We are united by our purpose: to transform lives and unlock potential. We firmly believe that access to energy is the entry point for unlocking a future that is otherwise not possible. As we have explored in our #UnlockingOneMillion campaign so far, it enables businesses to prosper, a child to study at night and supports the global efforts to protect our planet.
This week, we celebrate powering sustainable communities and cities. Over the last 10 years, we have worked with governments and corporates alike to provide energy access to underserved communities – whether rural or urban. This is driven by the firm belief that electricity is the foundation for modern life and the trigger for economic growth in our ever-growing communities.
Tomorrow’s Connected Community was launched one year ago to provide clean, reliable and affordable energy to the 4,000 people living in the rural village of Sikpé Afidégnon in Togo. Previously, they only had access to electricity from noisy generators which ran on expensive and polluting fuels.
The community now has 24/7 to energy, powering households, shops, schools, streetlights, small businesses and a telecom tower which provides residents excellent mobile network and internet access.
“Life changed in the village” for tailor Beaugar Mebouto, whose business has transformed now that he does not have to rely on a generator. “Now we have electricity at any time of the day,” he said.
The impact was felt by the whole community. Before, Abla Ogodo was forced to walk 10 kilometres everyday to fetch water for her family. “We would spend the whole day just getting water,” Abla said. Now that a new well in the village runs on solar power she does not have to go anywhere: “Now we have water whenever we want. We are free.”
Tomorrow’s Connected Community is the result of our global partnerships: we worked alongside EDF, which holds a 50% stake in Bboxx Togo, under the brand “Bboxx avec EDF”, as well as the Government of Togo. Working with EDF, we installed a mini-grid at the outskirts of the village, rather than a traditional large grid infrastructure. Mini-grids are a “major achievement in accelerating access to electricity in Africa” according to Valerie Levkov, EDF Senior Vice-President in charge of Africa.
The project is a step towards achieving Togo’s electrification goals. “Our vision and top priority is to provide access to electricity for all by 2030, while using environmentally friendly means” said Marc Ably-Bidamon, Togo Minister of Mines and Energy at the time of launch.
Tomorrow’s Connected Community is just one example of powering sustainable communities and cities, which is recognised by the UN in their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11). We are working to partner with other governments and private companies to roll out mini-grid systems throughout Africa and Asia.
In the DRC, we installed a mini-grid at the Kivu International School in Goma, providing constant electricity to the classrooms of 300 students, administration offices, the kitchen, sports hall and library. The project is a result of collaboration between Bboxx and our long-standing partner General Electric.
This shows how energy access is crucial in the advancement of a community and the starting point for prosperity: quality education (SDG 4), catalysing enterprise and decent work (SDG 8) and the formation of strategic partnerships (SDG 17) to achieve the #Envision2030 goal.
We are hugely grateful to the trusted partners who have worked alongside us to extend energy access, unlock potential and transform lives. We look forward to forging many more partnerships to transform lives in the years to come.