- ENGIE Energy Access has officially commenced the construction of 15 solar mini-grids in Zambia’s Eastern Province.
- This initiative is a crucial part of the transformative Increase Access to Electricity and Renewable Energy Production (IAEREP) programme, funded by the 11th European Development Fund and the European Union.
MySol Grid Zambia, a unit of ENGIE Energy Access, is responsible for constructing, owning, operating, and maintaining these mini-grids.
The first sites in this groundbreaking project include: Lusinde, Kandongwa, Nyimba Mwana, Chidiwa, Chataika, Kanyanga, Petulo, Kasamba, Chidiwa, Mphole, Mung’omba, Kalambana, Mtore, Kondwelani, Lunga, and Luamphande and are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2024.
In 2023, MySol Grid Zambia signed a USD 7.5 million debt facility with Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI), managed by Cygnum Capital. This funding will provide the company with the necessary resources and flexibility to construct a total of 60 mini-grids under the IAEREP programme. This is a significant step for the mini-grid sector, with these assets having attracted non-recourse long-term financing.
ENGIE Energy Access established its presence in Zambia in 2017. It currently has over 250 employees, 650 independent sales agents, and more than 60 points of presence across the country. The company has sold over 300,000 SHS kits and has 1 mini-grid operational in Chitandika.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
