Erik said very little about geothermal (Kenya dominates the continent in both untapped capacity as well as nameplate capacity) Geothermal is a renewable and is a baseload power source -- meaning it produces at the same rate ~24x7x365. That means it is a perfect match for bitcoin mining because mining too is 24x7x365. Bitcoin could help offtake the excess capacity so the plant can start to be built before the domestic energy market needs the entire output from the plant.
Also, very little was said about Ethiopia's GERD (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam), which is filling now and is already exporting electricity to Kenya]. There is far greater supply than the market demands.
But those are big gov't agencies and parastatals, so it wouldn't be surprising to find they refuse to let bitcoin miners build large mining farms in the country.
Now the Microgrid approach Gridless is focusing on is one I had no idea was also a good match for bitcoin mining. And Erik is right ... anybody going against these will be seen as denying the locals the basics of modern life ... electricity and communications. So Gridless has that card to play.
This was a fantastic interview, overall!