EDF completes two operations to consolidate its positions in the African market

A major player in the energy transition in Europe, the EDF group is expanding its activities and carrying out operations to strengthen its position in the off-grid (off-grid) market in Africa. The French giant, a major player in Africa's Off-Grid, announced on Wednesday (July 18th) that it has taken a stake in the Kenyan company SunCulture and signed a partnership with the Energy organization Generation which is based in Togo. These two collaborations aim "to widen its range of Off-Grid solutions and to develop the local competences in the field of the installation of the solar kits out-network" ensured the group in a communiqué made public. 19659002] Exploring a new segment of the Off-Grid market

The first collaboration announced by EDF involves an equity investment (between 20 and 30% of the capital) in the Kenyan start-up SunCulture. The latter provides small-scale farmers with cost-effective solar pumps and custom-made irrigation systems with maintenance services. Its flagship product, "Rain Maker", is of interest to the EDF group, which wants to be able, thanks to this operation, to help roll-out the product in Kenya and in Central and West Africa. "EDF will provide SunCulture with operational experience in the marketing and installation of off-grid solutions as well as its knowledge of the markets of Central and West Africa. SunCulture will also benefit from the technical expertise of EDF R & D, in particular to validate its technical choices and evolve its products. EDF will also provide financing solutions for solar pumping kits for farmers " detailed the group's press release. The same document states that EDF's objective is to support SunCulture in its growth as a leading industrial shareholder.

On the side of SunCulture, we are delighted with the agreement with EDF. "EDF's commitment to working with local companies for lasting effects marks a turning point in the way multinationals are developing in Africa. We are delighted with this partnership which gives us the opportunity to work with EDF to improve the productivity of small farms in Africa " said Samir Ibrahim, general manager and co-founder of SunCulture, following the Announcement of this operation which allows the EDF Group to invest in a new high-potential market segment and to enrich its range of Off-Grid offers.

Train women in Off-Grid solar system maintenance trades.

The second step of EDF is a signature of a partnership with Energy Generation, an organization based in Togo that works to electrify rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa through the training of young people in entrepreneurship and the energy professions. The partnership between the two parties focuses on the program entitled "Women and Solar Entrepreneurship" which aims to train women in the techniques of installation and maintenance of solar systems Off-Grid and aspects related to entrepreneurship in this area, says the EDF press release. "Thanks to its experience deploying Off-Grid solutions, EDF will contribute to the construction of training modules. Energy Generation will implement it in training centers dedicated to the energy professions. The first phase of the program foresees the training of about 100 women by the end of 2019, spread over Togo, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana "the document said.

Astria Fataki, president and founder of Energy Generation, was very happy with this new step in the collaboration between EDF and its organization.

"We are particularly pleased with this partnership with EDF, which fits perfectly into the achievement of our mission and our vision. Thanks to this training, some 100 women in Togo, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire will be trained in a profession of the future, giving them better economic prospects, but above all, they will be trained to be full-fledged actresses. of the energetic transition of their country, "she commented.

Contributing to the economic development of the countries

The EDF group recalls that with its economic and demographic growth important, Africa has needs growing in energy (62% of sub-Saharan Africa's population lives in rural areas with limited access to electricity). The non-satisfaction of these needs implies a blockage of the development process. Thus, the objective beyond all, is to ensure that the initiatives benefit the economic fabric of the countries in which it is present.

"These two new collaborations illustrate the spirit in which EDF develops its activities in Africa: in collaboration with local actors and by systematically seeking to ensure that our projects benefit the economic fabric of the countries in which the Group operates ", insisted Marianne Laigneau, Executive Director of the Group in charge of International Management. [19659012] "Following the large-scale commercial roll-out of Zeci and the recent launch of Zegha, we are now preparing to expand our Off-Grid range to new segments, starting with small-scale farmers" . she continued.

Note that the Off-Grid is an "innovative and complementary solution" to traditional networks to meet energy challenges on the continent. Africa. Via, Zeci in Ivory Coast or Zegha in Ghana, the EDF group markets the Off-Grid kits for domestic use on the continent. He also owns rural electrification companies, particularly in Senegal (ERA) and in South Africa (KES).