By Eamonn Ryan
At Solar & Storage Live Africa in Gauteng, the session ‘Unlocking the grid: solving SA’s interconnection bottlenecks’ turned into a candid fireside chat. Moderated by Maria Michael, managing director of Michael and Co Sustainable Power, together with Percy Koji, president and CEO: Hosana Green Energy, the session was billed as a technical and commercial conversation. Yet some of its most powerful moments came when Koji spoke about ethics and the human cost of energy failures.
Percy Koji, president and CEO: Hosana Green Energy.
© RACA Journal
Koji links his motivation for entering green energy directly to painful personal experiences. As a child, he recalls his local hospital repeatedly struggling with electricity problems. His mother, who had asthma, passed away after being sent to that hospital when:
There was no electricity. Oxygen machines weren’t working. Years later, his father died from cancer in a similar context: broken machines and no electricity in the hospital. These experiences made energy access more than a business opportunity; it became a mission tied to life and death in rural South Africa.
“Energy is part of who we are as a people… When the government of democracy came into play in 1994 they promised people will have water, electricity, etc.”
Doing things right, not fast
Maria notes that many see the renewable energy sector as a space for fast opportunity, especially against the backdrop of rising oil and diesel prices. Koji counters this by stressing:
- The importance of patience in project development.
- The need to “do things right from the beginning” to avoid ending up in court.
- A refusal to cut corners, even when personal financial pressure is high.
He calls out a broader culture of impatience and unethical shortcuts among some entrepreneurs, while acknowledging why desperation and bills can drive that behaviour.
Rejecting violence and corruption in the energy space
Percy also touches on a darker trend: the use of violence in disputes around contracts and projects. Citing the killing of a female lawyer who was shot for representing a client in a contentious case, he issues a strong appeal:
- No one should die for doing the right thing.
- Emerging entrepreneurs must refuse paths involving violence, intimidation or theft.
- Success built on cheating or stealing is not success at all.
This ethical stance is not abstract for him. It underpins why he insists on tracing each step of his project’s approvals, ensuring there is a clear, clean record of process followed and laws complied with.
Ethics as a competitive advantage
For developers and investors following the Solar & Storage Live Africa conversation, Percy’s message is clear:
- Ethical behaviour is not a luxury; it’s a risk‑management strategy.
- A transparently developed project:
- Is less likely to face legal challenges.
- Is more attractive to serious investors.
- Protects the reputations and even the lives of those involved.
In a sector where load shedding, medical equipment failures and rising fuel prices create urgency, this session reminded the audience that the fastest route is not always the safest or most sustainable.
