 said on Monday it has invested in telecom energy firm IPT PowerTech to expand clean){kind=link}
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) said on Monday it has invested in telecom energy firm IPT PowerTech to expand clean and reliable power for mobile networks in Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The financing is aimed at improving power stability at telecom towers, many of which operate in off-grid or weak-grid areas, helping to reduce outages and improve mobile connectivity for households, schools, health facilities and businesses.
Under the project, IPT PowerTech will modernize, operate and maintain 2,235 telecom sites across the three countries, with solar and battery systems replacing diesel generators in most locations. IFC said more than 90% of the sites are in off-grid or weak-grid environments.
The transition to renewable-backed systems is expected to lower operating costs for telecom operators by up to 52% in Ethiopia, 30% in Liberia and 26% in Sierra Leone, while cutting emissions by more than 10,600 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually, according to IFC.
“Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation,” said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC Division Director for West Africa Gulf of Guinea.
IPT PowerTech chief executive Nabil Haddad said the partnership would help scale the company’s energy platforms and support the rollout of greener telecom infrastructure.
IFC said the $45 million financing package includes an A-loan and blended finance support from programs including the Canada–IFC Blended Climate Finance Program and the IDA20 Private Sector Window. It marks IFC’s return to direct infrastructure investment in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
The initiative also aligns with broader development efforts by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to expand electricity access across Africa, as well as digital economy strategies targeting underserved markets.