The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) yesterday held a technical workhop with Mini-Grid Developers, Solar Home Systems’ Distributors and the general public on the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) and Solar Power Naija ‘N5 million Connections Programme’ of the Federal Government.
According to a press statement issued yesterday by the NEP’s
Communications Specialist, Ahmed Abubakar, the objective of the technical workshop was to senisitise sector stakeholders on the NEP and Solar Power Naija, with the aim to increase private-sector participation and explore areas of partnerships.
The REA is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government, tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities. It has the mandate to promote and co-ordinate rural electrification programs in the country and administers the Rural Electrification Fund, (REF), which promotes, supports and provides rural electrification through Public-Private-Sector Participation, (PPP).
The statement said the workshop also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment towards providing renewable energy solutions that will complement the traditional grid extension as a means of delivering electricity to the unserved population.
“The workshop participants were enlightened on the guidelines and application processes for the solar-hybrid mini-grids, Solar Home Systems (SHS) and the Productive Use Appliances and Equipment (PUE) components of the Nigeria Electrification Project and Solar Power Naija”, it stated.
Solar Power Naija is a
Federal Government’s innovative programme under the Economic Sustainability Plan to catalyse off-grid electrification in Nigeria through the provision of energy access to 25 million individuals through the provision of solar home systems, (SHS), or connection to a mini-grid, increase local content in the off-grid solar value-chain to facilitate the growth of the local manufacturing industry and incentivize the creation of 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, stated that, ”The workshop is designed to facilitate the increase in private-sector participation of all eligible renewable energy developers to explore partnerships with the REA”.
He further told the participants that, “We have also taken this opportunity to invite All-On, having helped companies raise funding, to provide tips for making your off-grid business investment ready”.
“We look forward to engaging with you and fostering more partnerships, while impacting the lives of Nigerians with clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity in the off-grid communities and empowering them into productive use of energy”.
Over 400 participants across the country and international renewable energy space were in attendance.
The webinar was interactive with questions from participants on how to participate and partner with the agency to increase energy access across the country.
The NEP is an innovative programme to catalyse off-grid development in Nigeria, through the provision of grant funding, detailed market data and technical assistance, in collaboration with the World Bank ($350m) and African Development Bank ($200m).
Solar Power Naija is in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN).
