Sambala-initiatives

The Sambala Vision
To understand Sambala is to understand our vision of Sambala as a 'sustainable development, smart investment'. Our vision of sustainable development stems from the fact that as the largest private land owner in Cape Verde, with a 20 sq km parcel of land, Sambala has very considerable responsibilities to sustain both Cape Verde and her people.

Our vision is to always embrace and enhance, rather than change, the islands and the islanders way of life and this is only possible if Sambala remains a vertically integrated developer / resort manager - accountable and responsible for all decisions, at all times.

Infrastructure
€8 million has already been spent on Electricity, sewage, irrigation with €3.6 million spent on the water desalination plant.

Sambala have recently invested €3.6 million into a reverse osmosis desalination plant which re-uses 85% of its power through an energy recovery system. This system is the most energy efficient system available on the market. The pressure exchange energy recovery system allows the plant to produce fresh water at an electrical requirement of less than 3.5kWh per cubic meter of product water compared to about 10 to 12 kWh with conventional systems. We are thus able to recover approximately 95% of the concentrate pressure. This means that the system uses only one third of the energy used in normal desalination plants.

The waste water treatment plant can recycle 80% of the water and this is used for irrigation of the planted areas. The bio reactor uses natural biomass to break down human solid waste and then converts it into an odourless pellet which will be used to fertilise the planting in combination from the seed cake from the Jatropha plant.

The irrigation system is computer controlled supplied by Hunters Inc. The main features being an underground system of drip feeding pipes, which lock the moisture in the earth unlike sprinklers which cause the majority of water to evaporate.

Community initiatives
Sambala are a socially responsible project, sponsoring a number of initiatives including local schools, to create improved facilities and education to both children up to 12 years of age as well as adults, including providing teachers, books and computers with courses for learning English and French and vocational training in aspects of the leisure industry. We are also providing new buses for older pupils to get to college in the City of Praia.

Sambala has recently connected the running water from the desalination plant to the Village of Vale da Custa. This is a village which Sambala are relocating and rebuilding using the same materials as the Sambala resort. Sambala has pledged to build a church, school, health clinic and community centre and provide electricity and water.

Sambala employ directly and indirectly, approximately 500 people from Santiago Island. The key workforce is encouraged to learn English as it will be these workers which will eventually work servicing the resort and its' guests.

Eco-initiatives

Turtle Conservation
Sambala has pledged to protect and conserve the 5 varieties of turtles (Loggerhead, Leatherbacks, green, hawksbills and Olive Ridley).

Additionally, as a way to teach the local communities about conservation, Sambala invites local children to assist with the releasing of baby hawksbill turtles into the wild from one of our beaches which will be used as a secure location to monitor and protect turtles that lay their eggs there.

Recycling
Sambala has also created a recycling area for plastic and glass and is also planning construct an asphalt production plant to using these materials to produce tarmac which will be used for road building in Santiago and the resort.

Land Conservation
One third of Sambalas' 20 sq km of land will be a conservation zone or biological corridor with eco observation stations and wilderness trails for tourists and the local community. There will be no residential or commercial development and in this area will be a strict exclusion policy.

Eco-Construction
Each property is constructed from an 85% recycled steel frame that is externally clad (made from old Cadillacs) which minimizes the use of precious resources locally. The steel frame negates the necessity to use water, sand and lime and is a much faster and lower energy method of construction. The ratio of construction/ green areas within the resort runs at 28/72 %. A ratio that is unprecedented in other developments.

Solar-Power
Sambala is currently monitoring two different types of solar panels with a view to incorporate them into the next phase to add to the suite of energy saving and clean development mechanisms (CDM's) we are striving to implement in order to reduce our impact to local resources. These systems will be used to provide hot water and electricity.

Furniture
Sambala furniture packs are all ecologically sourced, made from reclaimed teak from India or FSC certified timber.