Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas linemen, including Terry Harkey with Craighead Electric of Jonesboro, recently completed a mission to electrify two remote Guatemalan villages near the Mexican border, resulting in approximately 105 villagers having electricity for the first time.
During the mission, the electric cooperative linemen worked with EMRE, a municipal electric utility, to expand service to rural areas including Las Tortugas and San Jorge communities. Their efforts included the construction of approximately 7.5 miles of power lines in jungle-like conditions. The crew members were presented with plaques at a celebration event in Las Tortugas to commemorate the delivery of electricity to the village.
Combined with previous projects, Arkansas electric cooperative linemen have assisted in providing electric service to more than 1,200 rural Guatemala and Bolivian residents that otherwise would not have service.
NRECA International coordinated the project. For more information about cooperative electrifications efforts worldwide, visit nrecainternational.coop.
