While million of Nigerians still spend huge chunk of their disposable incomes to maintain and run their generators, 20 million residents in war torn Afghanistan looks set to profit from the country’s first Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) home solar systems combined with energy storage batteries, being delivered in a pioneering new programme.
The initiative which is part of a partnership between World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), leading mobile payment company Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), seeks to provide electricity to nearly 20 million Afghans which represents over 60percent of its population who are not connected to the national grid.
“With help from our strategic partners, our PAYG service will provide thousands of Afghans access to safe, clean and affordable electric lighting and power,” Amin Ramin, managing director of Afghan Wireless told Magazine Post.
The IFC-led programme will start with solar systems, manufactured by California-based off-grid home solar specialist d.Light, being provided to homeowners in the Eastern and Southern provinces of Nangarhar and Kandahar. After this pilot phase, PV systems will be offered across Afghanistan.
Despite Afghanistan government attempts to expand the reach of the grid, its plans have been hindered by extreme terrain and difficult security situations and which is where solar home systems can step in.
“In Afghanistan, difficult terrain, the dispersed nature of rural communities, and a precarious security situation make it extremely difficult to expand the national power grid,” said Marco Indelicato, IFC program manager of Lighting Afghanistan.
IFC program manager said Solar home systems, however, can provide Afghans with a reliable, cost-effective source of electricity, which is a crucial first step in fighting poverty and creating economic opportunities.
While Afghanistan seems to be active steps in penetrate energy across its population especially those who are not on the national grid, for Nigeria status quo remain the same as One in every two Nigerians have limited or no access to the electricity grid, according to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
In 2016, about half of Nigeria’s population was estimated to be in rural areas as the typical scenario in many of these communities is to depend on kerosene, generator kiosk (cell-phone charging) and battery-powered torches for their energy needs which has negative effects on their health, environment and productivity levels.
Stakeholders said one of the barriers to energy access in Nigeria in the past was an incoherent policy environment as there was no holistic strategy to take advantage of power supply alternatives like mini-grids and solar home systems.
Recall, Tanzania-based Zola Electric announced its expansion to Nigeria in September 2018. It is hoping to reach 1 million households and businesses within the next three years.
The success of these companies, however, will largely depend on their ability to quickly reach as many homes as possible with their solar systems. Its success is very critical nonetheless as it’s expected to provide energy to 20 million households who lack basic electricity with access.
