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Having developed grids and produced electricity in Africa for the last 50 years, EDF contributes to the partnership a refined knowledge of African markets as well as control over the entire electricity value chain. OGE, a start-up specialized in off-grid solutions, helped to develop the business plan and provided technical solutions for the solar kits, which have been inspected and tested by the EDF R&D team, who have further assured their sustainability. Seeking further successful collaboration in the Ivory Coast, EDG and OGE formed the joint venture ZECI, representing the first large-scale partnership between a transnational energy company and a start-up specialized in off-grid electricity. A pioneer in the Ivory Coast, ZECI became operational in just a few weeks, enabling the solar kits to be made available rapidly in areas with the least access to electricity networks. Employing more than 400 local workers in the sale and maintenance of the kids, ZECI is now the Ivorian leader and wishes to increase its national market share to 20% by 2020.
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