Inauguration

April 1st, 2008 saw the dawn of a new era in lighting the 'bottom of the pyramid'. In Mbita, Kenya, on the shore of Lake Victoria the first OSRAM O-HUB was inaugurated. The event was preceded by a press conference in Nairobi on the 31st of March, where numerous dignitaries commented on the efforts of OSRAM to provide lighting in off-grid areas.

(left to right) Walter Lindner (German Ambassador to Kenya), Dr. Obiero Ong’ang’a (Director of the NGO OSIENALA), Achim Steiner (UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director), Dr. Kurt Gerl (Chief Marketing Officer, OSRAM), Wolfgang Gregor (Chief Sustainability Officer, OSRAM) taking questions at the press conference in Nairobi.

Martin Goetzeler, CEO of OSRAM

“As one of the world’s largest lighting manufactures, we recognize that an intelligent, conscientious approach to the environment is not just the right thing to do. It is the only thing to do.

OSRAM has committed itself to creating sustainable products and processes and helping to achieve permanent reductions in CO₂ emission. Our “Global Care” program also stands for worldwide social responsibility. With our “Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)” and “Off Grid” sustainability projects we are the pioneer and the driver in the field of energy efficient lighting solutions that reduce CO₂ emissions.”

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director

"The challenge of this generation is to deliver energy to the 1.6 billion without access to the Grid in a way that does not contribute to humanity's global environmental footprint including impact on the climate. To do this we need innovative and creative solutions and partnerships that bring together governments , businesses and communities in common cause. There are many shining example of how we can fast forward tomorrow's economy today and in doing so put the world on course to more sane and sensible energy and development policies.

OSRAM's Off-Grid solution, piloted in East Africa on and around Lake Victoria, is a case in point. The innovation is not only providing an economic benefit for fishermen but a underlining that small-scale solutions can be the fastest and most eco-friendly way of transforming the energy needs of local communities.

UNEP is delighted to be associated with this innovative solution which could be one among several blue-prints of achieving a wide range of important and laudable goals."

Visit the UNEP Website

Wolfgang Gregor, OSRAM Chief Sustainability Officer

“Around 1.6 billion people throughout the world still do not have access to electric light. We are starting to change this. We want to turn light into an affordable commodity for people in these regions – and contribute to sustainable development.

We are proud to be the first lighting manufacturer in the world to offer a sustainable lighting solution for regions without power supply networks.“

(f.l.t.r.) Otieno Kajwang (President Mbita, Member of Parliament), Dr. Kurt Gerl (Chief Marketing Officer, OSRAM), Udo Gattenlöhner (Director of the NGO Global Nature Fund) and Dr. Obiero Ong’ang’a (Director of the NGO OSIENALA) opening the first OSRAM Energy Hub in Mbita.

Udo Gattenlöhner, Director of the Global Nature Fund

"For some years now, we’ve been looking for alternatives to the kerosene lamps used for fishing in Africa, on account of their harmfulness to health and the environment. The solar lamps and solar stations developed together with OSRAM are a forward-looking solution, because they allow people to charge their batteries inexpensively – with minimized impact on the environment."