COVID 19 had an impact in the whole world and mini-grid business is not the exception. Relief funds were created, flexibilization of deadlines and other measures were applied. Since then, impacts on the logistic chain are still sensitive and the war in Ukraine has worsen the situation resulting in a very marked impact on logistics, raw materials costs and expenditures in energy among others. What is the specific impact on mini-grid business and what are the solutions and relief mechanisms applied to make sure that SDG7 is achieved?

Panelists:

Irene Calvé Saborit

Chief Executive Officer
Sunkofa Energy

Irene co-founded Sunkofa Energy -- a mini-grid start-up focusing on innovation on operations in west Africa. Irene leads the activities in new markets and identification of revenues improvement actions. She worked previously in ENGIE PowerCorner as Business Development and Commercial Manager for 3 years and in ENGIE's strategy department within the center of expertise in economic modelling and studies, focusing on regulation impact analysis and decentralized solutions. Her expertise lies in business development, economic modelling and analysis as well as decentralized generation with a special focus on energy access. She holds a double degree including a Master of Science (MSc) of Sustainable energy, from the Denmark Technical University and the title of Ingeniero Industrial from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.

Marie Testard

Head of Investment and Advisory for Mini-Grids
Engie PowerCorner

Marie works for Engie Energy Access' finance department as Head of Investment and Advisory for Mini-Grids. She is in charge of mini-grid financial models and financial negotiations with DFIs and impact investors looking to unlock subsidies and funding necessary to drive the development of mini-grid projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Marie joined Engie's Mini-Grid projects (PowerCorner) in 2017 and before that she was Credit Risk manager of Engie Europe. Prior to Engie, she developed an extended experience in equity market working as financial analysis for Dow-Jones and Thomson Reuters.

Nicole Kugelmass

Director, Strategic Initiatives & Investments
SunFunder

Nicole is based in London. She joined SunFunder in July 2021 from BioLite, where she worked as a strategy consultant in their Nairobi office. Prior to entering the clean energy sector, Nicole worked in the Investment Banking industry for 12 years in New York and London, most recently as a Director in Debt Capital Markets. Nicole was born in Uruguay and holds an MPA in Development, Technology & Innovation Policy from UCL and a BSc in Economics from Northeastern University in Boston.

Mathilde Sirbu

Operation & Finance Manager
Sunkofa Energy

Mathilde Sirbu joined Sunkofa in 2022 to lead the commercial operation strategy & support project financing. Sunkofa Energy is a mini-grid start-up focusing on innovation on operations in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to her current position Mathilde was Investment Officer at Gaia Impact Fund, a venture capital firm which supports sustainable and innovative companies from the energy access space. She has also been Business Developer at ENGIE PowerCorner, driving the development of solar mini-grid projects in West Africa. Mathilde holds a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering Energy Systems from Columbia University in the City of New York, and a Master of Engineering degree from CentraleSupélec.

Clara Villain

Business Development Manager, West and Central Africa
InfraCo Africa

Clara is a BD Manager covering West and French speaking Africa. She previously managed the development of ENGIE mini-grid activities through Eastern and Central Africa, gathering in-depth and on-field expertise of the off-grid sector and access-to-energy challenges. She holds a BSc of Paris IX Dauphine and a MSc from the London School of Economics.