-
Making Mini-Grids Work for Everyone: A Tariff Harmonization Pilot in Sierra Leone Reveals the Benefits and Challenges of Lowering Prices
Solar mini-grids offer a promising solution to energy poverty in Africa. But according to Tombo Banda and Lisa Kahuthu at CrossBoundary and Miriam Atuya, this approach has yet to gain sufficient traction, due in part to the challenge of balancing operational sustainability with affordability. If customer tariffs are set too low, operators lack revenue — but if prices are set too high, mini-grid electricity isn’t accessible enough to drive widespread adoption. They share the results of a pilot program in Sierra Leone that tested the impact of lower prices on mini-grid operators and their customers, highlighting the implications for future efforts to implement tariff reduction at scale.
-
ExxonMobil’s 2030 Agenda: Fueling Decarbonization With $30 Billion While Ramping up Oil & Gas and LNG Output
These projects are anticipated to further expand the U.S. giant’s global LNG footprint and market access.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Global
-
JBS to Invest $2.5 Billion in Nigeria’s Meat Production but Environmental Concerns Raised
ProVeg Nigeria and ProVeg Brazil said in a joint statement the plan by JBS to expand its operations in Africa is counterproductive to ensuring food security on the continent.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
TotalEnergies Pauses Investments in India’s Adani Group After Bribery Charges
The crisis is the second in two years to hit the Adani group, which was last year accused by short seller Hindenburg Research of improperly using offshore tax havens. The company denied those claims.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Global
- Tags
- governance, regulations, solar
-
Kenya’s Hustler Fund Is a Flop. Why President Ruto’s Plan to Loan Money to Entrepreneurs Hasn’t Worked
The Kenya government acted as a micro-lender via the Hustler Fund, which was applauded by the financial inclusion lobby as a way to correct failures in the credit market.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Press Release: Rockefeller Foundation Advances African-Led Energy Transition Solutions at COP29
The Rockefeller Foundation announced $US10.9 million for the African Climate Foundation; African School of Regulation; Clean Cooking Alliance, via UN Foundation, in Kenya; GOGLA; SEforALL, via UNOPS, in Zambia.
- Region
- Global
-
ID Verification Company Equal Bags $10 Million in First Institutional Raise
Equal is building a platform which helps businesses streamline their know your customer (KYC) processes and prevent fraud, thereby assisting in regulatory compliance through integration with about 50 identity databases.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
BlackRock Hit by ESG Fund Setback in Europe, Says Morningstar
For the first time in at least 3 1/2 years, BlackRock has seen clients withdraw more cash from its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds in Europe.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Global
Subscribe to Our 'Business in Global Development' Newsletter!
Our new weekly LinkedIn newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with curated news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage of impact-focused business in emerging markets.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.