTeco helped 2 coffee- producing communities save $1000's in eletricty and diesel.

Facts at a glance:
Project: Reconditioning of Micro-hydroelectric System for La Fe and Chantel
Community: La Fe and Chantel, Guatemala
Number of Beneficiaries: 110 families (approx. 500 people)
Installed Capacity: 75KW

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala - "Not again" is what the residents of La Fe and Chantel communities thought when their micro-hydroelectric system broke down for the umpteenth time this past June.

Before Hurricane Stan in 2005, these 110 families had been one of the luckier campesino communities. They had a functional 75-kilowatt hydroelectric system that could power the coffee processing on their plantation. Unfortunately the devastation of Stan had nearly destroyed the hydroelectric machinery.  Despite numerous repairs, the system hadn't been the same since.

When it failed again in June 2007, right before the start of the coffee harvesting season, the community members were worried. Processing coffee from cherry to bean is an energy intensive process. The last time the system broke down during the coffee harvest, the community had to pay Q30,000 (about $4000) in electricity and diesel to keep the machines running until they could raise enough for repairs. They couldn't afford to do that again.

This time, though, they were in luck. The leaders of the community had just heard about XelaTeco from another community, Nueva Alianza.  XelaTeco reconditioned the La Fe and Chantel system, replacing essential components. A key part of the project was refurbishing the turbine, which had chunks eaten out of it from the 75 or so years of service. XelaTeco completed the job in time for the harvest saving them the Q30,000 they would have had to spend on electricity and diesel.

With the job done by XelaTeco, the community can rest assured that the system will work when they need it the most. The residents of La Fe and Chantel can now invest money they would have had to spend on repairs on other infrastructure upgrades, such as improving the potable water system and extending the hydroelectric grid. At the moment only families living near the center of the community can obtain electricity.