In an attempt to build stronger ties as well as achieve the aim of being one of the major energy leaders on the continent, the CEO of Orange, France multinational telecommunications corporation, Stéphane Richard and Isabelle Kocher, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of ENGIE, a French electric-utility company, have recently signed a partnership covering two projects – the expansion of the rural electricity grid and ENGIE’s optimisation of energy supplied to Orange’s telecoms infrastructure in Africa.
The strength of the partnership is based on Orange’s expertise as an international telecoms carrier present in 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and ENGIE’s know-how as an international player in the energy sector. The telecommunication giant is keen to take part in such a major challenge in order to expand the electricity grid in Africa and encourage responsible power consumption on the continent based on the expertise of one of the world’s leading energy companies.
This deal between the official partners of the climate conference in Paris, reasserts the companies’ willingness to use their technological knowledge to achieve sustainable progress and economic and social development in Africa. Currently, the energy company supplies 760 MW of power in Africa and wishes to reinforce its position as the leading independent producer of electricity in Africa by creating a dedicated Business Unit with around a hundred employees.
The two Groups intend to try a range of domestic power supply solutions for rural populations which may include solar kits and small-scale, local electricity networks, that will be billed and marketed via mobile network. Orange’s objectives are to pursue its stable and secure power supply program, reduce its energy footprint, and contain costs despite rapidly growing energy requirements
