During this week's Africa Energy Forum, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed a grant aimed at increasing electricity access in Zambia. USTDA is partnering with Zambian company Standard Microgrid Initiatives Limited on a study that supports the deployment of containerized minigrid units in rural and peri-urban districts in Zambia. The project is anticipated to be the first large-scale deployment of solar with battery storage mini-grids in the country that utilizes U.S. technology solutions.

During the ceremony, USTDA also announced approval of funding for a 130-140 megawatt wind power project being development by Access Wind One Zambia Limited, the Zambian subsidiary of Access Power Limited.

USTDA's Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director, Lida Fitts, signed the grant on behalf of USTDA, at a ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark, along with Standard Microgrid Initiatives Limited Project Manager, Matthew Wainwright. The ceremony was held jointly with InfraCo Africa, an investment company of the London-based Private Infrastructure Development Group, an equity investor in the project. Alex Katon, Executive Director of InfraCo Africa, also signed agreements with Standard Microgrid Initiatives Limited during the ceremony.

"USTDA is pleased to help introduce U.S. technology to Zambia, increasing access to reliable electricity and supporting the Zambian government in diversifying its energy generation mix," said Fitts. "We are particularly happy to be here today with InfraCo Africa, proof that our support can have direct impact in attracting implementation financing for such projects."