NAIROBI, LONDON August 19th, 2019 – PowerGen Renewable Energy, a leading developer, builder, and operator of micro-utilities in Africa, has closed the acquisition of Rafiki Power (E.ON Off-Grid Solutions ).  The acquisition combines two leading micro-grid companies in Africa, and will help build momentum for private utilities on the continent.

Over 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity, of which 80% live in rural areas. PowerGen (founded 2011) and E.ON Off-Grid Solutions (founded 2014) have been pioneers in the new sector of private utilities who bring efficiency, technology, and customer service to un-electrified Africans through clean, modern micro-utilities. These micro-utilities offer high quality alternating current electricity to towns and villages in order to reduce poverty and enable economic development, while building the clean energy system of the future in Africa from the grid edge inwards.

The acquisition will combine two leading players in the sector, and provide PowerGen with micro-grid assets, project pipeline, software IP, and human resources from E.ON Off-Grid Solutions. PowerGen now has over 10,000 utility customers under management, serving over 50,000 people with clean and reliable energy across several African countries.

Aaron Cheng, President of PowerGen, comments: “PowerGen and E.ON Off-Grid Solutions have shared a common vision for a long time: to transform lives by building the energy system of the future in Africa.  We are excited to combine our experience, knowledge, resources, and cultures in order to further our progress towards this shared vision. We greatly admire the E.ON Off-Grid Solutions team and are thrilled to be working closely with them as we build the smart, clean energy system of the future in Africa through micro-grids.”

Media enquiries for PowerGen Renewable Energy: Sam Slaughter, CEO; Email: sslaughter@powergen-re.com

About PowerGen Renewable Energy

Founded in 2011, PowerGen is a renewable energy and micro-grid company with offices in four African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria), and employs over 100 full-time staff.  PowerGen has connected over 50,000 people to smart, clean micro-grids and is working to build the energy system of the future in Africa through such grids. PowerGen is a founding member of the Africa Mini-grid Developers Association (AMDA), and serves on its board.  Media inquiries can be directed to pr@powergen-re.com. 

About E.ON

E.ON is an international, privately owned energy supplier based in Essen, Germany, and has around 43,000 employees. With a clear focus on three strong core businesses of Energy Networks, Customer Solutions, and Renewables. E.ON aims to become the partner of choice for energy and customer solutions. As of 2018 the company had around 21m gas and electricity customers, managed 852,000km of grid and produced 15bn kWh of renewable power.