Articles de revues sur le sujet « Kenya Power and Lighting Company »

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of fund transfer agencies to liquidity management of KPLC.Methodology: A descriptive case study research design was used. The population for the study included all the 82employees in the KPLC Mombasa Branch. A sample of 57 respondents was selected from the population using a stratified random sampling technique. A questionnaire was the preferred data collection instrument. The data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics such as mean, mode and median.Results: The study findings showed that there was a gradual decline in the average collection period. This implied an improvement in the average collection period of KPLC Mombasa over the year 2002 to 2010. In addition, the number of fund transfer transaction increased over the study period. This implied that the fund transfer transactions may have impacted on the average collection period. Further, according to this study it was possible to infer that there was a gradual increase in the acid test ratio. This implied an improvement in the acid test ratio of KPLC Mombasa over the year 2002 to 2010. In addition, the number of fund transfer transaction increased over the study period. This implied that the fund transfer transactions may have impacted on the acid test ratio.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that KPLC should engage more fund transfer agents in facilitating bill payments. Specifically, KPLC should engage more banks, Saccos, western unions and mobile operators. This is because such an approach would improve the average collection period and acid test ratio further.The study was purely descriptive; it therefore lacks the statistical rigor that would establish causation between fund transfer agencies and average collection period as well as the acid test ratio. Therefore, the study recommends a regression analysis to establish causation between dependent and independent variables.

The government of Kenya has been trying to expand the electricity grid for decades, with little success—80% of Kenyans are still living without access to the grid. An alternative solution, off-grid solar lighting products, such as solar lanterns and solar home systems, increasingly provide Kenyans with decentralized clean energy. Kenya’s private sector market for off-grid solar lighting products has been developing since the 1980s, yet the key to rapid market growth was the introduction of a pioneering pay-as-you-go business model in 2011 that made solar products affordable for poor rural customers. Today, with almost 30% of all off-grid households using some type of off-grid solar lighting products, Kenya is a market leader. Other factors that have encouraged market growth include the massive need for power in areas where grid electricity is not available, the high cost and unreliability of grid power where it is available, a value-added tax exemption on solar products, numerous education and awareness campaigns, and expensive kerosene. However, poor quality products present a major challenge. This challenge will have to be overcome for the market to reach its full potential and to ensure that these products represent an effective and lasting lighting solution.

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to determine influence of succession planning practices on performance of Kenya Power Limited Company.Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 1000 employees of KPLC. The sample size was therefore 100 employees of KPLC. Primary data was collected through the administration of the questionnaires. The raw data obtained from the field was coded, scrutinized and then organized and edited to enhance accuracy and hasten analysis using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to produce graphs and tables in descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation and inferential statistics used both correlation and regression analysis. Correlation was used to find out the variables inter-relation while regression was used to find out the strength between the independent and dependent variable. Simple regression was used to determine whether the specific variables together can predict a given research gap.Results: The findings revealed a positive relationship between the career development, training, performance appraisal, organizational structure and the performance KPLC.Policy recommendation: The study recommended that large manufacturing firms should also invest more in research and development, training, networking and innovation

Founded in 1892, General Electric set out to dominate the American electrical industry. This article is an explanation of how the company accomplished this goal in the highly profitable electric lamp (“light bulb”) market. GE's techniques included technology leadership through in-house development and the purchase of patent rights, discriminatory agreements with suppliers based on market power, and cartel arrangements of various sorts, both foreign and domestic. The article shows how one company was able to use financial and market power, combined with early control of a rapidly developing technology, to gain and then hold a major American market for half a century.

M-Kopa Solar is a pay-as-you-go provider of solar home systems, catering to low-income, off-grid customers in East Africa. The company goes by the tagline, ‘Power for Everyone’. Using mobile payments system and an innovative approach to energy delivery, M-Kopa succeeded in building a business which solved a grave problem for the poorest of the poor and has the potential to become a billion dollar enterprise. The case begins with a description of the background in which M-Kopa is operating. It goes on to explain how M-Kopa used the infrastructure gap in sub-Saharan Africa as an opportunity and propagated solar power as an alternative to traditional energy. Finally, it lays out the challenges M-Kopa may face on its expansion spree.

The article discusses the effectiveness of led lighting from the perspective of ecology and energy saving. The authors put a hypothesis that in the long term value of environmental benefits from switching to led lighting is a priority of the feasibility. To answer this question an experiment is conducted. The main technical characteristics of the experimental conditions: the total area of the apartment is 65 square meters; ceiling height - 2.55 m. the apartment is home To 2 people. 6 lighting devices installed 19 of bulbs: 7 bulbs of the firm «Osram» 60 watts, 9 energy-saving lamps of the company «Navigator» with power of 20 W, and 3 energy-saving lamps of the company «Camelion» with power of 20 watts. It is shown that the average family saves about 2599.225 RUB. per year family income on electricity bills. But it carries a lump sum (one-time) costs in the amount of RUB 7980 Market value available (before the experiment) 7 incandescent lamps and energy saving lamps 12 is 2194 RUB. Therefore, the increase of the cost of buying led lamps in comparison with traditional recruitment (7+19) is equal to RUB 5786.

As SDG7-related interventions seek to transform access to clean energy, this paper presents an analysis of both a previous transformative intervention (Lighting Africa) and a theoretical approach to understanding how such transformations can be achieved in the Global South (socio-technical innovation system, STIS, building). The paper makes four contributions. First, it tests the extent to which the STIS-building concept is useful in understanding and conceptualising how Lighting Africa transformed the market for solar lanterns in Kenya from an estimated market size of 29,000 lamps in 2009 to one where 680,000 Lighting Africa certified lamps were sold in Kenya by the end of the Programme in 2013. Second, it presents the most in-depth analysis of Lighting Africa that we are aware of to date. Third, it presents a conceptual framework that illustrates the Lighting Africa approach, providing a framework for future policy interventions aiming to transform access to clean energy technologies in the Global South. Fourth, it reflects on weaknesses in the STIS approach. In particular, these include a need to better attend to: the gendered implications of interventions (and social justice more broadly); implications of different scales of technologies; value accumulation and the extent to which interventions benefit indigenous actors and local economies; and the political and economic implications of any intervention and its distribution of benefits.

This work aims to reuse the electric energy used in three-phase induction motors of an industrial plastic injector for the lighting circuit of the same warehouse where the injectors are located, thus eliminating the need to use the energy of the electric company. Any resource that reuses electricity with better efficiency becomes essential today, making it a solution for industries that are thinking of saving the energy used in the productive processes in the manufacture of goods.This project uses a synchronous generator coupled to a three-phase induction motor of a plastic injector, which will reuse the electrical energy used of the induction motor to mechanically drive the synchronous generator, that will be able to generate enough electrical power in its coils for a 47-light shed lighting circuit, thus eliminating the need to use utility power, saving a portion of the energy usage costs on the monthly bill. This installation of the synchronous generator was performed on equipment of the company Moto Honda da Amazônia, which has a 24-hour operating regime for six days a week.

The traditional lighting control system has many defects such as poor energy-saving effect , comfort , management and control technique. What's more troublesome wiring is also a problem. This paper is based on the ZigBee wireless technology and designed a low-power dissipation intelligent node control hardware platform.Which used the MSP430F2619 for processor of TI company, CC2430 RF( Radio Frequency) chip and silicon controlled dimming circuit. It is designed with software that has different lighting modes according to the different environments.The design achieved the brightness autoregulation of light in different environment- s.Therefore create a comfortable household environment.

Subject area Strategic management. Study level/applicability This case is suitable for graduate students, postgraduate students and MBAs. Case overview YC Company is a foreign trade SME operating in the lighting fixtures export business in Ningbo City, a major outdoor lighting products manufacturing base in mainland China. Established by Li Lele in 2008, the sales revenue and gross profit of YC Company have been increasing every year, reaching $ 4.06 million and ¥ 1.00 million, respectively, by the end of 2011. However, the growth rate of profit lagged far behind the growth of sales revenue. If this situation were not controlled, YC Company would hardly survive in this increasingly competitive market. Li Lele, the CEO of the company, was trying to find a way to enlarge the profit margin. Expected learning outcomes This case lets students learn more about strategic management. Students are expected to learn: how to precisely identify and map a problem; and how to select a better solution by analyzing the context and using some strategic analysis tools, such as Porter's Five Power, Smile Curve, SWOT. In the learning process, students are expected to acquire a better knowledge of some strategic management theory/method, international business, the condition of small and medium trading companies in China. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Until now, it seems that electricity is still a challenge in Indonesia, there are still many who have not enjoyed electricity for those who live in suburban or coastal areas, and some are located not far from cities. The target area is relatively close to the center of the capital, but has escaped the attention of the government because the location is quite remote with a minimal population, so it is considered uneconomical to provide electricity to this area. This hamlet is also inhabited by less than 18 families, so that only those with an interest are left in and out of this hamlet. The remote location from one house to another makes the construction of the electricity network no longer efficient for State Electricity Company. Therefore, people must be willing to live without electricity. Lighting as a basic need must be met from an oil lamp (sentir). Some residents who have a few advantages will buy individual generators. This generator only operates from 06.30 pm to 09.00 pm. After entering the sleep time, the generator is immediately turned off, the lighting is continued using an oil lamp. The emergence of the USU Community Services Implementing Team to this partner area provided new hope for the community. The community enthusiastically complained about this condition and hoped that the USU Community Services Implementation Team could help with these residents' problems. The results of monitoring by the Community Services Implementing Team at several residents 'houses proved the residents' complaints. Electric lighting as a basic need for residents is believed to be able to be completed using existing knowledge at the university in the form of lighting using solar power. Science and Technology The USU Community Services Team through the joining program has now produced economical science and technology products and realizes the expectations of the people in this region. Now people can enjoy light for 24 hours using electricity from solar energy. The community would like to thank the team and university for the scientific products that were donated to this village.

Most rural people in Kenya rely principally on human and animal muscle power in their work as subsistence farmers, herdsmen, fisherman, or small-scale crop farmers. All the agricultural processes (ranging from ploughing to harvesting) are done largely by hand, with some help from draft animals and simple tools. Firewood is their principal cooking and heating fuel while kerosene in used for lighting. Their economic growth is hence blocked by the energy crisis. Due to their heavy dependence on biomass – mainly firewood, crop residues, and animal dung – they deprive the soil of essential nutrients and pose a threat to the agricultural lands due to deforestation and the resulting soil erosion. The problem of rural energy, therefore places the provision of food and other basic needs at risk. A technology which extracts a more useful and convenient form of fuel from biomass without destroying its fertilizer value than the traditional conversion method of direct combustion is highly desirable. Anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues generates biogas which can be used directly for lighting, cooking, electricity generation, or to power an IC engine for water pumping or milling. The remaining sludge forms a good fertilizer. This paper reviews the role of biomass in meeting Kenya's energy needs and how biogas can contribute in alleviating the rural energy crisis. Biogas production and utilization technology was introduced in Kenya in 1954 but by 1986 there were less than 200 installed biogas plants and less than 25% of these were operational. A survey of installed biogas plants (across the country) was carried out (using questionnaires and interviews) to identify the factors that have inhibited the adoption of biogas technology in Kenya; and the problems which have caused the failure of many of the installed plants. The paper gives a detailed discussion of the findings. The survey showed that amoung the reasons for nonadoption are: lack of capital and sufficient input materials (animal dung and water); limited dissemination of technical knowledge and experience to operate biogas plants; and the lack of credit and extension facilities. It was also found that problems such as scum build-up and corrosion, and the lack of sufficient knowledge on the operation and maintenance of the digesters especially on feeding and feedstock dilution (leading to low gas production) has resulted to many failures. The paper attempts to answer some of the problems which have resulted to the many failures and hindered widespread acceptance of biogas technology in Kenya. Finally the issue of dissemination is discussed.

Public knowledge and understanding of the hazards associated with overhead power lines were examined in the greater Houston, Texas area. A 1988 public opinion survey was conducted as a follow-up to a similar 1982 survey which found the public to be ill-informed about power lines. Partly as a result of these 1982 findings, the Houston Lighting and Power Company initiated a public education program aimed at increasing its customers' power line hazard knowledge. The program consisted of TV and radio broadcasts, newspaper advertisements, and bill inserts (stuffers). The purpose of the present research was to determine the effects of this educational program. 306 respondents were interviewed by telephone over a two month period. Results of the present survey were similar to those found in 1982 indicating virtually no change occurred in power line hazard knowledge as a result of the safety education program. Specifically, people did not know that power lines are uninsulated, nor did they have an understanding of the amount of electricity transmitted by these lines.

The development of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in many areas far from grid-based electricity have primarily involved solar photovoltaics (SPVs) which tap solar radiation to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and cooling for homes, businesses, and industry. A study on RETs took place in the Wiyumiririe Location of Laikipia District (north-central Kenya), a rich agricultural region. To explore this solar initiative in such a remote part of the country, a purposive randomized convenience sample of 246 households was selected and landowner interviews conducted, followed by field visits and observations. Although more than half of the households visited had SPV installations, solar energy was found to contribute only 18% of household estimated total energy needs; most residents still primarily relying on traditional energy sources. Several types of solar panels of different capacities and costs were utilized. Many landowners had at least one or two rooms using solar energy for household lighting, for appliance charging and to power radio and television. Almost all respondents appreciated that solar energy was clean renewable energy that greatly improved household living conditions; gave them some prestige; was easy to use and maintain; and was available year around. Although such significant benefits were associated with SPVs, only about 40% of residents interviewed were somehow satisfied with its development. Respondents expressed specific developmental initiatives that were closely associated with the availability of solar energy. Nevertheless, a number of challenges were raised associated with SPVs primarily investment capital and equipment costs and maintenance. As solutions to capital building will not solely rely on subsidies or individual farmer inputs, strategies must be found to mobilize the essential and tested tools for success including sustainable capital generation, building local institutions and capacities that integrate rural people, local participation in rural development activities and public education and training. Keywords: appliance charging,battery,development initiatives, household lighting, landowners,solar energy, SPVs, solar equipment and accessories

Considering the intermittent natural energy resources and the seasonal un-balance, a phtovoltaic-wind hybrid electrical power supply system was developed to accommodate remote locations where a conventional grid connection is inconvenient or expensive. However, the hybrid system can also be applied with grid connection and owners are allowed to sell excessive power back to the electric utility. The proposed set-up consists of a photo-voltaic solar-cell array, a mast mounted wind generator, lead-acid storage batteries, an inverter unit to convert DC to AC, electrical lighting loads, electrical heating loads, several fuse and junction boxes and associated wiring, and test instruments for measuring voltages, currents, power factors, and harmonic contamination data throughout the system. The proposed hybrid solar-wind power generating system can be extensively used to illustrate electrical concepts in hands-on laboratories and also for demonstrations in the Industrial Technology curriculum. This paper describes an analysis of local PV-wind hybrid systems for supplying electricity to a private house, farmhouse or small company with electrical power depending on the site needs. The major system components, work principle and specific working condition are presented.

AbstractIn this study, the influence of climatic factors on overhead transmission lines reliability in Russia was discussed. A review of the possible impacts of climate change is provided. Using the example of an electric grid company providing electricity in the Republic of Bashkortostan some reliability targets associated with the impacts of weather events were calculated: the number of power outages, the failure rate of 1 km of overhead transmission lines and the outage time. From the calculations it was determined that these targets are at a quite high level, in particular for 6-10 kV overhead transmission lines. The main contribution is made by climatic factors wind and lighting storm. A correlation analysis of the overhead transmission lines outages as a function of the number of wind cases with a certain speed has shown a strong relationship between these characteristics. According to predictive information, the number of power outages in the territory under consideration in 2025 will increase by 1.5 times.

Abstract In this study, the influence of climatic factors on overhead transmission lines reliability in Russia was discussed. A review of the possible impacts of climate change is provided. Using the example of an electric grid company providing electricity in the Republic of Bashkortostan some reliability targets associated with the impacts of weather events were calculated: the number of power outages, the failure rate of 1 km of overhead transmission lines and the outage time. From the calculations it was determined that these targets are at a quite high level, in particular for 6-10 kV overhead transmission lines. The main contribution is made by climatic factors wind and lighting storm. A correlation analysis of the overhead transmission lines outages as a function of the number of wind cases with a certain speed has shown a strong relationship between these characteristics. According to predictive information, the number of power outages in the territory under consideration in 2025 will increase by 1.5 times.

This article draws attention to the shortcomings of modern lighting systems used in greenhouses. Its content focuses on the negative effects of mismatches between the photosynthetic needs of plants and the parameters of artificial light sources. Greenhouse lamps designers often do not have the knowledge of biological cultivation dependencies. Therefore, their cooperation with specialists of plant physiology and gardeners is indispensable. This is important because it can affect the consumer quality of vegetables. Full Text: PDF ReferencesM.Kucharczyk, I.Gąsak, Ecological effects of light pollution , III International Conference on Scientific and Technical TRANSEIA, Krynica Zdrój, Poland, 6-8 December 2017. DirectLink T. H. Goldsmith, What Birds See, Scientific American Inc. (2006), CrossRef E.J. Gerl, M.R. Morris, The Causes and Consequences of Color Vision, Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, 2008. CrossRef K. Jaworski, A. Szmidt-Jaworska, J. 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The federal government of India and the state government of Bihar, India’s least electrified state, have always focused on grid expansion to bring power to those living without grid access. However, grid expansion has been slow. In Bihar, 83% of people still live without electricity, relying on dangerous kerosene lamps to light their homes. In the 1980s, an alternative—a market for solar home systems and solar lanterns—started to develop in Bihar. Yet, this market has failed to thrive, despite three decades of intervention by the government and activity by private companies. Today, fewer than 4.2% of unelectrified Bihar households use a solar lighting product. Based on interviews with key stakeholders, this case study found that the biggest obstacle to market growth is the government kerosene subsidy, which halves the price of kerosene, and makes people less interested in solar lighting products. Lack of company financing, product quality issues, lack of customer awareness of the benefits of solar, and another counterproductive government subsidy for solar products are other challenges that hamper market growth. Interviewees also identified factors promoting the growth of the sector, including the large unmet electricity demand and unreliable electricity supply, and dropping solar prices. Overall, there is significant potential for market growth if strategies are developed by key stakeholders to help overcome the challenges identified in this case study, and build on the factors promoting the sector’s growth. Most importantly, the government needs to re-think their subsidy policies and adopt a stance to encourage market forces.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the challenges of strategy implementation by insurance companies in Kenya.Materials and methods: The study made use of primary data that was collected using questionnaires. Since the study involved the use of questionnaires, descriptive survey study was employed. The study population used included all the 46 insurance companies operating in Kenya as at August 2014. A list of the insurance companies in Kenya was obtained from the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA). A census of the 46 insurance companies was used. Therefore, sampling was not applicable in this study. After data has been collected through questionnaires, it was prepared for readiness of analysis by editing, handling blank responses, coding, categorizing and keying into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software for analysis. SPSS was used to produce frequencies, descriptive statistics which were used to derive conclusions and generalizations regarding the population.Results: The results from the study showed that among that the macroeconomic factors considered to affect strategy implementation were; strict guidelines for compliance with legal, regulatory and capital requirements, high technology advancement, and high inflation rates and low purchasing power of customer whereas the industry specific challenges that affected strategy implementation included; threat of price wars, stiff competition, rivalry among insurance companies and strong bargaining power from clients. Lack of staff involvement, bureaucratic structures and procedures in the company, poor communication of deliverables, and lack of clear guidelines in implementation, were among the internal factors that affected strategy implementation. The study also found out that strategy responses adopted by insurance companies in order to effectively implement their strategies included; rewards being linked to strategy implementation in order to enhance effective execution, lobbying through the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) to address regulatory, economic, political and environmental challenges, reliance on support from the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) to address challenges in pricing and price wars.Recommendations: The study recommended that in order to address the strategy implementation challenges companies must first, avoid resistance by employees towards strategy implementation by ensuring employee involvement in the process, secondly, the companies should also work in lessening the bureaucratic structures and procedures, improving and ensuring effective communication of deliverables to ensure they are well understood by the employees, and also ensuring that clear guidelines in implementation process are laid down before the strategies are implemented.

Purpose: Competition is at the core of existence of firms. This determines the appropriateness of a firm’s activities that can contribute to its performance, such as innovations, a cohesive culture, or good implementation. Many firms have performed poorly in a competitive environemnt due to failure to analyse and strategise on the Porter’s Five Forces, regardless of the industry sector. Competitive strategy aims to establish a profitable and sustainable position against the forces that determine industry competition. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of Porter’s Five Forces on competitive advantage in telecommunication industry in Kenya. The study aims at establishing the extent to which barriers to entry, rivalry among established firms, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers and substitute products influence competitive advantage of telecommunication industry in Kenya. Methodology:The study adopted desktopresearch. Specifically, the paper identified documentary evidence in the form of already completed studies that focused on influence of porters five forces on competitive advantage both locally, regionally and globally. Findings:The study findings indicated that there was threat of new entrants in the teleommunication industry in kenya due to presence of various competing firms. In addition, although the suppliers in the industry had formed associations to negotiate prices with the input providers, the buyers bargaining power was high. The firms had to strategize on how to attract and retain the customers to avoid shifting from one company to the other. Findings on bargaining power of buyers of mobile phone providers indicate that, firms have spent time and energy in ensuring their customers are well protected and incentivized so as to stick to their respective mobile networks. Similarly, findings on intensity of rivalry, indicate that to strategize and win in this highly competitive industry, product differentiation, process innovation, product innovation and technological innovation are some of the strategies the companies use to stay ahead. Findings on threat of substitute products indicate that, the industry has a number of substitutes that can highly influence the profitability of these companies. The study concludes that porters five forces framework indeed influenced performance of telecommunication firms in Kenya. The study also concludes that the threat of new entrants applies to the mobile phone providers in the Kenyan Telecommunication industry due to the presence of various competing organizations. These organizations are offering similar products and services such as mobile money transfer services, handheld devices, airtime and accessories. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy The study recommends that the telecommunication firms should keep monitoring their business environment so as to structure the appropriate strategies to keep up with competition and technological changes.

Purpose: The focus of this study was on assessment of competitive strategies adopted by players in the beer industry in KenyaMethodology: The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive survey research design. There are 11 players in beer industry operating in Kenya. The research therefore took the form of a census study covering all the players in the beer industry in Kenya since the population of 11 firms was considered small enough. Eleven questionnaires were given out though only 10 were considered fit for data analysis. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Findings indicated that players in beer industry in Kenya were faced by several forces that shape competition. These included competitive rivalry, threat of new entrants, bargaining power of suppliers and customers, globalization, regulation and information technology. Players in beer industry in Kenya used cost leadership strategy as a competitive strategy since they attempt to reduce their operational costs in order to deliver the product at the lowest prices. It was also possible to conclude that players in beer industry in Kenya use differentiation as a competitive strategy since they have invested in product research. Players in beer industry in Kenya also used focus as a competitive strategy since they have products for different types of consumers. It was also possible to infer from this study that players in beer industry in Kenya used value disciplines as a competitive strategy.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that players in beer industry should carry out constant environment scanning so as to be able to identify the various forces that affect their operations. In addition, they needed to adopt strategic planning as a tool for planning against any unforeseen events that may destabilize the operations of the company. Finally, it was recommended that these players needed to continue using the various competitive strategies. However, they also needed to factor in the concept of strategy fit by considering the internal capabilities and resources of the firm.

The approval of the Energy Act 2006 in Kenya was followed with energy audits and efficiency campaigns, collaboration by different institutions and specialized training driven using various platforms. The energy audits help in the identification of conservation opportunities. Since 2006, over 1,000 energy audits have been performed. Efforts have been made to advance the management of the energy agenda in addition to establishing an enabling and effective environment through legislation. These methods include energy efficiency campaigns like the replacement of inefficient bulbs with LEDs that targeted more than a million households by the national utility company Kenya Power through its Demand Side Management department. The study adopted a descriptive research design and targeted hotels and restaurants within Nairobi. Primary data was collected by means of a semi structured questionnaire. The same unit is in-charge of ensuring that consumers use the energy they have efficiently by readily offering information. According to the Energy Regulations 2012, Energy audits are compulsory for facilities that have an annual consumption above 180,001 kWh. The sector is regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) which issues licenses through a rigorous process to individuals and firms who have qualified to conduct energy audits within the designated facilities. Learning institutions have also started coming up with specialized training to assist in capacity building of individuals within the sector. Several certification courses which are recognized in the country and internationally have been embraced by the regulating body and the experts in the fraternity. This review paper aimed at investigating the implementation of measures of energy efficiency, savings attained and the challenges faces in different organizations within the hospitality sector in Kenya. The paper aimed at solving the problem of energy efficiency measures in the hospitality sector since there are no proper placed policies managing the energy sector in Kenya

Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) began with a mission to generate investment for infrastructure, renewable energy (RE) and energy-efficient projects in Bangladesh through public–private partnership initiatives. IDCOL started its RE activities in 2003 with a programme named solar home system (SHS). With an installed capacity of 185 MWp, SHSs are positioned in remote areas where grid expansion is difficult and costly. The aim is to ensure access to clean electricity for power-starved off-grid rural communities, which previously relied on kerosene lamps for lighting purposes. The case starts with a depiction of the energy sector in Bangladesh and an overview of IDCOL. The four dimensions of 4A framework are applied to the SHS business model to discuss how it has enriched the lives of more than 12 per cent of the population. IDCOL is expected to face a decline in investments in the RE sector as this flagship SHS Program is currently under threat of becoming non-existent. The case broaches the subject on how IDCOL plans to position itself amidst the dilemma of Bangladesh’s changing market. Dilemma Due the free distribution of SHS by the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) under its safety net programme, IDCOL is expected to face a decline in investments in the RE sector as this flagship SHS Program is currently under threat of becoming non-existent. The case broaches the subject on how IDCOL plans to position itself amidst the dilemma of Bangladesh’s changing market. Theory: 4A framework applied to the Solar Home System business model Type of the Case: Problem-solving, secondary data Protagonist: NA Options Softer financing, expansion in other use segments, developing newer products and exploring different projects, entering markets in other countries Discussions and Case Questions Should IDCOL enter a new market in Bangladesh? Should they invest primarily in grid-connected solar projects and roof-top solar projects under its RE program? Should the firm diversify its portfolio by including industrial energy efficiency, power generation, shipbuilding and shipyard, IT and telecommunication, ports, social and tourism infrastructure and infrastructure backward linkage projects? International advisory service and energy from waste are also lucrative options.

In Pirak Mertosutan Hamlet, Sleman, Yogyakarta, there is a goat farm complex with about 600 m2. The intricate lighting comes from the National Electricity Company (PLN) and the Solar Home System (SHS). SHS is the primary energy source for lighting, while PLN is a secondary energy source that replaces it when the power supply from SHS goes out. So far, the transfer from SHS to PLN has been carried out by humans. This fact is considered inefficient because the SHS supply does not always die during the day. At night, the officers who move the difficulties have to go to the cage complex located relatively far from residential areas. To facilitate the transfer of energy sources from SHS to PLN and vice versa. It does not need to be done by officers. It is necessary to automatically install a means to automatically move the two sources automatically. This tool is the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS). This tool can move the energy supply from SHS to PLN and vice versa. By considering the specifications used in the SHS in the farm complex, the ATS is made and then installed in the farm complex. After the installation is carried out, the functional test is carried out. The ATS installation test results show that the ATS can work according to the design; namely, when the SHS is off, the source used is automatically switched to PLN. When the SHS is on, the source that was using PLN will automatically switch to SHS.

In 2007, Unilever, the world’s largest tea company, announced plans to source its entire tea supply sustainably, beginning with the certification of its tea producers in East Africa to Rainforest Alliance standards. As a major buyer of Kenyan tea, Unilever’s decision pushed tea producers across Kenya to subscribe to Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable agriculture standard in order to maintain access to the global tea market; according to a 2018 report, over 85% of Kenya’s tea producers were Rainforest Alliance certified. Drawing on ethnographic material among supply chain actors across different sites along the sustainable tea value chain (from those designing and disseminating standards to tea traders to smallholder tea farmers), this article examines how these actors frequently attributed the power to determine the outcomes of certification to a faceless ‘market’. Deferring to ‘the market’, we observe, served primarily to mask the outsized power of lead firms (in particular Unilever) to determine conditions of tea production and trade. At the same time, ‘the market’ was also in some cases qualified by our interlocutors, allowing them implicitly (and at times explicitly) to reveal power and give it a face. Concealing and revealing power in this way, we suggest, can be seen as a mode of engagement among supply chain actors operating in ‘sustainable’ supply chains, like the Rainforest Alliance-certified Kenyan tea supply chain, in which the power of lead firms tends to be consolidated through market-driven sustainability initiatives. Such a mode of engagement mitigates exclusion from sustainable supply chains while maintaining space for critique.

The optimization of the energy supply solution of an industrial facility is a main objective of any management program within a company, having as desideratum: quality, safety and flexibility in energy supply. The electricity and heat supply (heat and cold) using a trigeneration plant is a modern technological solution, with high energy efficiency performance and low impact on the environment. Also, this technology is economically efficient, assuring the reduction of the global energy consumption of the industrial society, and implicitly the increasing of the profit. The input data considered in this paper are the values and the characteristics of the demands of the three energy forms belonging to the analysed industrial consumer. The structure of the thermal energy both as heat (technological steam, heating, domestic hot water) and cold (air conditioning) is considered. The consumption of the electricity covers the need of both the technological process and of the buildings (power supply and lighting). In a first stage, the most suitable technological solution for the specific conditions and characteristics of the needs is chosen. The multicriteria analysis of the proposed technological solution is performed during the next stage.

<p class="Els-Abstract-text">Nowadays, the demand of energy in Indonesia is still dominated by fossil fuel. In 2013, fossil fuel contributed 94.3 % of the total energy. Production of fossil fuel or conventional energy sources such as coal, oil, and gas that are widely used to fulfill the energy needs in the world has been decreasing very significantly. One of energy supply problems resulting from the deficiency of fossil fuel energy is unequal distribution of electricity in areas of Indonesia. To overcome the energy supply issues, hence hydrogen can be used as energy supplier because it has been proven to be potential and prospective alternative energy source. The hydrogen resulted from water electrolysis can be used as the main component of fuel cells technology. Fuel cells technology is a kind of renewable energy that is clean and safe. It also has high energy efficiency. Power plant using fuel cells technology is then used as energy supplier for public street lighting in the remote areas which lack of electricity supply from Electricity Company or PLN. However, those areas should have abundant sources of water to be converted into hydrogen. Here we explore the idea of designing Solar Driven Photocatalytic Fuel Cells. The first step is to synthesize nitrogen dopped titanium dioxide (N-TiO₂) nanotubes/dye by using hydrothermal method on Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO) substrate. Then use it as a photoanode, Silicon (Si) is used as cathode by putting the metal into Hydrofluoric acid (HF) liquid. The hydrogen will be generated from water electrolysis. Then use the hydrogen as a fuel. The fuel cells can generate electricity without combustion of fuel and produce zero pollution.</p>

The current development of Smart Grids, combined with the pressure enforced by national legislation as a direct effect of the 2012/27/EU and the 2018/844/EU Directives and the ever-growing energy demand lead to a new set of challenges for both the end-users and the utility companies, under the form of optimizing the EPIs (Energy Performance Indicators), reducing the Environmental Impact and flattening the Power Demand Curve. In this paper, the economical viability and the potential environmental impact reduction obtained by implementing a DSM (Demand–Side Management) program in the Campus of the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest were analysed. The energy boundary consisted of all the 26 Student Dorms and the main Significant Energy Use) consisted of the lighting system. Four different scenarios were conceived, taking into account the initial investment and the energy savings sharing between the end-user and the Utility Company. Based on these scenarios, a technical-economic model is presented. Using the data gathered on-site and the DSM program mode, relevant results were obtained and a development solution for such projects was proposed. In the final part of the paper, the predicted Environmental Impact Reduction was quantified and analysed, under the form of the Carbon Footprint generated, respectively avoided by implementing the most economically efficient DSM program development solution.

The quality of public services that given low by the Limited Liability Company (PLN) on Soe Rayon as a service provider in the field of electricity for the people in South Timor Tengah District, causes public as the customers dissatisfaction.In real terms, the public dissatisfaction is caused by frequent power cuts, which can damage and by the same time disrupt the public activities. Electricity is one of the basic needs in people's daily lives, the function of electricity is used for: energy sources for electronic equipment, lighting, cooking, and as a support in providing health services and so on. The research was conducted at PLN SoeRayon for 4 months, from January to April 2016. This research used Qualitative Descriptive as the approach technique, and purposive sampling as the sampling technique. Primary and secondary data are the types of data sources, while the monitoring instrument uses interview guidelines, which are supported by observation and documentation. Data Analysis used Interactive Model Miles and Huberman, data collection through: data reduction followed by data presentation, and finally conclusions. The results of the analysis in this research indicated that: the quality of existing public services at PLN Soe Rayon was unsatisfactory, Its due to frequent occurrence of power out ages, and the slow service provided by Sub Rayon, and the transactions pay ofworse electricity. The inhibiting factor in providing services at PLN Soe Rayon is the electrical energy sources lack, thenthe natural factors that do not support, and on the other one is there’s theft on this distict, and also the lack of employees. While the supporting factors, physical facilities are sufficient, which have been given to people who are PLN's SoeRayon customers and the ability of employees who are ready to give their good service to the customers.The low quality impact of services provided by the State Electricity Company to customers in the Tobu Health Center, and generally the people of Timor Tengah Selatan Regency is the decline of customer trust to the PLN.

This paper seeks to increase interest level on energy efficiency by bringing to fore payback-period assessment of implementing energy-efficient measures that could help achieve sustainable production processes in a typical medium scale printing manufacturing industry in Lagos, Nigeria. Several energy efficiency measures have been suggested based on identifiable energy management opportunities within this industry. The method used for the economic evaluation and feasibility study is payback period; this approach is aimed at providing guidance for a quick and informed decision on the implementation of the energy efficiency measures identified. The payback for two of these measures namely; turning off equipment when not in use and replacement of drive belts on large motors with energy efficient cog belts, have been found to be immediate. When standard fluorescent lighting and incandescent bulbs are replaced with energy efficient lamps and bank of capacitors are installed to improve the power factor of the motors, the company will recoup its initial investment in less than one year. Also, purchasing and installing an advanced electronic meter with data logging capability to help monitor electrical demand has been shown to give the highest payback of 2.4 years. These payback period results have indicated that investment in the recommended energy efficient technologies are economically viable and worthy of implementation. With this analysis, management of manufacturing industries can now make informed economic decision towards productivity improvement and sustainability.

Performance of the National Treasury is of critical importance since it affects service delivery of other public entities. Low performance levels posted by the National Treasury has drawn a lot of attention from the citizens and corporate stakeholders especially with the ever increasing public debt, challenge in policy formulation and the challenge of adapting to information technology dynamics. Through Employee engagement, both public and private organisations attempt to improve organisational non-financial performance. Employee engagement includes practices such as job design, communication, leadership and rewards. Although many organizations have made efforts to enhance organizational performance, the measures of organizational performance they have adopted have not been appropriate especially for public and non-profit making organizations, for instance; relying on financial performance measures. The general objective of this study therefore was; to establish the effects of employee engagement and non- financial performance of National Treasury in Nairobi, Kenya. The findings of this study would be of great benefit to the National Treasury, Kenya and to all organization in the public. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to assess the effects of job design, leadership, communication and rewards on organizational performance in the public sector in Kenya. This study was anchored on the Work Adjustment Theory, Stakeholder Theory, Social Exchange Theory and Vroom’s Expectancy Theory. This study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was made up of 876 staff of the national treasury and using stratified sampling technique, a sample of 269 was included in the study. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using descriptive analysis and inferential analysis. A positive and significant effect was established between job design, leadership, communication and rewards on performance. The study concludes that the job design specifies the contents and procedures of performing the task in the organization. Hence, it helps in designing organizational structure. Leadership is vital for both in building the strength and power of the organization and in helping to manage relationships and resources. When managers and senior staff are good communicators themselves, they can expect to bring out each individual’s best skills and increase performance and through reward systems the employee will feel more motivated to work harder by having a reward system in place the employee will feel more committed to their work and their productivity will increase. The study recommends that through reward systems the employee will feel more motivated to work harder by having a reward system in place the employee will feel more committed to their work and their productivity will increase. The organization should the organization should establish its leadership standards and define the areas where managers need to excel in terms of directing the work of others. The organizational management should create a job description that eliminates ambiguity by clarifying the responsibilities and expectations for each member of your organization. The management of the organization magnify employee recognition by publicizing employee accomplishments across multiple forums such as company newsletters, dashboards and in team meetings.

A plasma, commonly referred to as the “fourth state of matter,” is an ensemble of randomly moving charged particles with a sufficient particle density to remain, on average, electrically neutral. While their scientific study dates from the 19th century, plasmas are ubiquitous, comprising more than 99% of the known material universe. The term “plasma” was first coined in the 1920s by Irving Langmuir at the General Electric Company after the vague resemblance of a filamented glow discharge to a biological plasma.Plasmas are studied for many reasons. Physicists analyze the collective dynamics of ions and electron ensembles, utilizing principals of classical electromagnetics, and fluid and statistical mechanics, to better understand astrophysical, solar, and ionospheric phenomenon, and in applied problems such as thermonuclear fusion. Electrical engineers use plasmas to develop efficient lighting, and high-power electrical switchgear, and for magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) power conversion. Aerospace engineers apply plasmas for attitude adjustment and electric propulsion of satellites. Chemists, chemical engineers, and materials scientists routinely use plasmas in reactive ion etching and sputter deposition. These methods are commonplace in microelec tronics since they allow synthesis of complex material structures with submicron feature sizes. A substantial portion of the multi-billion-dollar market for tooling used to manufacture semiconductors employs some form of plasma process. When compared with traditional wet-chemistry techniques, these dry processes result in minimal waste generation. Plasmas are also useful in bulk processing—for example as thermal sprays for melting materials.While the quest for controlled thermonuclear fusion dominated much of plasma research in the 1960s and 1970s, in the last 20 years it has been the application of plasmas to materials processing that has provided new challenges for many plasma practitioners. It is not surprising that the guest editors and several of the authors for this issue of MRS Bulletin come from a fusion plasma-physics background.

Dutch electronics company, Philips, is testing LiFi technology. LiFi or Light Fidelity is able to deliver broadband internet connections through light intermediaries. According to Philips Lightning Olivia Qiu's Chief Innovation Officer, LiFi technology has great potential for today's digital era. Indeed, if you look at the current world trend, internet connection has now become one of the daily needs of humans just like the lighting needs produced by Philips massively. When radio frequency becomes increasingly dense, the light spectrum is a large untapped resource [kompas, 2018]. Based on the facts stated that communication using optical fiber becomes very important so that to optimize the fiber optic system an implementation of optical fiber attenuation measurements is made. In this study, the method of implementing the measurement of optical fiber attenuation at a wavelength of 875 nm was introduced. This optical fiber attenuation measurement utilizes transmitter and receiver optical fiber systems that are connected to optical fibers with different lengths and curves. Attenuation for the length of 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 meter optical fibers is 0.034, 0.558, 0.625, 1.156 and 2.170 dB respectively in straight optical fiber conditions. The power values for each optical fiber with lengths 1, 3,4,5 and 6m respectively are 52.21, 51.58, 50.81, 45.08 and 30.05 dB when there are curves. The attenuation values of each 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 m optical fiber lengths are - 0.746, - 0.8, - 0.864, - 1,384 and - 3,145 dB respectively when there is a curve.

Abstract Biochar produced in cookstoves has the potential to contribute to negative carbon emissions through sequestration of biomass carbon while also providing other benefits for sustainable development, including provision of clean renewable energy and increased yields in tropical agriculture. The aim of the reported research was to estimate effects on food production, household energy access and life cycle climate impact from introduction of biochar-producing cookstoves on smallholder farms in Kenya. Participatory research on biochar production and use was undertaken with 150 Kenyan smallholder farming households. Gasifier cookstove functionality, fuel efficiency and emissions were measured, as well as biochar effects on agricultural yields after application to soil. Cookstoves provided benefits through reduced smoke, fuel wood savings and char production, but challenges were found related to labour for fuel preparation, lighting and refilling. On-farm trials with varying rates of biochar inputs, in combination with and without mineral fertilizers, have led to a sustained increase of maize yields following one-time application. The climate impact in a life cycle perspective was considerably lower for the system with cookstove production of biochar and use of biochar in agriculture than for current cooking practices. Climate benefits from biochar production and use are thus possible on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa, through reduced use of biomass in cooking, reduced emissions of products of incomplete combustion and sequestration of stable biochar carbon in soils. Biochar-producing cookstoves can be implemented as a climate change mitigation method in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Successful implementation will require changes in cooking systems including fuel supply, as well as farming systems, which, in turn, requires an understanding of local socio-cultural conditions, including power relations and gender aspects.

Along with the development of technology, PT. PLN (Persero) has developed a product called "Prepaid Electricity".Prepaid electricity PT.PLN a new service for customers to manage power consumption,that came into effect in 2008. In the course of pre-paid electricity it turns out there is still a shortage of electricity that causes consumer complaints in Magelang. Based on the existing background, the authors are interested in researching it.The problem of this thesis research is:1) How is the agreement between the electrical installation of prepaid electricity in Magelang, (2) How does the legal protection prepaid electricity consumers in Magelang, (3) What efforts were made by consumers of electricity when harmed in the use of prepaid electricity in Magelang.The method used in the preparation of this paper uses normative juridical approach. The research material used by the authors consisted of primary legal materials, secondary and tertiary.The data used is secondary data, research specifications is a research-analytical description. This study using purposive sampling method with the research tools shaped open questionnaire respondents as many as 25 people in the area of prepaid electricity consumers Magelang, interviews with officials of PLN Area Magelang and related parties.Based on the research results showed that the electricity trading mechanism consists of a new installation of electric power, electric power changes and migration electricity. Legal protection prepaid electricity include: (1) The Power Purchase Agreement (SPJBTL), these agreements can be categorized as a standard contract.If the terms of consumer protection laws, clauses in SPJBTL still containing the exoneration clause, thus infringing the rights of consumers,2)Prepaid electricity rates are more expensive than postpaid electricity, this is caused by the electrical installation is not appropriate. Another factor that is coming into effect of the tariff adjustment is affected by the dollar exchange rate, crude oil prices and inflation, causing prices to fluctuate basic tariffs, (3) Their administrative costs and of street lighting tax (PPJ) charged to electricity consumers. Token purchase electricity online through bank services is what causes the emergence of administrative costs, because the bank as a company whose orientation also for profit. If the terms of consumer protection law, the imposition of administrative costs should be the responsibility of the PLN. While RPM is set by the government tax Magelang, PLN only as the tax collector, 4)Electricity consumers are not given the right to choose when it will perform a new installation or additional power, if the terms of consumer protection laws, the violation of consumer rights. Settlement of disputes in the area of prepaid electricity Magelang, completed with a direct way between PLN and consumers. Consumers are harmed can submit a complaint directly to PLN through the contact center "PLN 123”.In principle PLN Magelang emphasizes dispute resolution deliberation, to reaching an agreement and promote justice between PLN and consumers

Environments containing significant concentration of NaCl such as salt lakes harbor extremophiles microorganisms which have a great biotechnology interest. To explore the diversity of Bacteria in Chott Tinsilt (Algeria), an isolation program was performed. Water samples were collected from the saltern during the pre-salt harvesting phase. This Chott is high in salt (22.47% (w/v). Seven halophiles Bacteria were selected for further characterization. The isolated strains were able to grow optimally in media with 10–25% (w/v) total salts. Molecular identification of the isolates was performed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. It showed that these cultured isolates included members belonging to the Halomonas, Staphylococcus, Salinivibrio, Planococcus and Halobacillus genera with less than 98% of similarity with their closest phylogenetic relative. The halophilic bacterial isolates were also characterized for the production of biosurfactant and industrially important enzymes. Most isolates produced hydrolases and biosurfactants at high salt concentration. In fact, this is the first report on bacterial strains (A4 and B4) which were a good biosurfactant and coagulase producer at 20% and 25% ((w/v)) NaCl. In addition, the biosurfactant produced by the strain B4 at high salinity (25%) was also stable at high temperature (30-100°C) and high alkalinity (pH 11).Key word: Salt Lake, Bacteria, biosurfactant, Chott, halophiles, hydrolases, 16S rRNAINTRODUCTIONSaline lakes cover approximately 10% of the Earth’s surface area. The microbial populations of many hypersaline environments have already been studied in different geographical regions such as Great Salt Lake (USA), Dead Sea (Israel), Wadi Natrun Lake (Egypt), Lake Magadi (Kenya), Soda Lake (Antarctica) and Big Soda Lake and Mono Lake (California). Hypersaline regions differ from each other in terms of geographical location, salt concentration and chemical composition, which determine the nature of inhabitant microorganisms (Gupta et al., 2015). Then low taxonomic diversity is common to all these saline environments (Oren et al., 1993). Halophiles are found in nearly all major microbial clades, including prokaryotic (Bacteria and Archaea) and eukaryotic forms (DasSarma and Arora, 2001). They are classified as slight halophiles when they grow optimally at 0.2–0.85 M (2–5%) NaCl, as moderate halophiles when they grow at 0.85–3.4 M (5–20%) NaCl, and as extreme halophiles when they grow at 3.4–5.1 M (20–30%) NaCl. Hyper saline environments are inhabited by extremely halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms such as Halobacillus sp, Halobacterium sp., Haloarcula sp., Salinibacter ruber , Haloferax sp and Bacillus spp. (Solomon and Viswalingam, 2013). There is a tremendous demand for halophilic bacteria due to their biotechnological importance as sources of halophilic enzymes. Enzymes derived from halophiles are endowed with unique structural features and catalytic power to sustain the metabolic and physiological processes under high salt conditions. Some of these enzymes have been reported to be active and stable under more than one extreme condition (Karan and Khare, 2010). Applications are being considered in a range of industries such as food processing, washing, biosynthetic processes and environmental bioremediation. Halophilic proteases are widely used in the detergent and food industries (DasSarma and Arora, 2001). However, esterases and lipases have also been useful in laundry detergents for the removal of oil stains and are widely used as biocatalysts because of their ability to produce pure compounds. Likewise, amylases are used industrially in the first step of the production of high fructose corn syrup (hydrolysis of corn starch). They are also used in the textile industry in the de-sizing process and added to laundry detergents. Furthermore, for the environmental applications, the use of halophiles for bioremediation and biodegradation of various materials from industrial effluents to soil contaminants and accidental spills are being widely explored. In addition to enzymes, halophilic / halotolerants microorganisms living in saline environments, offer another potential applications in various fields of biotechnology like the production of biosurfactant. Biosurfactants are amphiphilic compounds synthesized from plants and microorganisms. They reduce surface tension and interfacial tension between individual molecules at the surface and interface respectively (Akbari et al., 2018). Comparing to the chemical surfactant, biosurfactant are promising alternative molecules due to their low toxicity, high biodegradability, environmental capability, mild production conditions, lower critical micelle concentration, higher selectivity, availability of resources and ability to function in wide ranges of pH, temperature and salinity (Rocha et al., 1992). They are used in various industries which include pharmaceuticals, petroleum, food, detergents, cosmetics, paints, paper products and water treatment (Akbari et al., 2018). The search for biosurfactants in extremophiles is particularly promising since these biomolecules can adapt and be stable in the harsh environments in which they are to be applied in biotechnology.OBJECTIVESEastern Algeria features numerous ecosystems including hypersaline environments, which are an important source of salt for food. The microbial diversity in Chott Tinsilt, a shallow Salt Lake with more than 200g/L salt concentration and a superficies of 2.154 Ha, has never yet been studied. The purpose of this research was to chemically analyse water samples collected from the Chott, isolate novel extremely or moderate halophilic Bacteria, and examine their phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics with a view to screening for biosurfactants and enzymes of industrial interest.MATERIALS AND METHODSStudy area: The area is at 5 km of the Commune of Souk-Naâmane and 17 km in the South of the town of Aïn-Melila. This area skirts the trunk road 3 serving Constantine and Batna and the railway Constantine-Biskra. It is part the administrative jurisdiction of the Wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi. The Chott belongs to the wetlands of the High Plains of Constantine with a depth varying rather regularly without never exceeding 0.5 meter. Its length extends on 4 km with a width of 2.5 km (figure 1).Water samples and physico-chemical analysis: In February 2013, water samples were collected from various places at the Chott Tinsilt using Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of 35°53’14” N lat. and 06°28’44”E long. Samples were collected randomly in sterile polythene bags and transported immediately to the laboratory for isolation of halophilic microorganisms. All samples were treated within 24 h after collection. Temperature, pH and salinity were measured in situ using a multi-parameter probe (Hanna Instruments, Smithfield, RI, USA). The analytical methods used in this study to measure ions concentration (Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Na+, K+, Cl−, HCO3−, SO42−) were based on 4500-S-2 F standard methods described elsewhere (Association et al., 1920).Isolation of halophilic bacteria from water sample: The media (M1) used in the present study contain (g/L): 2.0 g of KCl, 100.0/200.0 g of NaCl, 1.0 g of MgSO4.7HO2, 3.0 g of Sodium Citrate, 0.36 g of MnCl2, 10.0 g of yeast extract and 15.0 g agar. The pH was adjusted to 8.0. Different dilutions of water samples were added to the above medium and incubated at 30°C during 2–7 days or more depending on growth. Appearance and growth of halophilic bacteria were monitored regularly. The growth was diluted 10 times and plated on complete medium agar (g/L): glucose 10.0; peptone 5.0; yeast extract 5.0; KH2PO4 5.0; agar 30.0; and NaCl 100.0/200.0. Resultant colonies were purified by repeated streaking on complete media agar. The pure cultures were preserved in 20% glycerol vials and stored at −80°C for long-term preservation.Biochemical characterisation of halophilic bacterial isolates: Bacterial isolates were studied for Gram’s reaction, cell morphology and pigmentation. Enzymatic assays (catalase, oxidase, nitrate reductase and urease), and assays for fermentation of lactose and mannitol were done as described by Smibert (1994).Optimization of growth conditions: Temperature, pH, and salt concentration were optimized for the growth of halophilic bacterial isolates. These growth parameters were studied quantitatively by growing the bacterial isolates in M1 medium with shaking at 200 rpm and measuring the cell density at 600 nm after 8 days of incubation. To study the effect of NaCl on the growth, bacterial isolates were inoculated on M1 medium supplemented with different concentration of NaCl: 1%-35% (w/v). The effect of pH on the growth of halophilic bacterial strains was studied by inoculating isolates on above described growth media containing NaCl and adjusted to acidic pH of 5 and 6 by using 1N HCl and alkaline pH of 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 using 5N NaOH. The effect of temperature was studied by culturing the bacterial isolates in M1 medium at different temperatures of incubation (4°C–55°C).Screening of halophilic bacteria for hydrolytic enzymes: Hydrolase producing bacteria among the isolates were screened by plate assay on starch, tributyrin, gelatin and DNA agar plates respectively for amylase, lipase, protease and DNAse activities. Amylolytic activity of the cultures was screened on starch nutrient agar plates containing g/L: starch 10.0; peptone 5.0; yeast extract 3.0; agar 30.0; NaCl 100.0/250.0. The pH was 7.0. After incubation at 30 ºC for 7 days, the zone of clearance was determined by flooding the plates with iodine solution. The potential amylase producers were selected based on ratio of zone of clearance diameter to colony diameter. Lipase activity of the cultures was screened on tributyrin nutrient agar plates containing 1% (v/v) of tributyrin. Isolates that showed clear zones of tributyrin hydrolysis were identified as lipase producing bacteria. Proteolytic activity of the isolates was similarly screened on gelatin nutrient agar plates containing 10.0 g/L of gelatin. The isolates showing zones of gelatin clearance upon treatment with acidic mercuric chloride were selected and designated as protease producing bacteria. The presence of DNAse activity on plates was determined on DNAse test agar (BBL) containing 10%-25% (w/v) total salt. After incubation for 7days, the plates were flooded with 1N HCl solution. Clear halos around the colonies indicated DNAse activity (Jeffries et al., 1957).Milk clotting activity (coagulase activity) of the isolates was also determined following the procedure described (Berridge, 1952). Skim milk powder was reconstituted in 10 mM aqueous CaCl2 (pH 6.5) to a final concentration of 0.12 kg/L. Enzyme extracts were added at a rate of 0.1 mL per mL of milk. The coagulation point was determined by manual rotating of the test tube periodically, at short time intervals, and checking for visible clot formation.Screening of halophilic bacteria for biosurfactant production. Oil spread Assay: The Petridis base was filled with 50 mL of distilled water. On the water surface, 20μL of diesel and 10μl of culture were added respectively. The culture was introduced at different spots on the diesel, which is coated on the water surface. The occurrence of a clear zone was an indicator of positive result (Morikawa et al., 2000). The diameter of the oil expelling circles was measured by slide caliber (with a degree of accuracy of 0.02 mm).Surface tension and emulsification index (E24): Isolates were cultivated at 30 °C for 7 days on the enrichment medium containing 10-25% NaCl and diesel oil as the sole carbon source. The medium was centrifuged (7000 rpm for 20 min) and the surface tension of the cell-free culture broth was measured with a TS90000 surface tensiometer (Nima, Coventry, England) as a qualitative indicator of biosurfactant production. The culture broth was collected with a Pasteur pipette to remove the non-emulsified hydrocarbons. The emulsifying capacity was evaluated by an emulsification index (E24). The E24 of culture samples was determined by adding 2 mL of diesel oil to the same amount of culture, mixed for 2 min with a vortex, and allowed to stand for 24 h. E24 index is defined as the percentage of height of emulsified layer (mm) divided by the total height of the liquid column (mm).Biosurfactant stability studies : After growth on diesel oil as sole source of carbone, cultures supernatant obtained after centrifugation at 6,000 rpm for 15 min were considered as the source of crude biosurfactant. Its stability was determined by subjecting the culture supernatant to various temperature ranges (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 100 °C) for 30 min then cooled to room temperature. Similarly, the effect of different pH (2–11) on the activity of the biosurfactant was tested. The activity of the biosurfactant was investigated by measuring the emulsification index (El-Sersy, 2012).Molecular identification of potential strains. DNA extraction and PCR amplification of 16S rDNA: Total cellular DNA was extracted from strains and purified as described by Sambrook et al. (1989). DNA was purified using Geneclean® Turbo (Q-BIO gene, Carlsbad, CA, USA) before use as a template in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. For the 16S rDNA gene sequence, the purified DNA was amplified using a universal primer set, forward primer (27f; 5′-AGA GTT TGA TCM TGG CTC AG) and a reverse primer (1492r; 5′-TAC GGY TAC CTT GTT ACG ACT T) (Lane, 1991). Agarose gel electrophoresis confirmed the amplification product as a 1400-bp DNA fragment.16S rDNA sequencing and Phylogenic analysis: Amplicons generated using primer pair 27f-1492r was sequenced using an automatic sequencer system at Macrogene Company (Seoul, Korea). The sequences were compared with those of the NCBI BLAST GenBank nucleotide sequence databases. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the neighbor-joining method using MEGA version 5.05 software (Tamura et al., 2011). Bootstrap resembling analysis for 1,000 replicates was performed to estimate the confidence of tree topologies.Nucleotide sequence accession numbers: The nucleotide sequences reported in this work have been deposited in the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database. The accession numbers are represented in table 5.Statistics: All experiments were conducted in triplicates. Results were evaluated for statistical significance using ANOVA.RESULTSPhysico-chemical parameters of the collected water samples: The physicochemical properties of the collected water samples are reported in table 1. At the time of sampling, the temperature was 10.6°C and pH 7.89. The salinity of the sample, as determined in situ, was 224.70 g/L (22,47% (w/v)). Chemical analysis of water sample indicated that Na +and Cl- were the most abundant ions (table 1). SO4-2 and Mg+2 was present in much smaller amounts compared to Na +and Cl- concentration. Low levels of calcium, potassium and bicarbonate were also detected, often at less than 1 g/L.Characterization of isolates. Morphological and biochemical characteristic feature of halophilic bacterial isolates: Among 52 strains isolated from water of Chott Tinsilt, seven distinct bacteria (A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B4 and B5) were chosen for further characterization (table 2). The colour of the isolates varied from beige, pale yellow, yellowish and orange. The bacterial isolates A1, A2, A4, B1 and B5 were rod shaped and gram negative (except B5), whereas A3 and B4 were cocci and gram positive. All strains were oxidase and catalase positive except for B1. Nitrate reductase and urease activities were observed in all the bacterial isolates, except B4. All the bacterial isolates were negative for H2S formation. B5 was the only strain positive for mannitol fermentation (table 2).We isolated halophilic bacteria on growth medium with NaCl supplementation at pH 7 and temperature of 30°C. We studied the effect of NaCl, temperature and pH on the growth of bacterial isolates. All the isolates exhibited growth only in the presence of NaCl indicating that these strains are halophilic. The optimum growth of isolates A3 and B1 was observed in the presence of 10% NaCl, whereas it was 15% NaCl for A1, A2 and B5. A4 and B4 showed optimum growth in the presence of 20% and 25% NaCl respectively. A4, B4 and B5 strains can tolerate up to 35% NaCl.The isolate B1 showed growth in medium supplemented with 10% NaCl and pH range of 7–10. The optimum pH for the growth B1 was 9 and they did not show any detectable growth at or below pH 6 (table 2), which indicates the alkaliphilic nature of B1 isolate. The bacterial isolates A1, A2 and A4 exhibited growth in the range of pH 6–10, while A3 and B4 did not show any growth at pH greater than 8. The optimum pH for growth of all strains (except B1) was pH 7.0 (table 2). These results indicate that A1, A2, A3, A4, B4 and B5 are neutrophilic in nature. All the bacterial isolates exhibited optimal growth at 30°C and no detectable growth at 55°C. Also, detectable growth of isolates A1, A2 and A4 was observed at 4°C. However, none of the bacterial strains could grow below 4°C and above 50°C (table 2).Screening of the halophilic enzymes: To characterize the diversity of halophiles able to produce hydrolytic enzymes among the population of microorganisms inhabiting the hypersaline habitats of East Algeria (Chott Tinsilt), a screening was performed. As described in Materials and Methods, samples were plated on solid media containing 10%-25% (w/v) of total salts and different substrates for the detection of amylase, protease, lipase and DNAse activities. However, coagulase activity was determined in liquid medium using milk as substrate (figure 3). Distributions of hydrolytic activity among the isolates are summarized in table 4.From the seven bacterial isolates, four strains A1, A2, A4 and B5 showed combined hydrolytic activities. They were positive for gelatinase, lipase and coagulase. A3 strain showed gelatinase and lipase activities. DNAse activities were detected with A1, A4, B1 and B5 isolates. B4 presented lipase and coagulase activity. Surprisingly, no amylase activity was detected among all the isolates.Screening for biosurfactant producing isolates: Oil spread assay: The results showed that all the strains could produce notable (>4 cm diameter) oil expelling circles (ranging from 4.11 cm to 4.67 cm). The average diameter for strain B5 was 4.67 cm, significantly (P < 0.05) higher than for the other strains.Surface tension and emulsification index (E24): The assimilation of hydrocarbons as the sole sources of carbon by the isolate strains led to the production of biosurfactants indicated by the emulsification index and the lowering of the surface tension of cell-free supernatant. Based on rapid growth on media containing diesel oil as sole carbon source, the seven isolates were tested for biosurfactant production and emulsification activity. The obtained values of the surface tension measurements as well as the emulsification index (E24) are shown in table 3. The highest reduction of surface tension was achieved with B5 and A3 isolates with values of 25.3 mN m−1 and 28.1 mN m−1 respectively. The emulsifying capacity evaluated by the E24 emulsification index was highest in the culture of isolate B4 (78%), B5 (77%) and A3 (76%) as shown in table 3 and figure 2. These emulsions were stable even after 4 months. The bacteria with emulsification indices higher than 50 % and/or reduction in the surface tension (under 30 mN/m) have been defined as potential biosurfactant producers. Based on surface tension and the E24 index results, isolates B5, B4, A3 and A4 are the best candidates for biosurfactant production. It is important to note that, strains B4 and A4 produce biosurfactant in medium containing respectively 25% and 20% (w/v) NaCl.Stability of biosurfactant activities: The applicability of biosurfactants in several biotechnological fields depends on their stability at different environmental conditions (temperatures, pH and NaCl). For this study, the strain B4 appear very interesting (It can produce biosurfactant at 25 % NaCl) and was choosen for futher analysis for biosurfactant stability. The effects of temperature and pH on the biosurfactant production by the strain B4 are shown in figure 4.biosurfactant in medium containing respectively 25% and 20% (w/v) NaCl.Stability of biosurfactant activities: The applicability of biosurfactants in several biotechnological fields depends on their stability at different environmental conditions (temperatures, pH and NaCl). For this study, the strain B4 appear very interesting (It can produce biosurfactant at 25 % NaCl) and was chosen for further analysis for biosurfactant stability. The effects of temperature and pH on the biosurfactant production by the strain B4 are shown in figure 4. The biosurfactant produced by this strain was shown to be thermostable giving an E-24 Index value greater than 78% (figure 4A). Heating of the biosurfactant to 100 °C caused no significant effect on the biosurfactant performance. Therefore, the surface activity of the crude biosurfactant supernatant remained relatively stable to pH changes between pH 6 and 11. At pH 11, the value of E24 showed almost 76% activity, whereas below pH 6 the activity was decreased up to 40% (figure 4A). The decreases of the emulsification activity by decreasing the pH value from basic to an acidic region; may be due to partial precipitation of the biosurfactant. This result indicated that biosurfactant produced by strain B4 show higher stability at alkaline than in acidic conditions.Molecular identification and phylogenies of potential isolates: To identify halophilic bacterial isolates, the 16S rDNA gene was amplified using gene-specific primers. A PCR product of ≈ 1.3 kb was detected in all the seven isolates. The 16S rDNA amplicons of each bacterial isolate was sequenced on both strands using 27F and 1492R primers. The complete nucleotide sequence of 1336,1374, 1377,1313, 1305,1308 and 1273 bp sequences were obtained from A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B4 and B5 isolates respectively, and subjected to BLAST analysis. The 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that the isolated strains belong to the genera Halomonas, Staphylococcus, Salinivibrio, Planococcus and Halobacillus as shown in table 5. The halophilic isolates A2 and A4 showed 97% similarity with the Halomonas variabilis strain GSP3 (accession no. AY505527) and the Halomonas sp. M59 (accession no. AM229319), respectively. As for A1, it showed 96% similarity with the Halomonas venusta strain GSP24 (accession no. AY553074). B1 and B4 showed for their part 96% similarity with the Salinivibrio costicola subsp. alcaliphilus strain 18AG DSM4743 (accession no. NR_042255) and the Planococcus citreus (accession no. JX122551), respectively. The bacterial isolate B5 showed 98% sequence similarity with the Halobacillus trueperi (accession no. HG931926), As for A3, it showed only 95% similarity with the Staphylococcus arlettae (accession no. KR047785). The 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences of all the seven halophilic bacterial strains have been submitted to the NCBI GenBank database under the accession number presented in table 5. The phylogenetic association of the isolates is shown in figure 5.DICUSSIONThe physicochemical properties of the collected water samples indicated that this water was relatively neutral (pH 7.89) similar to the Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake (USA) and in contrast to the more basic lakes such as Lake Wadi Natrun (Egypt) (pH 11) and El Golea Salt Lake (Algeria) (pH 9). The salinity of the sample was 224.70 g/L (22,47% (w/v). This range of salinity (20-30%) for Chott Tinsilt is comparable to a number of well characterized hypersaline ecosystems including both natural and man-made habitats, such as the Great Salt Lake (USA) and solar salterns of Puerto Rico. Thus, Chott Tinsilt is a hypersaline environment, i.e. environments with salt concentrations well above that of seawater. Chemical analysis of water sample indicated that Na +and Cl- were the most abundant ions, as in most hypersaline ecosystems (with some exceptions such as the Dead Sea). These chemical water characteristics were consistent with the previously reported data in other hypersaline ecosystems (DasSarma and Arora, 2001; Oren, 2002; Hacěne et al., 2004). Among 52 strains isolated from this Chott, seven distinct bacteria (A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B4 and B5) were chosen for phenotypique, genotypique and phylogenetique characterization.The 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that the isolated strains belong to the genera Halomonas, Staphylococcus, Salinivibrio, Planococcus and Halobacillus. Genera obtained in the present study are commonly occurring in various saline habitats across the globe. Staphylococci have the ability to grow in a wide range of salt concentrations (Graham and Wilkinson, 1992; Morikawa et al., 2009; Roohi et al., 2014). For example, in Pakistan, Staphylococcus strains were isolated from various salt samples during the study conducted by Roohi et al. (2014) and these results agreed with previous reports. Halomonas, halophilic and/or halotolerant Gram-negative bacteria are typically found in saline environments (Kim et al., 2013). The presence of Planococcus and Halobacillus has been reported in studies about hypersaline lakes; like La Sal del Rey (USA) (Phillips et al., 2012) and Great Salt Lake (Spring et al., 1996), respectively. The Salinivibrio costicola was a representative model for studies on osmoregulatory and other physiological mechanisms of moderately halophilic bacteria (Oren, 2006).However, it is interesting to note that all strains shared less than 98.7% identity (the usual species cut-off proposed by Yarza et al. (2014) with their closest phylogenetic relative, suggesting that they could be considered as new species. Phenotypic, genetic and phylogenetic analyses have been suggested for the complete identification of these strains. Theses bacterial strains were tested for the production of industrially important enzymes (Amylase, protease, lipase, DNAse and coagulase). These isolates are good candidates as sources of novel enzymes with biotechnological potential as they can be used in different industrial processes at high salt concentration (up to 25% NaCl for B4). Prominent amylase, lipase, protease and DNAase activities have been reported from different hypersaline environments across the globe; e.g., Spain (Sánchez‐Porro et al., 2003), Iran (Rohban et al., 2009), Tunisia (Baati et al., 2010) and India (Gupta et al., 2016). However, to the best of our knowledge, the coagulase activity has never been detected in extreme halophilic bacteria. Isolation and characterization of crude enzymes (especially coagulase) to investigate their properties and stability are in progress.The finding of novel enzymes with optimal activities at various ranges of salt concentrations is of great importance. Besides being intrinsically stable and active at high salt concentrations, halophilic and halotolerant enzymes offer great opportunities in biotechnological applications, such as environmental bioremediation (marine, oilfiel) and food processing. The bacterial isolates were also characterized for production of biosurfactants by oil-spread assay, measurement of surface tension and emulsification index (E24). There are few reports on biosurfactant producers in hypersaline environments and in recent years, there has been a greater increase in interest and importance in halophilic bacteria for biomolecules (Donio et al., 2013; Sarafin et al., 2014). Halophiles, which have a unique lipid composition, may have an important role to play as surface-active agents. The archae bacterial ether-linked phytanyl membrane lipid of the extremely halophilic bacteria has been shown to have surfactant properties (Post and Collins, 1982). Yakimov et al. (1995) reported the production of biosurfactant by a halotolerant Bacillus licheniformis strain BAS 50 which was able to produce a lipopeptide surfactant when cultured at salinities up to 13% NaCl. From solar salt, Halomonas sp. BS4 and Kocuria marina BS-15 were found to be able to produce biosurfactant when cultured at salinities of 8% and 10% NaCl respectively (Donio et al., 2013; Sarafin et al., 2014). In the present work, strains B4 and A4 produce biosurfactant in medium containing respectively 25% and 20% NaCl. To our knowledge, this is the first report on biosurfactant production by bacteria under such salt concentration. Biosurfactants have a wide variety of industrial and environmental applications (Akbari et al., 2018) but their applicability depends on their stability at different environmental conditions. The strain B4 which can produce biosurfactant at 25% NaCl showed good stability in alkaline pH and at a temperature range of 30°C-100°C. Due to the enormous utilization of biosurfactant in detergent manufacture the choice of alkaline biosurfactant is researched (Elazzazy et al., 2015). On the other hand, the interesting finding was the thermostability of the produced biosurfactant even after heat treatment (100°C for 30 min) which suggests the use of this biosurfactant in industries where heating is of a paramount importance (Khopade et al., 2012). To date, more attention has been focused on biosurfactant producing bacteria under extreme conditions for industrial and commercial usefulness. In fact, the biosurfactant produce by strain B4 have promising usefulness in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries and for bioremediation in marine environment and Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) where the salinity, temperature and pH are high.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study on the culturable halophilic bacteria community inhabiting Chott Tinsilt in Eastern Algeria. Different genera of halotolerant bacteria with different phylogeneticaly characteristics have been isolated from this Chott. Culturing of bacteria and their molecular analysis provides an opportunity to have a wide range of cultured microorganisms from extreme habitats like hypersaline environments. Enzymes produced by halophilic bacteria show interesting properties like their ability to remain functional in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, wide range of pH, and high salt concentrations. These enzymes have great economical potential in industrial, agricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological applications. Thus, the halophiles isolated from Chott Tinsilt offer an important potential for application in microbial and enzyme biotechnology. In addition, these halo bacterial biosurfactants producers isolated from this Chott will help to develop more valuable eco-friendly products to the pharmacological and food industries and will be usefulness for bioremediation in marine environment and petroleum industry.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSOur thanks to Professor Abdelhamid Zoubir for proofreading the English composition of the present paper.CONFLICT OF INTERESTThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.Akbari, S., N. H. Abdurahman, R. M. Yunus, F. Fayaz and O. R. Alara, 2018. Biosurfactants—a new frontier for social and environmental safety: A mini review. Biotechnology research innovation, 2(1): 81-90.Association, A. P. H., A. W. W. Association, W. P. C. 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