Companies

Chloride Exide inks solar cells deal with Chinese firm

exide

Chloride Exide general manager Karanja Njoroge. photo | DIANA NGILA

Philip Ndegwa family’s Chloride Exide will be the distributor of Chinese Ritar Batteries in East Africa, following the signing of a dealership agreement between the two firms.

NASDAQ-listed Ritar Batteries makes and sells eco-friendly sealed lead acid batteries that are used in solar systems to store energy for use on demand.

Chloride general manager Karanja Njoroge said the company was a natural pick for Ritar when it was looking for a partner in the region.

“They identified us because we are one of the biggest installers and designers of solar PV (photovoltaic) and power back up systems in east and central Africa,” he said.

Mr Njoroge said the firm had conducted due diligence on the Chinese firm and established that its customers in the market would get value for their money. The five-year renewable deal will also see Chloride Exide design the power backup and solar PV systems for Ritar Batteries.

READ: Chloride Exide opens plant for maintenance free batteries

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the China-Africa Capacity Cooperation Expo at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.

The exhibition, which runs for three days, brings together 56 enterprises from China and exposes them to investment opportunities available in the East African market.
The exhibition aims to encourage trading and business partnerships between Chinese companies and local players.

Kenya is one of the countries piloting Sino-Africa capacity cooperation, which is in line with the ‘10 Co-operation Plan’ agreed upon at 2015 Johannesburg Summit Forum on China-Africa Co-operation.