Chibisi Ohakah
Fenix International, a next-generation energy company and a subsidiary of ENGIE, with outlets in African countries including Nigeria, opens its sixth market in Mozambique, where it expects to reach 200,000 households with clean energy and inclusive financial services within three years.
The company is launching the off-grid solar in Mozambique in partnership with leading operator Vodacom. In a statement yesterday, the company said launching sales in Mozambique is the latest step in Fenix’s expansion. The company has already connected 500,000 customers to solar power in Uganda, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Nigeria.
The company has rapidly grown operations as a subsidiary of ENGIE, enabling the company to scale off-grid energy and financial services across new markets, with Mozambique, the fourth new market opened within the past year, the statement said
Managing director of Fenix, Mr Luke Hodgkinson, said his company has set an ambitious target with their ProEnergia initiative to reach 100% of the population with electricity by 2030 in Mozambique. The country represents an optimal market for off-grid solar products, with only 27% of households currently connected to electricity and a highly distributed population.
“Fenix’s operations here will focus on reaching those most in need of energy access, particularly districts in the North and people who are using expensive, polluting, and dangerous methods such as kerosene and candles to light their homes,” he said
By replacing fossil fuel-powered lanterns, solar home systems allow off-grid customers to illuminate their homes with clean LED lights, as well as charge phones and run radios, TVs, hair clippers and speakers. Fenix’s latest product, Fenix Power, is a GSM-enabled power system that enables the company to determine product usage and potential technical issues remotely, improving the customer experience.
The company is the first PAYGO solar company in Mozambique to use these Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to reduce costs and bring high-quality, affordable technology to rural, last-mile customers.
In the past, Fenix had partnered with Vodacom and Vodafone M-Pesa SA to tackle the challenges of distribution, connectivity and mobile payments that have left rural Mozambicans underserved by affordable energy products.
“We are delighted to partner with Vodacom and Vodafone M-Pesa SA. With their market-leading brand, distribution network and payment platform, and Fenix’s high-quality products and excellent last-mile customer service, together we can provide clean energy and financial inclusion to millions of rural Mozambicans.
“Once these foundations have been established, the possibilities to bring other life-changing products, from household appliances to crop insurance, are truly endless,” he said
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