GEI Power Limited (GEI) was established in 2018 by its Founder and Managing Director, Ignatius Anayawa to develop and invest in sustainable and scalable renewable energy projects. From the beginning, the mission was right there in the name. “GEI” means “Conception for creation.” That, combined with the company’s motto, “Energy is life”, all points towards a goal of enabling growth and productivity at all levels as a Zambian sustainable energy company. GEI is now at the forefront of advancing green hydrogen, solar PV, and decentralised irrigation technologies in the region.
The company has a selection of large-scale projects ahead of it. This includes a 100-megawatt green hydrogen production facility for fertiliser and electricity generation in Kafue, a 60-megawatt solar PV facility complemented with 20-megawatt hours of battery storage in Choma, and a 30-megawatt solar PV facility complemented with 10-megawatt hours of battery energy storage in Livingstone, and a Water-Energy-Food nexus 1,500ha farm block in Luapula.
Projects like this come together to create a vision of a carbon-free world powered by renewable energy.
“Our mission is to improve people’s lives and protect the environment while creating social and economic values,” says Anayawa. “We have an unwavering resolve to advance sustainable practices and expand access to clean energy as is evidenced by our commitment to institutions such as the USAID Power Africa and Africa Minigrid Developers Association to which we are Partners.”
GEI Power is the first and only Zambian energy company that develops PV with cutting-edge battery storage, green hydrogen for electricity generation, and green ammonia production. It is also the first and only manufacturer and distributor of “Mbaula Ya Mphamvu”, an innovative and affordable methanol-fuelled clean cookstove.
“This revolutionary product provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional charcoal and wood fuel,” Anayawa says. “Its success has led to the launch of national methanol standards by regulators in the country.”
But a company with such bold ambitions is also going to face big challenges.
“We identified four main challenges in the sector and as a business,” Anayawa says. “The first one is finding a creditworthy off-taker. It is essential to identify private and public creditworthy off-takers to ensure the sustainability of the energy project. That leads to funding and technology. We achieve success by partnering with international developers who possess both the financial capacity and technical capabilities required for the project.”
At the same time, GEI must also work to overcome the limitations of Zambia’s grid capacity. GEI Power is developing PV and energy storage projects to address the intermittency associated with PV.
“Additionally, we are developing other renewable energy technologies such as green hydrogen, which offers baseload power,” says Anayawa. “In making these projects a reality, relentlessly navigating, and fulfilling the regulatory frameworks has been crucial. The recent passing of the government’s open-access policy is a positive development for the sector. It allows IPP like GEI Power to sell power to any willing buyer using the existing grid infrastructure, unlike in the past where only utilities can off-take the power, transmit and distribute.”
People Power
This is made possible thanks to the talented and dedicated team that GEI Power has at its disposal.
“Recruiting, retaining, and investing in staff are critical aspects of building a successful organisation, and our strength lies in our human resources,” Anayawa shares. “At GEI, we prioritise talent acquisition to build a skilled workforce. Our retention strategies include fostering a positive work environment, offering professional development opportunities, and maintaining competitive compensation.”
Alongside these strategies, Anayawa is keen to point out that great talent can come from anywhere, and that GEI Power’s workforce should reflect the people that it serves.
“We champion diversity and inclusion with a governance board comprising 60% women and a management staff of 50% women,” he points out. “Our commitment to sustainability, innovation, diversity and inclusion sets us apart.”
For Anayawa GEI Power must provide its people with opportunities, as his own journey has been a long and varied one.
“My personal and professional journey has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with challenges and triumphs, just like any other entrepreneur’s,” he says. “I have pursued different career paths to be where I am today, from investment banker to restaurateur, and now I am dedicated to making an impact as a renewable energy developer and investor. Back in 2018, GEI Power was just a dream without any capital. Despite numerous setbacks in raising funds, the unwavering passion and commitment to making a difference in people’s lives kept us going.”
Going forward, this is what will take GEI Power further on its journey to be a leading and highly impactful sustainable energy enterprise with a 1-gigawatt investment portfolio in Sub-Saharan Africa, operating as a holding enterprise with subsidiaries in diversified investments in other impactful sectors such as finance, innovation, R&D and philanthropy.
“We are a growing business and the sector presents many opportunities for growth nationally and internationally,” Anayawa says. “We will continue innovating in terms of solutions while establishing the formation of a Foundation to spearhead support for education, the arts, and women-led institutions. In a nutshell that is where we see ourselves in a couple of years.”
One thing is clear, GEI Power’s work is just beginning.
“GEI Power is pioneering the transition to sustainable energy in Zambia with a vision for regional impact,” Anayawa concludes. “Although challenges persist, GEI’s unwavering commitment to clean power positions us for a brighter future. Energy is life, and creation continues.”
