A contract for the establishment of an approved after-sales service point was signed between Lagazel and the Diapalanté Center, a reception center whose main objective is to support young people in difficulty in their professional careers. The first young person, Abdoulaye Tchoï, was trained in Thiès in solar energy, and a second is currently being trained. The Center has acquired a lot of equipment and tools (soldering iron, sets of pliers and screwdrivers, tester, desoldering pump, multimeter …) which is available to the two young people to conduct their business.

“Before, we had to send the lamps back to Thiès, where Lagazel Senegal is based, for repairs. The establishment of the after-sales service point in Saint-Louis means that the lamps can be repaired more quickly,” explains Djibo Ka, who is in charge of the School Water Access Program (PAEMS) at The Partnership. A Kalo charging station has also been installed at the Center to recharge the lamps before distribution.

Abdoulaye Tchoï, the young man accompanied by the Diapalanté Center who manages the after-sales service point, is also satisfied. He says: “It is the Diapalanté Center that first allowed me to do a training in solar energy at the level of the Center of training, application and incubation to the photovoltaic professions (CEFEMER) PROMESS in Thiès. During my training, I was able to gather knowledge and extreme skills on solar renewable energy. This training allowed me to manage the after-sales service point with the quality and the experience acquired. Thank you to Diapalante Center and Lagazel who allowed me to be what I am today “.

On November 17, 2022, Gilles Guyot, Lagazel Design Office Manager, and Claire Le Ster, Operations Manager, had the opportunity to visit the after-sales service point in Saint-Louis. This was an opportunity to share with the team of the Partnership and the Diapalanté Center some good practices to refurbish used lamps. Techniques for recharging discharged batteries were presented to local technicians, and live tests were carried out on a few defective products. “These returns from the after-sales service are very important for us. They enable us to develop our products to make them even more durable and efficient,” explains Gilles Guyot, head of Lagazel’s design office. For example, the company recently changed the reference for the cap that seals the lamp’s ports, to make them more resistant. Indeed, the caps were sometimes damaged by children playing with the lamps.

This strategy of making available a local after-sales service is part of the DNA of the Lagazel company, which from the beginning has designed products that are easily repairable and whose local manufacturing model allows for spare components to be available locally, as well as a qualified workforce to assemble and repair the products. In parallel to this visit to Saint-Louis, two other training sessions on after-sales service for Lagazel products were held in Bamako, Mali and in Lomé and Togoville, Togo.

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• The Lagazel BN workshop was inaugurated in October 2021. Can you tell us how the first months of activities are going?

Yes, Lagazel Benin was inaugurated precisely on October 7, 2021, in the middle of the Covid-19 global health crisis. You can imagine with us the very difficult context in which we started our activities. The first months of activities were very difficult with important delays for the import of raw material to which are added the difficulties related to any new company. Despite this, we managed to successfully deliver our first markets of collective charging stations for solar lamps and solar-home-systems in the second half of 2021. In addition, since the beginning of 2022, we have welcomed dozens of young people on practical training courses in the factory, supported by the ANPE as part of the Azoli program.

• How has the initiative been received by the communities in the neighborhood, the actors of the municipality of Porto Novo and government institutions?

It must be said that Lagazel’s dream in Benin became a reality thanks to the support of MCA Benin II through the OCEF, the Off-Grid Electricity Access Project financed by the MCC and the Government of Benin. Also the government supported us by its presence during the inauguration and it is the occasion to thank the Minister of Energy Jean-Claude Dona HOUSSOU who was the sponsor of the event.

As far as the authorities of the town of Porto-Novo are concerned, the welcome and the support were great. The different mayors having understood the added value of this factory for the city of Porto-Novo have supported the initiative by granting the domain on which the factory is currently located.

In the neighborhood, at the beginning, people were already curious to know what was being built on their territory. Many volunteered for masonry work, clearing and other tasks. This has even motivated the application of several local young people for technician positions at the plant. Today with great satisfaction we have 3 of these young people (1 woman and 2 men) in our team at the factory.

• As a local manufacturer, what are the challenges you have to overcome?

In terms of challenges to overcome, they are numerous and not the least. We will allow ourselves to list only a few.

First, we will talk about the unfair competition of imported products that are often of poor quality and very cheap. It is therefore difficult to put a quality product on the market when the price of raw materials has soared because of COVID and currently the war in Ukraine.

Secondly, the experience of the Beninese population in the field of solar energy is not reassuring. In the recent past, the population has known projects in this field from which they have had a bad experience with solar products. The population is therefore reluctant.

Better to say that the local production has no value for us, African people. We still think that “what is produced locally is not of good quality”. Fortunately, this is not true.

• What are your development perspectives for next year?

Currently we are devoting a lot of energy to reach our goal of distributing 20,000 solar products on the Beninese market by early 2023. During the school vacations, we will offer vacations in Lagazel to allow children to discover solar energy in our workshop. Finally, as a perspective, we plan to put new products on the market such as the cell phone charging station and we are also working on solar refrigeration with a well-developed after sales service.

Thank you very much !

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From June 1st 2022 and while stocks last, Lagazel Benin is committed to offering one LK600 lamp for each solar lamp purchased for the benefit of Benin’s rural populations…

How does it work? Contact our team in Benin (+229 97 42 44 31) or in France (+33 (0)6 22 97 82 41) to reserve your solar lamps. Our experienced collaborators can help you to set up your project or put you in touch with other actors of our network if needed (identification of needs, local representation…). The lamps are then manufactured and delivered in Benin! 

Under what conditions?

1. The equipment is distributed in rural areas of Benin ;
2. The list of beneficiary users is shared with Lagazel ;
   (Site visits are possible by Lagazel’s partners who finance the operation.)
3. Minimum order of 100 lamps or 2 complete charging stations ;
4. Free lamp = LK600 lamp.
   (For example, for an order of 2 stations of 40 LK1500 lamps (a total of 80 LK1500), 80 LK600 lamps are offered by Lagazel Benin.)

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Opening session

A few introductory words from Issouf Zoungrana, Director General of ANEREE (National Agency for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) in Burkina Faso and Arnaud Chabanne, Director of Lagazel, welcomed the participants and set the context of the workshop, despite some Internet connection difficulties.

Replay Opening session

Panel 1 : Etat des lieux et acteurs de la gestion des DEEE et déchets solaires en Afrique de l’Ouest

Panel 1: State of the play and players of WEEE and solar e-waste management in West Africa

This first session allowed to share initiatives of actors in the sector of end of life of solar products and WEEE in West Africa. Alassane Sanou from the Association Burkinabè pour la Promotion des Emplois Verts (APBEV) presented an overview of the actors in the sector in Burkina Faso, distinguishing between formal and informal channels. Moussa Bougouma of the Norbert Zongo University in Koudougou completed this overview with a presentation of the Centre of Expertise for the Valorization of Metals (CERVAM) and its activities in the sociological, chemical and electrochemical fields. Another actor in the chain, Victor Vrousos, presented the activities of Weeecycling, a refinery that exports electronic waste to Europe in order to recycle precious metals in a legal and traceable way. Finally, Daniel Hinchliffe from GIZ gave an overview of the German cooperation programs in different West African countries and shared an analysis of the solutions for the treatment of solar product batteries, differentiating between lead and lithium batteries.

Presentations Panel 1: State of the play and players

Replay Panel 1 : State of the play and players

Panel 2 : Environment and regulation of the WEEE and solar e-waste management sector in West Africa

During this second session, Loïc Lonardini from CEA / INES presented different types of abusive tests conducted on lithium-ion cells (overcharge, short-circuit and over-temperature tests) by explaining the causes and consequences of these feared effects. Then Ruweyda Stillhart, from the consulting firm dss+, presented an overview of the legal and regulatory framework in the West African region, with a focus on the most developed legislations in Ghana and Nigeria. Finally, François Ahoti from IEC for Africa presented the work carried out by the international standards body to better produce and manage the end-of-life of batteries.

Presentations Panel 2: Environment and regulation

Replay Panel 2: Environment and regulation

Panel 3 : Feedbacks on battery reconditioning in West Africa

Session 3 started with a presentation by Angel Kirchev from CEA / INES who presented how the diagnosis of recovered lithium-ion cells is performed, an essential step for the manufacturing of secondary battery packs. After a visual inspection, measurements are made with low-cost devices that have been developed and tested in partnership with Lagazel. Roc Sossoukpe, from Engie Energy Access Benin, then presented the activities carried out by the company distributing solar products for the recovery and reconditioning of used solar products, in compliance with safety rules for the handling and storage of batteries. Finally, Lagazel reported on the pilot project carried out over the past two years as part of the Global Leap Solar E-waste Challenge: collection of batteries, implementation of sorting strategies, development and validation of test equipment, interconnection and solderless assembly techniques…

Presentations Panel 3 : Battery reconditionning

Replay Panel 3: Battery reconditionning

Panel 4 : Business models and financing of end-of-life of solar products in West Africa

To conclude the workshop, the 4th session addressed the issues of business models and financing of the end of life of WEEE and solar products. Esmeralda Sindou, Project Manager of the Beyond the Grid for Africa (BGFA) program at REEEP first explained how the fund that finances solar product distributors has integrated the circular economy in its approach, with what challenges and levers of action. Boris de Fauterau, from dss+, then reported on his experience with economic models for WEEE management in developing countries. While the regulatory route is an option that has certain drawbacks, Boris believes that it is possible to optimize the WEEE collection and treatment model in order to achieve an activity that is both ecological and profitable. Finally, Bintou Maiga Bado from PFAN (Private Finance Advisory Network) presented this private finance advisory network, which is established in 40 countries and which accompanies and connects project leaders and investors in all sectors of activity related to renewable energy.

Presentations Panel 4 : Business models and financing 

Replay Panel 4 : Business models and financing

Finally, some concluding words were given by Monica Wambui from CLASP, coordinator of the Global Leap Solar E-waste Challenge, and Claire Le Ster from LAGAZEL who, as organizer, thanked all the stakeholders who contributed to the success of the workshop.

Overall, the quality and diversity of the interventions and experience sharing were unanimously congratulated by the participants who encourage to continue the sharing dynamics engaged on the subject.

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• The project and its context

LAGAZEL is the first company to industrialise the manufacture of quality solar lamps and kits on the African continent in order to provide a local solution for families without access to electricity. Its objective is to manufacture green products locally in African workshops, in order to contribute to the industrial and economic development of the continent. Lagazel currently has 2 West African workshops in Burkina Faso and Benin and plans to create 5 workshops within 5 years.

The Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) Programme aims to demonstrate how the off-grid energy sector can stimulate local job creation, gross value added (R&D, testing, manufacturing, assembly and end-use, repair, refurbishment, recycling) and improved quality of life in sub-Saharan Africa.

The project proposed by LAGAZEL is part of this global framework and aims to strengthen and develop the local added value of LAGAZEL’s production workshops in order to offer quality solar products to the off-grid solar industry while creating sustainable local jobs. The project has 3 main axes:

1. Develop the local added value of the LAGAZEL product range (lamps, solar kits)
2. To start the production of components and sub-parts of solar products, especially as subcontractors for other actors in the sector
3. Initiate local R&D for the development of new low-tech products with the aim of local manufacturing.

• Issues and methodology

The main objective of the study was to investigate the socio-economic impact of LAGAZEL’s activity on the defined areas, and with the following groups: LAGAZEL employees, solar product retailers (LAGAZEL or not), administrative officials, economic and political actors and the local population.

The main objectives were to:

• assess the viability of local production ;
• assess the impact on employability
• assess the direct and indirect economic and social impact of the project on the local population and the local community.

The main question that arises in the case of the LAGAZEL lamp and solar kit manufacturing company located in Burkina Faso (Dédougou) and Benin (Porto-Novo) is how the presence of the said factories in these localities can contribute to the improvement of the living environment of the populations through the creation of jobs and local added value.

To address this issue and prior to the start of the data collection phase in the field, IFSRA carried out a sampling and tool creation exercise and shared it regularly with the LAGAZEL monitoring team in order to validate the method and tools.

• Impact analysis

The evaluation highlighted the major impacts of the presence of the factories at the local level as being:

• • The creation of quality formal jobs that meet the criteria of the employees with an effort to include vulnerable people;
  • The creation of training opportunities at the local level in order to link the training entities active at the local level resulting in the contribution to the national effort of production of qualified manpower in the solar sector;
  • The improvement of the living conditions of the local populations, both for the employees who evolve in a favourable and equitable working environment, and for the retailers and users of the products, with notably positive effects on health by the replacement of highly polluting and harmful traditional products and on education;
  • The supply of sustainable products and quality and proximity services, involving the presence of a reactive and efficient after-sales service, an R&D department allowing the efficient evolution of products to adapt them to the needs and problems making the products even more sustainable and adapted;
  • A local presence facilitating the rapid satisfaction of needs through the availability of stocks at local level and the reduction of taxes and transport costs;
  • The contribution to the influence of the commune on its national territory but also internationally, particularly appreciated by local consumers who are proud to consume local products and which fits perfectly into the African trend of promoting “Made in Africa”.
  • The contribution to the protection of the environment by replacing traditional oil or battery lamps, which leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions, a reduction in exposure to harmful fumes and the risk of fire, and a reduction in waste (plastics, batteries) due to the durability of the products.

• Case studies

Three case studies were conducted in order to evaluate in a qualitative way the effects of the implantation of Lagazel facilities on local stakeholders (Only available in French).

• • Nazi Boni regional vocational high-school in Dedougou
  • Dayo Paulin, seller of grilled meat by night
  • Célestin Cissé, employee of LAGAZEL

• Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

Taking into account the impacts described above, we can conclude that LAGAZEL’s production model based on the presence of factories at local level contributes to 8 out of the 17 sustainable development goals presented below.

• Challenges

Despite all these positive impacts, LAGAZEL is still forced to face challenges such as the strong competition they face and in particular, at the local level, due to the presence of many poor quality but very cheap products; the lack of consideration of the specificities of the local manufacturing model by international quality certification standards. Similarly, the current security climate, particularly in Burkina Faso, cannot be ruled out either. The deteriorating security conditions in the country and, more recently, in the Boucle du Mouhoun region constitute a real challenge for the company to continue to operate normally.

• Recommendations

From the analysis, certain recommendations arise. Thus, it seems necessary, given the LAGAZEL model, to strengthen communication on the quality of the products by relying on its strong points that are particularly appreciated in the local context, namely: solidity and durability. It would also be advisable to strengthen advocacy actions, on the one hand, for the integration of the place of production in the international certification criteria of off-grid solar products, based on all the impacts identified in this report and, on the other hand, to take advantage of the favourable “made in Africa” context and to strengthen advocacy with the States in this sense to increase the advantages, particularly fiscal, for the benefit of the company and the African factories. And finally, local partnerships with institutions, authorities and training centres should be strengthened in order to formalise them, which would further support the local anchoring of the company.

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In order to create a platform of exchange betwwen west african players on the solar e-waste topic, share the first results of the pilot project conducted by Lagazel and foster partnerships, Lagazel will organize an online workshop on March 10th 2022 on the issue of solar products’end-of-life and batteries’ refurbishing.

The workshop will target a diversity of players interested by the topic such as off-grid energy players, e-waste and WEEE players, training and research institutions, governmental and local institutions, technical and financial partners. Various speakers from institutions, research labs, private companies, technical and financial partners will share their knowledge and feedbacks on the WEEE sector and solar e-waste in West Africa. On the agenda:

• State of play and players in WEEE and solar e-waste in West Africa
• Environment and regulation about electronic waste and batteries
• Sharing experiences on battery refurbishing
• Business models and funding opportunities for solar e-waste projets.

Are you interested in this issue? Subscribe to participate in the workshop !

The event will be hosted online on Zoom events. For security reason, you will require a Free Zoom account to register and participate to the event. More information and technical assistance for registration : contact@lagazel.com, whatsapp : +33 6 75 40 28 11.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ONLINE WORKSHOP

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Afin de pouvoir réutiliser le plus grand nombre de cellules issues d’équipements solaires, Lagazel utilise la station de recharge solaire Kalo pour réaliser la deuxième phase test des cellules LFP. En effet, à la réception, les cellules doivent être triées visuellement puis triées avec des instruments de mesures d’impédance afin de pouvoir séparer les cellules pouvant être rechargées directement de celles en état de décharge prolongée. Pour les cellules en décharge profonde, elles ne sont pas totalement perdues mais il faut du temps pour qu’elle reprenne la charge (surtout si elles sont restées profondément déchargées pendant plusieurs semaines). Les cellules sont donc installées sur les stations et sont chargées grâce à l’énergie solaire pour permettre de faire des économies d’électricité et favoriser l’utilisation d’énergie renouvelable.

Pour rappel, la station de charge solaire de Lagazel permet la recharge simultanée de 40 lampes solaires Kalo, ou 40 batteries. En fonction de la capacité des batteries, la station est alimentée avec un ou deux panneaux solaires de 55 Wc 7.5V. La station, comme l’ensemble des produits de la gamme Lagazel, est fabriquée dans les ateliers africains de Lagazel. Depuis plusieurs années déployées dans le cadre de projets solidaires, les stations trouvent ici une autre application dans le process de tri et reconditionnement de batteries issues de produits solaires.

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Perfectly adapted to development projects, Lagazel collective charging station enables the simultaneous charge of 40 solar lamps. Installed in a school for example, it allows pupils to study in the evening at home thanks to a reliable light source.

This system is also a positive way of encouraging education: children must go back to school every day to continue to use their lamp.

Today, more than 13 000 people benefit from the station, within 7 African countries.

« The project completion in the school of Kierma has allowed not only to reduce educational inequality regarding energy access, but also to raise awareness on the possibility of giving a rechargeable lamp to every child and indeed, increasing school attendance. »   Boubacar OUEDRAOGO, Président of the Burkinabe association Aide & Action du Bazéga

Click here to read the project note and discover some projects. 

Click here to watch the video in Kierma’s school in Burkina Faso.

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PAYGO (for Pay-as-you-go) photovoltaic systems incorporate a digital technology that allows end-users to pay their solar systems as long as they use it. This business model undergone a significant rise over the past few years. It makes it easier for low-income rural populations to access solar energy as the investment barrier is removed. By now on, LAGAZEL Sobox solar-home-systems are available with PAYGO technology from Solaris Offgrid. Combined with the PaygOps software from Solaris Offrid, LAGAZEL Sobox distributors can now manage the repayment of the product and associated services over several months/years, but also optimize their business processes and other after-sale services in order to be more efficient and profitable.

LAGAZEL Sobox solar-home-systems have been manufactured for one year in LAGAZEL facility in Burkina Faso. In the beginning, the French-African manufacturer offers two references: the Sobox light solar-home-system, with 3 bulblights and one portative lamp, can provide light for an off-grid house; and they can also power 12V devices like an efficient fan and TV. This local manufacturing model not only offers benefits in terms of local job creation and local economic development, but it also enables the implementation of a proximity after-sales service that ensures optimal operation during the warranty period and beyond.

The first LAGAZEL Sobox solar-home-systems are currently being delivered in Mali and new orders are expected throughout the West-african region. For more information about such solutions, please contact LAGAZEL or PaygOps teams.

About Lagazel

Lagazel is the first company manufacturing solar products in Africa at an industrial scale in order to bring a proximity solution to off-grid families. Since 2016, 65,000 solar lamps and solar-home-systems have been manufactured in Burkina Faso according to Lighting Global quality standards, and a second facility is currently being installed in Benin. www.lagazel.com.

About Solaris Offgrid

Solaris Offgrid supports solar energy distributors to build strong customer traction and greater relations with investors through flexible and inclusive Paygo solutions, designed for last-mile operations. Adopting a bottom up approach in the design of its solutions and creating synergies with a strong network of partners to solve last-mile challenges, the company has already deployed Paygo solutions in nearly 30 countries through PaygOps, Solaris Offgrid in-house software solution built “In the Field, for the Field” and its product design services. Leading reference in the off-grid solar market, PaygOps, is engineered to deliver modular and interoperable solutions to address off-grid energy access challenges and distribution complexity. For more information on PaygOps, please contact enquiries@paygops.com.

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Lagazel, the first company to have industrialised the production of certified solar lamps and home solar systems in West Africa, was selected within the framework of this program to implement a project aiming at Strengthening and developing the local added-value of LAGAZEL manufacturing facilities, in Burkina Faso and Benin. The objective is to offer quality products and parts to the solar off-grid industry and to create local sustainable jobs.

The project includes 3 main components:

1. Increase local added-value of Lagazel range of products (solar lamps, solar-home-systems)
2. Initiate the production of solar products components and parts, as local manufacturing outsourcing service for other players in the off-grid sector
3. Initiate local R&D activities in order to develop new products with low technological content, that will be manufactured locally.

As this project includes a high “Action-Research” component, LAGAZEL engaged in a partnership with the Institute for Social Research in Africa (IFSRA), an association founded by researchers of the Insuco group to promote applied research on local development issues and territorial governance in Africa. The objective of IFSRA mission is to evaluate the viability of the local production, its impact on employability, and the the direct and indirect social and economic repercussions on the local population and the local communities. In the framework of this study, a student in Master 2 Crisis prevention and social peace management of the IAC Ouagadougou will write his Master thesis on Electrification and Conflict Management.

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