Friday, 02 September

Dear <<First Name>>

One of the most innovative companies in Africa’s off-grid renewable energy space looks set for further expansion after it was announced this week that it had secured GBP1 million from All On.

Solar-powered battery rental business, Mobile Power, provides affordable energy and transport solutions to low-income communities across Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, The Gambia and Zambia. The company has been a valued investee of the Camco-managed Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP) since 2020.

One of the standout characteristics of Mobile Power's Battery-as-a-Service rental model is its flexibility, allowing customers to rent batteries at a low cost and in 24-hour increments. This innovative approach enables the company to meet people’s needs - and budgets - in markets that are underserved by existing electrification models. And with around 500,000 monthly rentals currently and the creation of 500 local full-time jobs - 37% of which are filled by women – the model is clearly working.

I am particularly excited by the launch of Mobile Power’s latest product, the “MOPOMax”, which is powerful enough to replace petrol generators for powering businesses and larger homes, as well as motorbikes, tuk-tuks, agricultural tricycles and more. As a low-carbon and affordable energy solution that carries significant health benefits, not to mention noise reduction, it’s an outstanding example of innovation in action.

If you are interested in finding out more about REPP’s involvement in Mobile Power, click here.

Cheers 

Geoff Sinclair

Managing Director, Camco Clean Energy

West Africa

Nigeria: All-On invests GBP1 million in Mobile Power (Techeconomy)
- The Shell-funded impact investment company’s investment will support the expansion of the pay-per-use battery sharing platform in the country. 

Nigeria: Government launches Energy Transition Plan to tackle climate change and energy poverty (ESI Africa)
- Speaking at the launch, Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo said the country would be seeking USD10 billion from international partners to fund the plan.

East Africa

Ethiopia: Marriott Drilling Group secures ”seven figure loan” to support two geothermal sites (Afrik 21)
- The funding from NPIF-Mercia Debt Finance will support the UK-based company’s working capital needs in the ongoing drilling operations at the sites in Tulu Moye and Hawassa. 

Uganda: Aptech commissions hybrid PV system for electric motorcycles (ESI Africa)
- The system consists of solar PV panels with battery storage and is integrated with the city’s grid.  It will be used to recharge 20-30 bikes per day, reduce clients’ electricity bills and provide a reliable power supply. 

Uganda: Implementation of the Grid Expansion and Reinforcement Project (GERP) begins (The Monitor)
- The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited has started work on the first phase of the project on the 67km Kole-Gulu stretch. GERP seeks to establish 289km of double circuit transmission lines and three substations in the West Nile sub-region.

Southern Africa

Mozambique: African Energy Commission hosts workshop on Biomass Energy Survey Report (ESI Africa)
- The survey was started in April and aims to provide detailed information on households and small businesses’ consumption of biomass, which is a major cause of deforestation in the country. 

South Africa: Export Finance Norway (Eksfin) issues USD102 million guarantee for three solar plants (Construction Review Online)
- The Norwegian state-backed export credit agency is supporting Scatec in implementing the 540MWp solar-battery project in the Northern Cape. 

South Africa: Shoprite Group obtains sustainability-linked loans totalling USD207.9 million to support its environmental programmes  (ESI Africa)
-  The retailer will use the funding to expand its investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling cardboard and plastic, and sustainable packaging. 

Africa - other

Africa: Africa Climate Week takes place in Libreville, Gabon (AfDB)
- The conference, which ends today, is providing a crucial platform for the continent to address social inequalities and invest in development to advance climate action and safeguard people and ecosystems.

Africa: Japanese government plans to invest USD30 billion to support sustainable development in Africa (Afrik21)
- The funding will support the development of smart agriculture, sustainable transport, renewable energy and access to water.

Africa: Rockefeller Foundation announces USD5.5 million partnership to support climate resilient infrastructure investment across Sub-Saharan Africa (ESI Africa)
- The partnership with e-GUIDE and Atlas AI will leverage satellite data and machine learning technologies to provide policymakers with extensive cross-sectoral insight into where new infrastructure development can help mitigate community vulnerabilities and promote economic opportunities.

Egypt: Actis signs MOU with the Egyptian government for the development of green hydrogen market (Afrik21)
- The British investor, which is investing heavily in energy in Africa, wants to take part in the development of the green hydrogen market in Egypt.

Pacific

Pacific Islands: Pacific Islands Forum’s deputy secretary general opens regional climate security dialogue (Pina)
- Dr Filimon Manoni used this opportunity to emphasise the leadership’s position to secure sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of the impacts of climate change. 

Pacific Islands: Civil society groups urge Japan to halt its plans to dump radioactive nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean (RNZ)
- Opponents of the plans describe the discharge of treated, but still radioactive, wastewater from the defunct Fukushima nuclear power plant as a fundamental breach of Pacific peoples' right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. 

Rest of the world

Global: Investments in fossil fuels nearly doubled in 2021 (ESI Africa)
- A report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that overall government support for fossil fuels in 51 countries worldwide almost doubled to USD697 billion in 2021, from USD362 billion in 2020.

Hydrogen: First-of-its kind facility to provide insurance for green and blue hydrogen projects (ESI Africa)
- Marsh, a London-based insurance broker and risk advisor, has partnered with Liberty Specialty Markets to provide an insurance and reinsurance facility of up to USD300 million to cover risk during the construction and start-up phase of hydrogen projects globally. 

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