Finnfund and CREI support sustainable energy for telecoms in South Sudan

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Energy & Sustainability; 20 February 2026; 2034 views

Finnfund, the Finnish development financier and impact investor, says it has made a follow-on investment in a company called Communication & Renewable Energy Infrastructure (CREI) to scale up sustainable telecom energy infrastructure in South Sudan.

CREI is an established asset management company holding a portfolio of telecom tower and renewable power assets across Africa and Asia. It specialises in deploying hybrid energy solutions for mobile network operators.

Finnfund explains that its financing supports the modernisation and expansion of solar-hybrid energy systems for MTN South Sudan’s 499 telecom sites under a ten-year energy as a service (ESCO) contract.

Indeed, Finnfund says the project has already modernised 490 sites and reaches over four million customers, exceeding initial targets. The telecom stations are not only operational but consistently powered, allowing anyone with a mobile device to make a call, browse the internet, or access digital services.

The overall network coverage has expanded from 69% to 80% of the population over the past three years, reflecting the broader market effect of CREI’s infrastructure upgrades.

The US$5 million investment is backed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus under the Africa Connected programme, which aims to accelerate digital inclusion and climate resilience. In total, Finnfund says it has now invested US$10 million dollars in CREI.

By modernising telecom infrastructure with solar-hybrid energy systems, not only is CREI enabling mobile networks to reach previously underserved communities, but the shift from diesel generators to solar-hybrid systems has led to a 43% reduction in carbon emissions and a significant drop in noise and local air pollution. The renewable energy ratio has risen from 11% to 42%, and, with further modernisation underway, even greater sustainability gains are expected.

CREI also invests in community development, including solarised maternity wards that previously operated without reliable access to electricity, providing clean energy to essential healthcare facilities and enhancing maternal and neonatal health services.

CREI has also launched a gender action plan aimed at increasing female representation across technical and engineering roles, enhancing workplace benefits, and ensuring equitable access to training and leadership, and career advancement opportunities.