- BGFA signs deal with several energy providers to electrify at least 580,000 households.
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is set to provide finance to boost the electrification of some 580,000 households in three African countries. BGFA is strengthening its position on the African continent’s energy scene through this new initiative.
The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) manages the funding facility, which has signed agreements with energy suppliers to deploy standalone solar systems to support access to electricity. The three countries include Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zambia.
In Burkina Faso, the BGFA has agreed with solar home system provider Aress to provide electricity to 20,000 households in rural and peri-urban areas. BGFA is also funding the electrification of 4,100 homes, businesses and public services in Liberia. The facility has signed a deal with Energicity. The U.S.-based company will create a local subsidiary to install 30 solar photo voltaic-powered mini-grids. Zambia will benefit the most from the BGFA’s new initiative. Power Corner Zambia is committed to building 11 solar mini-grids with a capacity of 100 kW each by the end of 2026. According to the BGFA, these mini-grids will use a cloud-based smart application. This will enable real-time payments through mobile money, provide customer services, and monitor consumption. The mini-grids will generate more than 3,200 household connections, providing more than 16,000 people with access to energy.