“Imports of solar panels from China into Africa rose 60 per cent over the year to June, energy consultancy Ember estimates, with coal-heavy South Africa leading the way.

Nigeria has become the second-biggest importer in the past year by overtaking Egypt, with imports of 1.7 gigawatts of solar panels. It still lags behind nations with a similarly large population, such as Pakistan, which imported an estimated 17GW of solar panels last year, showing the room for growth.

‘It is a response to a problem . . . You can’t rely on a 24/7 grid in most parts of Nigeria at the moment,’ said Ashvin Dayal, senior vice-president of power at Rockefeller Foundation, which backed the mini-grid project.”

From Financial Times.