STAFIX X18i UNIGIZER

 

The Stafix X18i unigizer is now available in Africa.  This new addition to the X range of energisers which are able to run off either a 12V rechargeable battery or mains power source replaces the discontinued B18 energiser as the most powerful battery energiser available.  It has an output energy of 18 Joules which is slightly more than the 15 Joules of the Stafix X15i and Gallagher MBX 2500.  As with the other energisers in this range, the X18i features a backlit LCD voltage display, which, shows the output voltage, battery voltage and earth voltage.  Probably its greatest advantage over the B18 however is its lower power consumption.  Using a little more than half the power of the B18, together with the microprocessor which adjusts the output energy depending on the battery condition, this energy efficient unit is ideal for solar installations.  The X18i also has a number of settings and pulse speeds which can be selected to further increase its energy efficiency.  Pricing of the X18i is considerably less than that of its predecessors which will no doubt make this the energiser of choice for most agricultural and wildlife applications in Africa.

AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK RWANDA

Work has finally started on the fencing of the Akagera National Park boundary.  This project was awarded to TNH Fencing together with our partners EME from Kigali.  It has taken a long time to get the project underway as a large number of stakeholders are involved in the park and they together with private landowners along the boundary had to be satisfied with the planned fence and its placement before work could commence.

 Akagera National Park is situated in eastern Rwanda and covers an area of 1200km².  Akagera was founded in 1934, but large areas of the park were resettled by returning refugees in the late 1990’s following the Rwandan civil war.  The western boundary of the park was regazetted in 1997 as a result, reducing the park size by more than half.  The reserve consists of savanna, mountains and wetlands as well as a series of lakes including Lake Ihema.  Akagera is home to large numbers of animals including elephant, buffalo, leopard and roan.  There are plans to introduce black rhino and lion to the reserve.  The park is being managed by the Akagera Management Company which is a partnership between African Parks Network and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).  The fencing of the reserve forms part of the US$ 10 million expenditure planned for Akagera.

The boundary is to be fenced using a prefabricated hinge-joint field fence and will be electrified using offset brackets (outriggers).  Additional electrical wires will be added to the top of the fence to discourage climbing.  The electric fence will be powered by Stafix B18 cyclic wave energisers made by Tru-test of New Zealand.  These 18 Joule output energisers are the largest battery powered units available and are ideal for controlling the movement of wildlife across the reserve boundaries.  Each energiser will be equipped with monocrystalline solar panels delivering 250 Watts.  With fencing teams now on the ground and construction underway, the 110km electrified game fence should finally be completed by mid 2012.