Mobisol, Rwanda’s market leader in Pay-As-You-Go solar industry has changed its corporate name to ENGIE Energy Access Rwanda (EEA Rwanda).
However, the products of this off-grid energy distributor will be branded Mysol, replacing the Mobisol brand of lighting, TV and business Solar Home System (SHS) products. In 2020, parent company ENGIE integrated Mobisol, Fenix International and another mini-grids provider, ENGIE PowerCorner under a new entity, ENGIE Energy Access.
Acquisition of these energy providers by ENGIE is set to benefit either producers as well as the eneficiaries of the service, according to officials.
During the official unveiling of the new name on Friday, November 19, Gillian-Alexandre Huart, the CEO of ENGIE Energy Access, said that this integration will place the company in a position to deliver better services.
"We hope that this will position the company as the only energy player offering end to end off-grid energy solutions with both solar home systems and mini-grids under one roof,” he said.
Echoing his views, Sylvie Kanimba, the Managing Director of ENGIE Energy Access Rwanda, said that the move came to support the company’s mission to light up different parts of the world.
"Our integration with other companies will accelerate our mission to replace obscurity and darkness in rural locations with light and electricity, using reliable, affordable and sustainable means,” commented Kanimba.
Known for its high performing solar home systems (SHS) and exceptional customer experience, the company started operations in 2014 and has successfully connected over 400,000 people from 45,000 households to clean and affordable energy across Rwanda.
In his remarks, the Minister of Infrastructure, Claver Gatete described ENGIE Energy Access (former Mobisol) as one of the prominent partners of the government of Rwanda in electrification efforts.
He is also optimistic that the impacts will double once the company has formed synergies with other companies.
"In our electrification efforts, Mobisol acted as a foot soldier on the ground.
Coming from one percent in 1994 to 67 percent up to now couldn’t be achieved without partners like Mobisol to facilitate production and implementation of the projects,” he noted.
Up to now, he added, the name Mobisol has stood out in almost all sectors of the economy, noting that some children even started singing the name without knowing what it is.
Other dignitaries who were present in the ceremony included the European Union Ambassador to Rwanda, Nicolla Bellomo and the French Ambassador to Rwanda Antoine Anfre, who also commended the role of the private sector in supporting the green movement.
Dancille Mujawariya, one of the beneficiaries of electricity equipment from the then Mobisol, also attributed the success of local communities to electricity provided.
"Before having access to electricity, many children in remote areas were not able to carry out self-studies at the time, but since using Mobisol equipment, our children are able to study even late in the night,” she recalls.
ENGIE is improving the quality of lives for over 6.5 million people in nine African countries.
Universal electrification is the 7th of the Sustainable Development Goals that the global community has committed to achieving by 2030.
More than 600 million people have no access to electricity in Africa and by 2030 the continent is expected to be home to 80 percent of the world’s off-grid population, according to the International Energy Agency.