The award will help Kazang Solar, Azuri Technologies’ official distribution partner in Zambia, to deliver Azuri Quad solar lighting to 7,000 homes. The funding was awarded by AECF under its Renewable Energy and Climate Adaptation Technologies (REACT) window. Kazang Solar is one of only three companies to be awarded financial support from AECF REACT, funded by the UK Department for Internation Development (DFID).
Azuri is a leading commercial provider of pay-as-you-go solar home systems to off-grid homes in Africa and has been working with Kazang in Zambia since 2016. Kazang Solar is the sister company of Kazang, the largest provider of electronic vending services in Zambia. The company serves more than 100,000 customers per day and has a nationwide footprint.
The unique partnership between Kazang, Kazang Solar and Azuri means that customers in traditionally underserved rural areas not only gain access to reliable solar-powered lighting but can also access for the first time a range of digital financial services.
The winners of the funding were announced by DFID Minister for Africa, Harriet Baldwin MP at an event in Lusaka last week. While in Zambia, Minister Baldwin and Minister Mathew Nkhuwa, Zambia’s Energy Minister, signed the Energy Africa Compact, a partnership between the UK and Zambian governments and the private sector to support the growth of the sustainable energy sector.
“We are delighted to be one of only three companies to be selected and look forward to bringing Azuri’s innovative solar technology to off-grid communities across Zambia” said Kazang General Manager Chileshe Chilufya.
Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of Azuri, added that the fund supports innovative and transformational business models which characterises the Azuri and Kazang approach.
Azuri Quad solar home lighting system features Azuri’s award-winning HomeSmart technology with artificial intelligence that monitors weather conditions and learns customer usage patterns to adjust output to ensure a full night’s power. The system includes a 10W solar panel, four bright LED lights, USB port and connectors for mobile phone charging, rechargeable radio and rechargeable torch.
AzuriTV, the first PayGo solar TV system of its kind to be launched in Africa, features a 24-inch super slim LED TV, over 100 satellite TV channels, four bright LED lights for use inside and outside the home, mobile phone charging, rechargeable radio and rechargeable torch.
Image: Azuri Technologies
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