MILELE ENERGY – SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS

Erik Granskog, CEO Milele Energy, has originated, acquired, developed, and financed over 4,600MW and $5.3BN of renewable and conventional energy investments worldwide. He spoke to EnergyNet about plans, projects, and partnerships. 

 

You recently expanded your infrastructure team in Nairobi – are there new projects in the pipeline? 

At Milele, we are developing a portfolio of run-of-river hydropower projects across East Africa, with a total planned capacity exceeding 100 megawatts. These projects, ranging from a few megawatts to around 20 megawatts, have significant developmental impact in rural areas and provide essential grid stability. While supporting electricity transmission over long distances, these plants can inject power into the grid, enhancing efficiency and reliability through voltage regulation. 

 

What would you say are the main obstacles and opportunities when working with local communities and what learnings would you share?    

I think it’s important to be realistic and understand that all projects will have challenges, no matter where they are based. At Milele Energy, working in Sub-Saharan Africa, we have found that quite often challenges can become opportunities to build enduring relationships while also having a positive impact. It is useful to recognize there will be cultural differences and that developing community trust is critical. That can be done several different ways, including employing local liaisons who can act as a bridge, ensuring transparency, and fully engaging the community.  
 
There may also be financial, technical and infrastructural limitations and, in those instances, we really feel like we benefit from employing local knowledge and community-based solutions.  
 
And finally, regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles can be complex and time-consuming, often delaying project times. In those instances, it is helpful to build strong relationships with local authorities and ensure compliance with all regulations. 

 

What do you consider to be your biggest achievements to date?  And which projects are you particularly excited about? 

Thank you for that excellent question. Our company is focused on an incredibly important utility-scale gas energy project in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This project is vital to addressing the region's severe energy shortages and environmental issues. 

Getting this project to the cusp of financial close has been an immense undertaking, and I could not be more proud of the perseverance and commitment shown by our team. Reaching this milestone is a huge achievement given the challenges, but it has acted as a motivation to see it through to completion. 

The critical energy situation in Sierra Leone is what drives us. We know this project has the potential to be truly transformative for the people and communities there. That knowledge steels our resolve to push forward, overcome any remaining hurdles, and make this vision a reality. The positive impact will be profound and long-lasting. 

 

What are you most looking forward to at aef24? 

Stepping out of the office and engaging with peers in the unique group of people working in the energy space is valuable. It's an opportunity to meet new people as well as see the same connections from over the years, including the EnergyNet team. The collegial environment at aef allows us to explore innovative solutions and technologies to enhance our projects and operations. We look forward to building strategic partnerships and gaining regulatory insights from stakeholders as well as showcasing our latest initiatives that can attract interest and investment.

The knowledge exchange through panels and discussions provides continuous learning opportunities, particularly around sustainable energy practices. Overall, aef's diverse gathering aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver sustainable energy solutions across Africa. 
 
Not to mention, there is also tapas! 

 

You have mentioned that aef provides a tremendous ROI for Milele – it would be great to know more about this, and what makes the conversations at the forum so valuable.

Between PAS and aef, we are able to connect with almost every key stakeholder in one place. aef provides invaluable networking opportunities to forge partnerships that drive our projects forward. It offers deep market insights to stay ahead of industry trends.

Presenting at aef allows us to showcase our initiatives to potential investors and partners. We can contribute thought leadership by engaging in high-level discussions, positioning Milele Energy as a key industry player. The tangible business leads, and intangible knowledge gained from aef yield substantial returns on investment. Overall, aef’s diverse gathering aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver sustainable energy solutions across Africa.

Milele Energy is a sponsor of Africa Energy Forum 2024, where Erik is a speaker and is also participating in the Corporate Round Table.