The Jigawa State Government in North West, Nigeria has signed a Joint Venture Agreement with Tesni Energy Nigeria Limited and Leda GreenPower Energy Engineering Company of Beijing for the establishment of a 100-megawatt-per-annum solar panel assembly factory in the state.
The agreement, signed at the Government House, Dutse, had in attendance members of the State Executive Council and representatives of the partner companies.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Governor Umar Namadi described the project as a major milestone in Jigawa State’s long-term development strategy, aimed at deepening industrialization and expanding renewable energy infrastructure.
According to the governor, the solar panel assembly plant will serve both commercial and strategic purposes, including supporting the state’s plan to develop a 100-megawatt solar power generation facility.
“This solar panel assembly plant will not only serve a commercial purpose but will also act as a feeder to our broader plan to develop a 100-megawatt solar power generation facility in the state,” he said.
Governor Namadi added that, “beyond solar panels, the factory will also produce related components such as solar-powered irrigation pumps and other associated products, including nitrogen-related outputs”.
He said the project would generate significant economic benefits for Jigawa State through job creation, stimulation of local industries, and attraction of further investments, assuring investors of the state government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.
“This is a very significant investment that will positively impact the economy of Jigawa State. It will create employment opportunities, stimulate economic activities, and attract additional industries to the state,” the governor stated.
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Earlier, the Team Lead of Tesni/Leda GreenPower Energy Engineering Company, Engr. Bashir Ishak, described the agreement as historic. He noted that the project is the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria and among the first in the country in terms of the technology to be deployed.
He explained that the plant would produce up to 100 megawatts of solar panels annually and would position Jigawa State as the first location in Nigeria where this category of solar panels is produced locally from start to finish.
Engr. Ishak disclosed that feasibility studies and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for the project have been completed, adding that the factory would significantly reduce the cost of solar power deployment in the country.
“Ordinarily, producing one megawatt of solar power costs about one million dollars. With the establishment of this assembly plant, production costs are expected to drop by about 50 to 60 percent,” he said.
He further revealed that the project, valued at over five million dollars, will be executed as a joint venture between GreenPower Energy Engineering Company of Beijing and Tesni Energy Nigeria Limited, and will operate as a semi-automatic production facility.
According to him, the manual component of the production process is designed to create employment opportunities for youths in Jigawa State, while automated systems will handle the highly technical aspects of the operations.
Also speaking, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Engr. Surajo Musa, said the project aligns with ongoing power sector reforms by the Federal Government, which empower states to participate directly in electricity generation and related infrastructure.
Details of the engagement is contained in a press release by the Governor’s spokesperson, Hamisu Gimel.