Nigerian Government Commissions 300kwp Power Project In Niger State

The Nigerian government has commissioned 300KWp Solar PV pilot project in Kainji, Niger State, north-central Nigeria.

The project is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to provide adequate, reliable and quality electricity to businesses and households in the country.

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, while commissioning the project, noted that the project will primarily increase power generation capacity and lower electricity costs.

He also explained that the project would also enhance collaboration between the main concessionaire, Mainstream Energy Solution and its Chinese partner, HEDC in the renewable energy field.

The Minister who said efforts were progressing in achieving President Tinubu’s turnaround agenda on supply of reliable and quality power, stressed that “the Power Ministry’s objective is to meet power demand by ensuring improved distribution and transmission infrastructure to minimize technical and commercial losses, closing the metering gap and resolving the liquidity, power theft and vandalism challenges in Nigeria”.

He disclosed that the destruction of some power towers around the country has been reported to the National Security Adviser (NSA) in order to strengthen security around the power infrastructure; adding that government had also come up with relevant policies and programmes in order to provide direction in ensuring power availability to the people.

On his part, the Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister, Bolaji Tunji said the power project comes with 675KWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which is an integral part of the extension of 1G3 and 1G4 under the rehabilitation of the 1G9 in Kainji HPP project.

Speaking earlier, Managing Director of Mainstream Energy Solution, Engineer Mr. Lamu Audu, stressed that the project is in line with the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency policy of the Federal government which will set out the blueprint to increasing the country’s renewable energy development by 2030.

He said the pilot project is the beginning of Mainstream’s integration of Variable Renewable Energy into its core business, adding that plan is at an advanced stage to build a 450MWp and 150MWp Solar PV at Kainji and Jebba Hydro Power Plants (HPPs).

Mr. Audu called on the Nigerian government to provide more enabling environment that would attract more funding from private investors.

Olusola Akintonde