ABOUT AESG
Scope of Activities
AESG is an all Africa based energy company with its head office in Kigali, Rwanda and a branch in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. It is constituted by a group of experienced professionals and experts in different domains of energy.
The AESG strength ranges from high level energy policy and strategy expertise to the hands-on energy professionals all round energy related matters.
The experience and focus of AESG is more on a wide range of energy systems in the developing world with more emphasis on Renewable energies. The current engagement is more in Eastern and Southern Africa region, looking at expanding to cover other African countries as need arises and as the company grows.
The company engages in the following areas:
- Conducting energy studies, energy related research, knowledge and skills dissemination;
ii. Providing consultancy and a wide range of advisory services in energy related domains ranging from renewable energies that include but not limited to Solar, Natural and Methane gas, Biomass and Biogas, Hydro, Geothermal and Wind, to other forms of energy. ; more specifically;
- Solar: solar photovoltaic systems both for on and off-grid applications, solar thermal systems, solar battery charging stations,
- Hydro: hydropower project design, support both on technical as well as business case development level
- Wind: wind power development for water pumping, small electricity applications
- Geothermal: project identification and facilitation, structuring of project agreements, project development and concessioning framework, transaction advisory, etc.
- Biogas: Biogas systems planning and implementation, technical assistance for construction and operation, improvement of sanitation systems and installation of biogas devices for cooking, lighting, cooling, and conversion to electricity.
- Biomass: Biomass energy systems planning, designing and execution. These include gasification, Biomass to electricity, improved Biomass cook stoves (Domestic and Institutional), and improved methods of charcoal production, etc.
- Energy efficiency and Energy Security: Energy efficiency for lighting, heating, and buildings, energy audits, etc. as well as energy security in terms of planning for energy supply and demand management systems.
- Oil and Gas: PSA and concessions transactions and business development processes
Q&A
- Who are your major clients?
The major clients of AESG have so far been Governments in a number of countries in Africa focusing more on policy and strategy polish to respond to the specific needs of the countries. Energy efficiency and security through supply and demand side management have also been part of the undertakings. As many countries today embark on green growth paths with low carbon footprint initiatives and climate resilience in general, of recent we have been supporting a number of countries on the “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative including developing the Countries’ Action Agenda and Investment Prospectuses.
- Few years back, ICT was a talk of the day in the world development agenda, today, still is, but not to the extent of energy. Energy seems to be topping the development priority list of every country today. As somebody who not so long ago was engaged in both sectors as a Minister here, what do you think would be the reason for this shift.
Let me put it this way; While Information and Communication technology has been and remains to be a facilitator and a catalyst of any activity in life through the quickest means of information transfer and sharing by human beings or even machines and equipment through signals that may stop or trigger an action, energy is a prime mover. It is a prime mover of ICT itself. This is, but basic.
This shift is mainly dictated by the dynamics of social economic developments and the imperatives that go with it. Several African countries have been developing tremendously fast. Take Rwanda for example and look at the economic growth it has been registering over the years. This growth comes about from different initiatives accruing from different sectors of the economy. Be it industrial processes, mechanised agriculture, food processing and storage, advanced mining, education and health services, name it. None will move without being appropriately energised. And, as we progress further, the more energy we need to sustain the growth. At the industrial level, as more investments keep flowing in the country, the more increase in energy demand shall be recorded. Even if determination of the actual energy demand growth in a country like ours where connectivity stands below 40% (with substantial latent demand), can only be an estimate, in any case, however, it won’t go below 25% on annual basis. And, this is not only Rwanda, or Africa, energy is a global agenda today. Look at how the falling of oil prices has affected commodity prices across the board to an extent of shaking certain sectors of the economy. So, this shift is simply imperative.
- Does Energy topping the priority list of Governments make it happen?
To a very good extent, yes. First of all, you need a political will and support, by all means. This paves way for good investment environment including conducive legal and regulatory frameworks and it instils confidence onto the prospective investors. It paves way for Governments’ readiness to undergo PPP arrangements where necessarily relevant and needed. What I note from different countries I am involves in, there is strong high level political will.
Obviously, this may not always be straight forward, as there is also the part on “how to do it”. A positive nod and encouragement from the Head of State may not be good enough if the lieutenants to propel the processes are not doing it by any reason.
- You spend much of your time in several other countries in the region and beyond, how do you compare Rwanda and these other countries in terms of energy generation, transmission and distribution? Being a small country does it place Rwanda somewhere low on the ladder?
Well, to me, and to others I believe, this should not be the question of the country size, or even the population size. A fair comparison should consider “per capital” energy supply or “per capital” energy access instead. If a country’s population is double or triple of that of Rwanda, and the power generated triples what we produce, still this may not make any difference in terms of per capital access and effectiveness of businesses.
- Today, there seems to be quite visibly increasing interest from the North towards investing in Africa. Is that true? Why?
This is true. In fact, I just returned back from Germany where I was participating in what is called “Germany – Africa Energy Partnership forum”. This forum, which convenes every year in Hamburg, is a forum that brings together African energy companies and African Governments’ energy representatives to forge partnerships in energy investments especially in Africa, at public or private level. So, you are right this is increasingly happening. One, Africa today is not the Africa we know 40 years ago, where capacity of priority setting was not there, where you would hardly find any clear legal and regulatory framework, where any investment made more sense if it was public, where the talk on cost reflective power supply tariffs sounded a political blunder, etc. Africa today is completely on another level and heading fast towards total global economic inclusiveness. But also, the truth is, Africa is becoming a new and very attractive market.
- There is an upcoming WEF Rwanda is hosting. Do you think Rwanda may benefit from this event in terms of energy investments?
That is my hope. Why? Rwanda has come to position herself as a country that meets most of what an investor would be interested in. In fact, today, I personally get contacted by different interested potential investors on average of more than once every week asking about opportunities for investment in the energy sector. That is only me, I am pretty sure that several others including the Rwanda Energy Group and the Ministry get even more enquiries. So this Forum shall provide a good platform for such discussions to take place. And, before one goes into the details of the entry point in terms of investment, naturally, knowing that the country electricity access is still less than 40%, the 60% remaining without access shall certainly remain an open opportunity for investment, be it through power generation from different available sources, independent smart grids out there in the rural areas, cross border power trading, etc, or even provision of expertise in different areas of the sector. Private companies like mine also stand out ready for partnerships with foreign companies to undertake joint activities in the country and/or the region.
- Is your company eying such an opportunity?
I am sure we will walk away with few interesting business cards at the minimum. Isn’t it how it all begins?
- Last year, you scoped an East African Region Lifetime Achievement Award as a standout individual that has contributed to successful transformation of the energy sector and a positive impact on the East African Power Industry. What do you think were the attributes to that effect?
This is not the first time I am being asked about that; and my response has always reflected on two major aspects; One, it is personal passion in the sector and industry, whether in my own country or any other country. It is all about considering somebody living without electricity at all. I know how it tastes… I lived it. So, that drives my courage to engage by whatever means in my capacity.
Secondly and more important, is the kind of training I went through and I also always tell it out. There is this normal conventional training we all go through including universities and colleges, etc. There is also the normal hands on experience we acquire through our work lives. But there is this special training that only few lucky ones get, and I thank God to have been one of those who attended this special college. The training I went through while serving under President Kagame as his Minister responsible for energy is phenomenon. This is not a college every one gets admitted to…. you need to be lucky as there are many of your calibre or even better out there who for some reason do not get this opportunity. As a graduate of this college, if you do not walk out with such an endurance and capacity to go details and performance, then you must be having a problem. So carrying with you the reference of this special trainer shall always enable you walk upright in all the corridors of this technological path. For me it has worked well and I do believe it contributed to others appreciating what I am doing. This is the only special attribute I can see, otherwise I was competing with quite high end professionals in the industry.
