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Ugandans during this pandemic.”
Sendea is an association of Ugandan solar
companies that support each other in building
and developing their businesses. Sendea also
nurtures SME solar companies to establish
structures and become investor ready. In
addition to implementing international aid
projects, Sendea’s services include training and
acting as a consortium towards manufacturers
and international tenders.
SENDEA
Bboxx launches new solar

system

Bboxx, a supplier of solar home kits, is
in advance, in preparation for the possible SOL AR expanding its products and services in Africa.
implementation of the government’s The British company has recently launched a
Integrated Resources Plan, and in the event Sendea installs solar at new solar energy solution for rural households
that the company would be selected as an and micro-businesses. The product is called
emergency power producer. health centres in Uganda “bPower20”.
“However, this information was not The company’s goal is to “better serve
disclosed to the department when the Sendea, an independent association of people in developing countries who have
company motivated for the verbal directive to Ugandan solar companies, has equipped a lower energy needs”. It is the objective of solar
be issued for the Section 30A activities, which total of 35 health stations with a basic solar home systems supplier Bboxx to develop a
are, in essence, an emergency provision. supply in recent weeks. These are public product for rural households and micro-
“In light of the fact that it has now emerged and private health stations in the regions enterprises on the African continent. The
that there was in fact no emergency situation, of Western, South West, Eastern, Northern new solution proposed by Bboxx is called
the Department has withdrawn the verbal and Central and over 35,000 people were “bPower20”.
authorisation and subsequent written directive impacted. According to Bboxx, “bPower20” is a
for the commencement of activities listed in The installations were carried out high performance energy solution, more
Section 30A of the National Environmental by Sendea members Access to Solar affordable and accessible in terms of cost. The
Management Act on 13 August 2020,” the Technologies, Anuel Energy Uganda Ltd, New product consists of a 20 W solar panel and
DEFF said. Cares Ltd. and Sostap Ltd. In addition to the allows a daily use of up to 51 Wh. The new
Karpowership, an affiliate of the Istanbul- installation, Sendea’s four member companies “lithium battery” technology has a higher
based Karadeniz Energy Group, developed will also be responsible for technical energy density and can store more electricity.
their mobile power station concept ten years maintenance over the next few years as well as The “bPower20” solution is optimized to last
ago and have been active in countries such as training the staff. longer than the previous ones, i.e. 6 years
Iraq, Gambia, Mozambique and Sudan. All health stations received permanently longer.
Recently they put in a bid when South installed lighting for treatment rooms. In The “bPower20” technology is also
Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and addition, mobile solar lamps for outdoor use equipped with an interactive screen allowing
Energy published a request for information were handed over and bright solar security customers to communicate seamlessly with
for suppliers to provide between 2,000 and lamps were installed for outdoor lighting. Bboxx teams thanks to “Bboxx Pulse”, the
3,000MW of electricity for the national grid. The deployment was financed by donations company’s complete management platform.
That invitation, issued in December 2019, from the German Stiftung Solarenergie and Initially, the British company will deploy
said a key bidding requirement was short lead the Dutch Signify Foundation. Particularly the “bPower20” solution in Rwanda, Kenya,
times – the potential power providers would worth mentioning is the short-term disaster Togo and the Democratic Republic of Congo
have to get their new plants up and running relief after the flood in Kasese: Here, on the (DRC). Bboxx will then invest in other
within three months to a year of getting initiative of Sendea, four health stations were markets between now and 2021. The solar
approval from government. It said any bidding equipped with solar power as immediate aid system supplier plans to use pay-as-you-go
companies needed to secure environmental to facilitate the supply of the local population. to facilitate the distribution of its new kits
authorisation. Loy Florence Kyozaire, CEO of Sendea, is to rural households and microenterprises in
No contracts have been issued yet pleased about the great commitment of the Africa.
stemming out of this DMRE request for member companies: “As an association of The company is thus strengthening its
information to supply emergency power Ugandan solar companies, we want to make presence in Africa. Just a month ago, the
and the DEFF’s statement simply said our contribution to support good medical energy company signed a partnership with
Karpowership had accepted the notice care for our population. We are pleased that Canal+, a French company specializing in the
and would not challenge the Department’s all member companies have supported this distribution of pay TV channels. Through this
decision to revoke the verbal directive. initiative with such commitment despite new agreement, Bboxx will now distribute
SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT the difficulties caused by the COVID TV sets and image decoders from Canal+, in
19 pandemic. We also appreciate our addition to its solar home systems.
development partners for extending a hand to BBOXX

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 34 27•August•2020