British International Investment
27 January 2025

A brighter future: illuminating over a million lives in DRC with solar-powered batteries

“Imagine a battery, that can power everything from phones to fridges, lights and larger appliances, enabling businesses even in the most remote locations, to thrive when the supply of electricity is non-existent or unreliable.” 

“This is why backing energy access is a key priority for BII to drive sustainable economic growth, particularly in Africa’s frontier markets including DRC,” said Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at British International Investment (BII).

At BII, we are committed to backing companies that can make a real difference to the lives of millions of people living in some of the least developed countries in the world.

That’s why we are so pleased to provide $7 million to MOPO, a British company that is offering solar-powered batteries to families and small businesses in the DRC.

This commitment was made at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar ed Salaam in Tanzania and is the latest step in our journey to bring clean and affordable energy to African nations.

Thanks to BII’s investment, MOPO will be able to provide access to sustainable energy to over a million people in the DRC, where over 80 per cent of the population do not have access to electricity.

Customers can rent, return and replace batteries at MOPO’s solar-powered hubs, which are managed by local agents. It not only enables families and small businesses to access affordable electricity, but also provides a cleaner and cheaper alternative to carbon-based fuel generation.

Chris Chijiutomi added: “By supporting innovative businesses like MOPO, we aim to create more early-stage solutions to address significant energy deficits across the continent. We look forward to supporting MOPO as it delivers on its expansion plans and makes access to energy possible for more Africans.”

Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister for Africa said: “This innovative partnership between British International Investment and MOPO demonstrates how UK expertise and investment can help unlock sustainable economic growth in Africa.  

“By bringing reliable, clean energy solutions to households and businesses, we’re driving green development while creating opportunities for UK and African businesses alike.  

This is part of the UK’s approach to working with African partners to tackle climate change and boost economic prosperity through smart, sustainable technologies.” 

Chris Longbottom, MOPO CEO said: “We are delighted to collaborate with BII, which has acknowledged the significance of our innovative pay-per-use battery rental model. At MOPO, our mission is to create a high-impact, sustainable solution that empowers households and small businesses by providing access to electricity without the burden of costly upfront equipment purchases. This partnership aligns perfectly with BII’s mandate to finance initiatives that drive social and economic development. Together, we aim to make clean, affordable energy accessible to those who need it most, fostering growth within the communities we serve.”

The Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA) played a unique role alongside BII’s team in support of the investment process. Established by BII and FMO, ARIA brings development finance institutions together to unlock investments in frontier markets in Africa.

 

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Note to Editors

BII media contact: [email protected]

About British International Investment

British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. As a trusted investment partner to businesses in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, BII invests to create productive, sustainable and inclusive economies in our markets. Between 2022-2026, at least 30 per cent of BII’s total new commitments by value will be in climate finance. BII is also a founding member of the 2X Challenge which has raised over $33.6 billion to empower women’s economic development. The company has investments in over 1,580 businesses across 65 countries and total net assets of £8.5 billion. For more information, visit: www.bii.co.uk | watch here. Follow British International Investment on LinkedIn and X.

About MOPO

UK-based MOPO is a pay-per-use battery technology company focused on the supply of sustainable energy to individuals and businesses in Africa. The business is based on the rental of its unique MOPO batteries from solar powered charging hubs that are managed by a network of local agents. Its portfolio includes the MOPO50 battery, which provides basic household energy access for lighting, phone charging and Direct Current (DC) appliances; and the MOPOMax, a 1kWh battery for AC appliances which is used to replace fossil fuel generators. Each MOPO battery can be tracked via the MOPO Platform to determine whether it is with an agent, a customer, or has reached the end of its life and is ready to be recycled. MOPO batteries are controlled through integrated technology, ensuring energy is only discharged upon agent payment through the bespoke MOPO App. With committed plans to roll out its service across Africa, MOPO already has operations in Nigeria, DRC, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad, and Uganda. mopo.co

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