- EDF has launched a new platform to support electrification in rural areas in Africa via diaspora remittances.
- A pilot project has already been initiated in the Ivory Coast.
- EDF plans to expand this platform to other countries where it currently operates.
Électricité de France (EDF) wants to capitalise on one of the largest sources of foreign exchange inflows into the African continent, diaspora remittances. The Company believes that this can serve as a viable funding source for its clean energy solutions in Africa. EDF has launched its “Diaspora Energy by EDF” platform to give members of the diaspora opportunities to finance clean off-grid energy systems for family members in rural areas.
Ivory Coast will be the first country to benefit from this platform. According to EDF, the platform guarantees users a secure payment and delivery within a maximum of 15 days for the Ivory Coast. EDF will deploy clean energy solutions via local subsidiary Zola EDF Ivory Coast (Zeci). EDF notes that benefiting consumers (rural energy users) will benefit from customer service provided by Zeci on-site, including assistance with the installation and maintenance of the kits for a period of 5 years.
EDF plans to expand the “Diaspora Energy by EDF” platform to other African countries where it currently operates. EDF is an investor in the Togolese and Kenyan subsidiaries of British solar home systems services provider, Bboxx.
In 2019, a Nigerian company, Community Energy and Social Enterprise Limited (Cesel), launched a similar idea, the “Diaspora-Power (DPower) initiative”. This initiative aims to mobilise $1 billion from diaspora remittances annually. These funds were to be used to finance the deployment of green mini-grids across the country.