The Federal Government plans to generate 3,000 megawatts
(Mw) of electricity through 10,000 mini-grids to energise under-served off-grid
communities across Nigeria by year 2020.
The Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA),
Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi, who spoke during an energy conference on mini grid in
Abuja, said the agency was securing $350 million from the World Bank for rural
electrification. Of the money, $150million will go into funding the mini-grid
projects.
Through the Bank’s Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) to
be implemented by REA after its approval in April 2018, key mini-grid projects
are expected to serve 200,000 households and 50,000 local enterprises across
Niger, Plateau, Kaduna and Rivers states.
Mrs Ogunbiyi, who noted that 50 per cent of Nigeria’s 180million population are not
connected to the national grid, said they can be energised through mini-grids
that would involve private sector participation.
She said local businesses spend N40 billion every year to
generate unstained electricity, adding that
to reduce that, REA is working with the private sector to provide
off-grid power supply strategies for the next five years which started from 2015.
The REA chief said if investors can provide clean
electricity to the 50 per cent unconnected Nigerians, there will be a potential
of N9billion to be earned from Solar Home Systems (SHS) and mini-grid systems.
Speaking, Minister of
Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said the conference was apt as
the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently signed the mini
grid regulation to accelerate the electrification of rural areas that are far
from grid using renewable energy sources.
“I think it is a great moment for Africa, for the sub region
and it is a great moment for my country, Nigeria,” he said.
Country Director, Nigeria at World Bank, Mr Rachid
Benmessaoud said it was the fourth time the international community is
gathering to discuss energy access especially the mini grid solution with over
600 participants in the on-going edition hosted by Nigeria.
He said about one billion people lack access to electricity
globally from which 600million are in sub-Saharan Africa and with 80million of
them in Nigeria.
Represented by the Global Lead Energy Access of the Bank, Mr
Mac Cosgrove-Davies, said the Bank has over $3billion funding portfolio for
Nigeria and that it is largely to help improve the power sector just as he
sought the collaboration of stakeholders in the development projects.
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