Energy Sector in Ghana: The Renewable Energy Industry by Kate Quartey-Papafio

Interview with Kate Quartey-Papafio, Founder and CEO of Reroy Cables

What is new in the bauxite sector?

It is quite exciting for us to realize how we can leverage on the opportunities around us, especially with the bauxite industry. We always import our raw materials from outside. Even though we have had VALCO for years, we need to actually look at what we have in terms of how we can turn our bauxite into the raw materials that we need. Here, everything is centered on the copper industry and the aluminum industry. Our company is in the cable industry as well as infrastructure, aluminum, copper, renewable frames. But there are so many areas where the aluminum industry can really enhance the market, including job creation.

How will this impact job creation for the country?

We are looking for investors who can invest in our company and partner with us with in terms of technology transfer and sustainability, and also future plans for growth. We are looking for a long-term investment opportunity.

The greatest thing that can happen to us, especially concerning the youth, is for them to really take this industry to the world. We need to look at the bauxite industry and how they can have an impact. When you talk to youths today, they talk about visual arts and other areas, but this industry is vast and we import so many things. How can the students and the science and technical schools benefit from this? They have to start thinking about what job creation means to them, what it means from the beginning, the grassroots level. What are the things that the metal industry can do? Most of the time, we are only talking about scrap, but now that we have the bauxite here, we are looking at how we can leverage the opportunities that we have.

What projects do you have in the renewables sector?

We have Reroy Energy Group in the solar energy sector. Here, the sun is blazing, but most of our solar panels are imported. Is this something that we can leverage? This applies to both the solar panels and the solar frames. Renewables, in terms of job creation, is a new area, a green area that we have not touched at all.

What is your plan for this segment?

In renewables, we are looking for a team to take us through the sector. At the moment, we are traveling to some of the factories and analyzing how we can partner with them to take us through the technology and how we can sustain the renewable energy industry.

The energy sector is very important in your industry. What is your assessment of the energy sector?

Over the years, the energy sector has been through a lot. Now that the power is stable, we have to take advantage of it. For our industry, we cannot do without power. It is the same with every industry. We need to examine what we need to do in order to sustain it and even export some of the power. We say we have enough power, but we do not at all. We are looking at the subregion, the entire West African market, not just Ghana. Because we have been through this already, we know what it takes to sustain. We should not just close the door and say that we have enough power. It is important for the energy industry to expand and investigate how we are going to cut the costs of generation.

Are you working on any other projects?

In renewables, solar panels and renewable energy have actually cut costs by about 90% for the industries. We want to add value and continue to cut costs in the power sector. It is quite expensive compared to other countries where the power is cheaper. Even though quite recently, the government gave us some relief, we could do with a bit more. Industries should really look at their cost efficiency, because the borrowing industry is quite expensive as well.

You are currently working on a new LED project?

The LED product is something we have been looking at because over the years, we have seen that people could not afford power. So, we introduced this in order to save on costs. We are saving 90% of the consumption of power which, in terms of generation, we can use for the industries as well.

What kind of partners are you looking for?

We are looking for investors who can invest in our company and partner with us in terms of technology transfer and sustainability, and also future plans for growth. We are looking for a long-term investment opportunity.

Are you looking for partners in specific areas?

We are looking for partners in renewables. Now, when you travel around, you see renewables everywhere, even vehicles and motorbikes running on batteries. If we get partnerships from people, we need to partner with indigenous investors to help promote Ghana. Now, we want partners we can have a partnership arrangement with, who can help us train the youth, and help us to take advantage of the green era. The time has come for all of us not to only rely on what we have, but to also improve our green era.

As an entrepreneur, you are a role model for people. Do you have any advice on promoting entrepreneurship in Ghana?

With entrepreneurship, once you are born with it, wherever you end up, you must capitalize on the opportunities around you and make good use of them. That is true for the youth as well. We tell them you do not have to wait until you are employed, you employ someone. Look at the opportunity, take it up, and try to employ someone. The government cannot always create jobs for us. We in the entrepreneur world have to look at how we can create more jobs and multiple opportunities. But how depends on the vision that we have and it depends on the person. We want to encourage our youth.

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