$20M Mini-Grids Deal in Madagascar

Key Figures & Findings: CrossBoundary Access, a distributed electric utility focused on accelerating rural electrification in Africa, and ANKA, a group of private renewable energy utilities focused on delivering clean, sustainable energy solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa have signed a $20 million agreement to finance, build, and operate solar-powered mini-grids across Madagascar. The initiative will bring electricity access to over 62,000 people by 2026, targeting areas where national electrification stands at just 36%, and rural access drops to 15%. The project will combine solar PV with battery storage and is backed by Madagascar’s supportive regulatory framework, designed to enable long-term private infrastructure investment.

Statistics & Insights: The mini-grids will provide grid-quality electricity to households, businesses, and public institutions using solar generation and battery systems. Deployment aims to reach 62,000+ beneficiaries by 2026 with installations across rural and peri-urban sites.

Future Implications: If completed on schedule, the project could serve as a replicable model for decentralized electrification across Madagascar and similar underserved markets by Q4 2026. It may also attract further blended-finance investments if policy stability and grid demand remain favourable.

Source: LinkedIn post