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The Street Lights Nobody Believed Could Be a PPP
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Most people say: “It’s too small for a PPP.” They’re wrong. In fact, this one might be your best lesson yet. In Eldoret, Kenya, the local government pulled off a PPP for solar-street-lighting. Project size: approx USD 23 million. Yes… 23 million US in a country in Africa… In a PPP! More data: Scope: ~20,000 LED street-lights + around 3 MWp solar + 10 MWh storage. Goal: Replace ageing lighting, reduce cost, save lives, cut emissions. And this is why you should study this PPP Project: 1. Small doesn’t mean insignificant. USD 23 million is peanuts compared to the mega-airports and power plants we drool over. But in Eldoret? It’s transformational – Hello charities?? Because every LED that stays on means fewer dark corners. Fewer accidents. Less maintenance hell. When governments wait for the “big deal”, they leave the streets dark. 2. Clear deliverables + structure. LED conversion + solar + storage = tough, measurable targets. This PPP isn’t a wish list. It’s a deliverables list. Example: Over 15 years, the off-grid solar version would cost about USD 23 million versus USD 92 million under the old system. That’s huge. 3. Risk allocation done right. They didn’t just “let someone build lights”. They shifted the long-term service, maintenance, power cost risk. Instead of the county just guessing future budgets, the private partner carries a chunk of the load. 4. Proof that PPP models work beyond “mega”. If you’re in government hearing “PPP only makes sense for billion-dollar toll-roads or airports”, stop listening. Eldoret proves: upgrade the basics, deliver value, make an impact. Smaller contract. Big effect. 5. Green + smart = future-proof. Solar + storage + LED = resilience. Climate risk ain’t “somewhere else” anymore. When you design a PPP with that embedded, you’re not just lighting street, you’re building credibility. So… If you believe PPPs only work when the tag is big, you’re missing the game. It’s not about size. It’s about clarity. Discipline. Risk transferred to the party that can’t walk away when trouble comes. It’s about delivering something real before you chase the headlines. In Eldoret, they didn’t wait for the “mega-deal”. They did the job. They delivered. They proved you can. If you work in a government or agency and you’re still asking “Is this small-scale PPP even worth it?” Well… here’s your answer: Yes, it is. And if you won’t embrace it, someone else will. So… Get off your butt. Start offering real infrastructure that serves people. No more waiting for “phase 2”. For more PPP information, click here: ​The top 15 Lessons of a successful project​ ​The top 15 lessons of a nightmare project​ ​Don't be embarrassed. ​ PD 1: If you liked this email, don't keep it in secret and forward it to a friend. They will thank you enormously one day. PD 2: If somebody has sent you this email and you want to receive emails like this yourself, visit vicentevalencia.com PD 3: If you want unsubscribe, click the link below. |
Vicente Valencia
Weekly insights on how to perform when it matters | High-stakes decisions. Real situations. No BS. | 👇JOIN +2k readers 👇
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