Tanzania to benefit from power scheme
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Tanzania will this year be one of the Sub-Saharan African countries set to benefit from an ambitious energy project for off-grid households in the developing world, an official said at the weekend.
The 10-million-US dollar project is a brain child of Fidelity Growth Partners India (FGPI) and Greenlight Planet (GLP), a leading US-based company that distributes solar energy products for rural areas in developing countries.
Greenlight Planet has experienced rapid growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and India, selling over three million rooftop solar lighting and phone charging devices that have improved the lives of over 15 million people living in rural and underelectrified areas.
These devices will generate 55 million kilowatt-hours of energy, offset 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and save their users over 340 million US dollars in fuel costs over their lifetime.
“As a result of this financing, we’re building the world’s largest rooftop solar consumer base in the developing world, and we’re investing especially to expand distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa,” GLP Chief Executive Officer Anish Thakkar said in an interview.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa live off the electric grid, spending 11 billion dollars annually on kerosene, batteries and candles for light.
Greenlight Planet, with its Sun King family of solar lighting and phone charging devices, expects to reach 100 million off-grid households by 2020, CEO Mr Thakkar said.
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“We see tremendous potential to provide affordable solar energy solutions for consumers in the developing world,” said Mr Kabir Narang, Managing Director of Fidelity Growth Partners India.
“Greenlight Planet has established itself as a product leader in the fast-growing off-grid energy segment. We are excited to partner with Greenlight Planet and its exceptional management team as the company embarks on its next phase of growth,” Mr Narang added.
He said over 1.2 billion people worldwide live off the electric grid and use dim, smoky kerosene lanterns for light. Established in 2007, Greenlight Planet provides solar power devices to 6,000 villages in India, Kenya and Uganda.
According to GLP studies, Africa has an approximately 600 people who have no access to electricity, relying mainly on expensive and dangerous means such as candles, kerosene and battery lights.
countries which will benefit from the energy scheme include Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia and Uganda. Tanzania, in particular, will be provided with access to affordable agricultural and energy through distribution of the lights to the rural homes.
By ALPHA NUHU, Tanzania Daily News