Page 10 - AfrElec Week 27 2022

AfrElec MINI- GRIDS AfrElec

Bboxx, Orange to connect

150,000 people in DRC

DRC TELECOMMUNICATIONS operator Orange fully integrated operating system.
has partnered with solar homes system provider The merger of technologies will enable the
Bboxx to connect 150,000 people in Democratic close monitoring of the mini-grids performance
Republic of Congo (DRC) to an innovative mini- and the remote management of customers,
grid model. including collecting and managing payments
Bboox has partnered with Orange to launch a through pay-as-you-go solutions.
new anchor business community (ABC) model Bboxx Chief Executive Officer Mansoor
of mini-grid that helps to accelerate the provi- Hamayun said partnerships are vital in connect-
sion of clean energy access for households in ing more customers across Africa to essential
Bukavu town in DRC. modern utilities and transforming more lives.
“Less than 10% of the population in DRC “We, therefore, look forward to launching
has access to electricity currently, making it the additional mini-grid projects in the future, each
country with the largest number of people with- of which will take us a step closer to reaching
out access in Africa after Nigeria,” said Bboox in these fundamental goals,” he said.
a July 1 press release. Using the innovative and cost-effective ABC
Together with GoShop, the largest solar engi- model, Bboxx plans to launch 24 mini-grid
neering procurement construction firm in DRC, projects with Orange over the coming months,
Bboxx has created a joint venture company to electrifying 150,000 people by 2024 and directly
build a hybrid mini-grid plant to supply energy addressing electrification challenge in DRC.
to Orange’s telecoms infrastructure. This partnership is the first of many within
“85% of the energy will be generated through Bboxx’s Connected Community programme,
solar panels, connecting the local community which will see the potential delivery of 750 mini-
around the telecom tower to clean energy solu- grids and 1 mn customers across Africa within
tions and services,” said Bboox. the next 5 years.
Bboxx aims to connect over 600 households Akim Musimwa, Reginal Director of Grand-
in Bukavu by the end of 2022, and is working Kivu Orange DRC said the firm wants to be
with the rural energy agency to get into a subsidy much more than a telecom operator in DRC.
program that will enable low-income customers “The development of solutions enabling, as
to have access to basic energy supply. many people as possible to have access to essen-
Bboxx will also be partnering with Orange tial daily goods such as sustainable and clean
Energie to integrate Orange’s Smart Metering energy, is a strong message towards our compa-
platform and Bboxx Pulse®, Bboxx’s proprietary ny’s ambition,” he said. ™

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 27 07•July•2022