Electrification is core to development and mini grids are expected to play a critical role in meeting the UN Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) goal of universal access by 2030. It is the strategic plan of Governments in the region to develop and promote renewable energy generation through mini grids while also promoting public-private partnerships for implementation.
The 5th Africa Mini Grids Summit 2019 will convene on May 8-10 in Nairobi, Kenya.
This fifth edition of the Africa-wide conference will once again gather electricity regulators, utilities operators, mini
grids developers, financiers, engineering and consulting experts, technology providers, and development agencies to
share their invaluable expertise and experience in providing for the continent's rapidly-increasing power requirements.
Electrification is core to development and mini grids are expected to play a critical role in meeting the UN Sustainable
Energy for All (SE4ALL) goal of universal access by 2030. It is the strategic plan of Governments in the region to
develop and promote renewable energy generation through mini grids while also promoting public-private
partnerships for implementation.
This Summit brings together all stakeholders to discuss key policy issues and best practices to accelerate mini grids
deployment.
Regional energy authorities leading the discussions at this 2019 Summit include the Energy Regulatory
Commission of Kenya, the Ministry of Energy of Kenya, the Rural Electrification Authority of Zambia, the Rural
Electrification Agency of Uganda, along with top officials from Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana, and Ethiopia.
Among the distinguished experts providing new knowledge and insights are: Prof AbuBakr S Bahaj, Professor of
Sustainable Energy and Head of Energy & Climate Change Division, University of Southampton from the UK;
Balthasar Klimbie, Key Expert Rural Energy, The European Commission's Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for
the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative from The Netherlands; Edem Bensah, Senior Scientist with the
Centre for Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development of Ghana; and Dramani Bukari, Project Manager
at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.
Prof AbuBakr Bahaj, Conference Chair and Head of the Energy and Climate Change at the University of
Southampton, UK noted: “The International Energy Agency, has indicated that to achieve 100% electrification by
2030, we need to rely on solutions that do not depend on a centralised electrical grid. This Mini Grid Summit is one of
the most interesting meetings addressing electricity access for productive use. It brings together policy makers,
relevant government organizations, developers and academics under one roof to thresh out pertinent issues related to
access and to discuss pathways to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals especially SDG7. The meeting
is intimate with a lot of time devoted to discussions and debate, with an added bonus of visiting one of the pioneering
mini grid projects in Africa."
Private sector stakeholders who will share their expertise and practical applications at the 2019 Summit include:
Nicole Poindexter, CEO & Founder of Black Star Energy; Richard Mori, CEO of Mesh Power Rwanda; Steve
Wasira, Vice President of Business Development at Virunga Power, and John Kidenda, Director of PowerGen
Renewable Energy; among others.
Scaling Finance for Mini Grids has been a major challenge. Leading the discussions in this include international
financiers Clifford J Aron, President & Founding Principal, GreenMax Capital Group, USA, Humphrey Wireko,
Senior Associate, CrossBoundary Energy Access & Gerard Hendriksen, Team Leader, GMG, IED amongst others.
The CEO of the conference-organizing company, Magenta Global Pte Ltd, Singapore, Maggie Tan, added:
“Improving electrification to the 600 million Africans currently living without access to modern energy services is of
paramount priority. Proactive changes to the regulatory environment, financing facilities & PPP structures are
needed. The time is right to unlock resources and the technology is available to create economically and financially
sustainable mini grids to power communities and businesses.” Ms Tan encouraged all companies and organizations
to contribute to the development of this renewable energy sector by being part of this key event.
The 5
th Africa Mini Grids Summit 2019 is held in collaboration with Knowledge Partner Energy for Development
(e4D) Network / University of Southampton and supported by: the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), the
Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA); the South African Alternative Energy Association (SAAEA),
the Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA),
The two-day event will be held at the Hotel InterContinental in Nairobi, Kenya.
Register here......
The 5th Africa Mini Grids Summit 2019 will convene on May 8-10 in Nairobi, Kenya.
This fifth edition of the Africa-wide conference will once again gather electricity regulators, utilities operators, mini
grids developers, financiers, engineering and consulting experts, technology providers, and development agencies to
share their invaluable expertise and experience in providing for the continent's rapidly-increasing power requirements.
Electrification is core to development and mini grids are expected to play a critical role in meeting the UN Sustainable
Energy for All (SE4ALL) goal of universal access by 2030. It is the strategic plan of Governments in the region to
develop and promote renewable energy generation through mini grids while also promoting public-private
partnerships for implementation.
This Summit brings together all stakeholders to discuss key policy issues and best practices to accelerate mini grids
deployment.
Regional energy authorities leading the discussions at this 2019 Summit include the Energy Regulatory
Commission of Kenya, the Ministry of Energy of Kenya, the Rural Electrification Authority of Zambia, the Rural
Electrification Agency of Uganda, along with top officials from Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana, and Ethiopia.
Among the distinguished experts providing new knowledge and insights are: Prof AbuBakr S Bahaj, Professor of
Sustainable Energy and Head of Energy & Climate Change Division, University of Southampton from the UK;
Balthasar Klimbie, Key Expert Rural Energy, The European Commission's Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for
the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative from The Netherlands; Edem Bensah, Senior Scientist with the
Centre for Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development of Ghana; and Dramani Bukari, Project Manager
at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.
Prof AbuBakr Bahaj, Conference Chair and Head of the Energy and Climate Change at the University of
Southampton, UK noted: “The International Energy Agency, has indicated that to achieve 100% electrification by
2030, we need to rely on solutions that do not depend on a centralised electrical grid. This Mini Grid Summit is one of
the most interesting meetings addressing electricity access for productive use. It brings together policy makers,
relevant government organizations, developers and academics under one roof to thresh out pertinent issues related to
access and to discuss pathways to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals especially SDG7. The meeting
is intimate with a lot of time devoted to discussions and debate, with an added bonus of visiting one of the pioneering
mini grid projects in Africa."
Private sector stakeholders who will share their expertise and practical applications at the 2019 Summit include:
Nicole Poindexter, CEO & Founder of Black Star Energy; Richard Mori, CEO of Mesh Power Rwanda; Steve
Wasira, Vice President of Business Development at Virunga Power, and John Kidenda, Director of PowerGen
Renewable Energy; among others.
Scaling Finance for Mini Grids has been a major challenge. Leading the discussions in this include international
financiers Clifford J Aron, President & Founding Principal, GreenMax Capital Group, USA, Humphrey Wireko,
Senior Associate, CrossBoundary Energy Access & Gerard Hendriksen, Team Leader, GMG, IED amongst others.
The CEO of the conference-organizing company, Magenta Global Pte Ltd, Singapore, Maggie Tan, added:
“Improving electrification to the 600 million Africans currently living without access to modern energy services is of
paramount priority. Proactive changes to the regulatory environment, financing facilities & PPP structures are
needed. The time is right to unlock resources and the technology is available to create economically and financially
sustainable mini grids to power communities and businesses.” Ms Tan encouraged all companies and organizations
to contribute to the development of this renewable energy sector by being part of this key event.
The 5
th Africa Mini Grids Summit 2019 is held in collaboration with Knowledge Partner Energy for Development
(e4D) Network / University of Southampton and supported by: the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), the
Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA); the South African Alternative Energy Association (SAAEA),
the Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA),
The two-day event will be held at the Hotel InterContinental in Nairobi, Kenya.
Register here......
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