Extensive research is being done in Africa on alternative methods of electricity generation.
There are still many parts of Africa that do not have electricity, and therefore there is a huge
gap in the market for suppliers that can provide ordinary people with their own electricity generation capacity via solar panels. This strategy is seen as a superior alternative to the supply of electricity through extensive networks distributing energy from coal operated generators to remote villages. Solar panels for home use are becoming increasingly affordable for many households and therefore economically excluded rural populations can hopefully access energy affordably in the near future.
James Indongo, your former university residence roommate, recently graduated with an engineering degree from the Namibia University of Science and Technology. James
approached you for assistance in commercialising his solar panel invention. He is convinced that if his invention could be commercialised and manufactured at a grand scale, it will make a big difference in the lives of many people in Africa. He wants to set up a business to manage the manufacturing and distribution of his invention into the market and does not mind if he doesn’t control the business, as long as it is run effectively and makes a difference in the lives of people by providing an affordable source of energy. James is a Namibian citizen. According to James’ calculations, his business will probably not make a profit for at least the first five years of its existence, but it might even take longer than that before the business starts to make a profit