FG Commissions solar mini-grid in Akwa Ibom
The 100KW solar hybrid mini-grid is to provide electricity to 440 rural households of Akpabom Community in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
In a bid to provide more access to electricity in Nigeria, the implementation agency of the Federal Government, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has, today, commissioned a 100KW Solar Hybrid Mini-Grid in Akpabom Community in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
This project is one that was financially supported by Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Impact Investor All on and Akwa Ibom State Government.
This project commissioning is coming about 1-2 months after other solar mini-grids were commissioned in Upake community of Kogi state and Kare-Dadin Kowa community of Kebbi state.
The 100 KW Solar Hybrid mini-grid
The 100 KW solar mini-grid is expected to provide electricity to about 5500 residents who spread across 350 residential buildings and 90 commercial buildings.
The project, which was handled by an indigenous company, GVE projects Limited, includes 306 solar photovoltaic panels, a distribution network that spans across 5.5km, amongst other components.
The commissioning of the project
The commissioning of the project was graced by the Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Dr. Sanusi Ohiare, who represented the Managing Director/CEO of REA, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi. He congratulated the Akpabom Community and expressed his certainty that by their next visitation, the people in the community would have experienced great change.
“I congratulate all members of this hospitable community. I am certain that by the time we visit again, there will be a significant change in the lives of people. It is important to note that as you begin to utilize the electricity, there will be a boost in economic activities, leading to greater investments in the future.”
Appreciations
The CEO of GVE projects Limited, Ifeanyi Orajaka, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to the rural electrification of the country. He said, “it is a thing of pride that GVE, an indigenous Nigerian firm, can be a part of developing Nigeria’s rural areas. Thanks to this project, Nigerian solar developers like myself, can access these investment opportunities and participate in growing Nigeria’s evolving off-grid sector”.
“As a private investor, we are pleased to partner with the REA and the Akwa Ibom State government to finance GVE to construct and operate this commercial mini-grid for the Akpabom community. These kinds of public and private sector collaborations make projects like this bankable and are the best way to close the energy access gap in Nigeria at scale” said, Wiebe Boer, the CEO of All on.
The community leaders and community women expressed their excitement and appreciation of the project. “Our businesses are now fully operational;, especially at night. Our fishermen are able to preserve their fish and businesses, in general, are growing. Today is indeed the beginning of better things to come for Akpabom.” said, his royal highness Obong Barr. Samuel Johnson Efik.
Reassurance of commitment
Earlier, the Manging Director/CEO of REA, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi had emphasized on the Federal Government commitment to providing electricity access for all Nigerians, She said: “As an agency, we are responsible for powering unserved and underserved communities; therefore, it is fulfilling every time homes, businesses, schools, and medical centers are connected to sustainable solar power”
“Almost immediately, we are able to witness rural communities being transformed with clean energy through the jobs that are created during construction, to their micro and small businesses scaling to larger capacity thanks to reliable electricity”
REA is the implementation agency of the Federal government whose mandate is to promote and coordinate rural electrification in the country. It implements the REF to provide access to electricity across Nigeria, to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits, of rural electrification grants, to promote off-grid electrification, and to stimulate innovative approaches to Rural electrification.
REF funded projects are administered using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
News source: Businessday