InfraCo Africa to invest in Equatorial Power

PIDG-member InfraCo Africa has signed an agreement committing a $1.7 million investment into Africa-focused mini-grid developer Equatorial Power (EP) to support a solar roll-out in 2 African states.

The World Bank is also providing a $1.1 million grant for 1 of the 2 roll-outs.

The $1.7 million investment will “scale the company’s innovative mini-grid model”, InfraCo Africa said of EP.

Per the agreement, the companies will co-develop solar mini-grids in 2 central African states. This includes:

• 4 mini-grids on Idjwi Island in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
• 4 solar mini-grids in south-east Rwanda

As well as the World Bank grant, InfraCo Africa has leveraged a $1.4 million grant from sister company PIDG Technical Assistance.

EP also owns and operates agri-processing hubs, which provide agricultural services to communities. The aforementioned projects include the addition of 4 and 3 such hubs in DRC and Rwanda respectively.

DRC has one of the lowest rates of energy access, at 19.1%. Rwanda’s figure is 46.6%, per World Bank data.