Business Day (Nigeria)

Solar hybrid mini-grids spread across Nigeria as Shendam receives 234kws unit

- STEPHEN ONYEKWELU

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its implementi­ng agency, Rural Electrific­ation Agency ( REA), today ( Thursday) commission­s a 234-kilowatts (KWS) solar hybrid mini-grid power plant in Shimankar, an agrarian settlement on the banks of River Shimankar, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A number of other communitie­s across Nigeria have received similar facilities.

The project, which is one of the many solar mini projects to be commission­ed under Nigeria Electrific­ation Project (NEP), will provide clean, safe, affordable and reliable electricit­y for the community members.

Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, REA managing director and chief executive officer, emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting its developmen­tal goals by providing electricit­y access for all.

“As an agency, we are responsibl­e for powering unserved and under served communitie­s. therefore, it is fulfilling every time homes, businesses, schools and medical centres are connected to sustainabl­e solar power,” Ahmad said.

Almost immediatel­y, the REA has witnessed rural communitie­s being transforme­d with clean energy through the jobs that are created during constructi­on to the micro and small businesses scaling to larger capacity thanks to reliable electricit­y.

Miskoom Maurice Danjuma Manu III, a traditiona­l ruler, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the private sector developer for providing electricit­y to their community.

“Our businesses are now fully operationa­l, especially at night. Our businesses are growing; we can buy and enjoy cold beverages in the provision shops. Today is indeed the beginning of better things to come for Shimankar,” he said.

Ifeanyi Orajaka, CEO, GVE Projects Limited, Nigeria’s leading PV solar mini-grid solutions provider, stated that the installed mini-grid comprising a total of 234kw will adequately energise the community.

He also mentioned that the solar hybrid mini-grid in Shimankar aims to provide reliable electricit­y to 1,972 households, 273 commercial users, five productive users and 19 public users in the community to improve the socio-economic life of the community.

“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,” Orajaka said.

Shimankar Community now joins the many communitie­s across Nigeria experienci­ng social and economic progress thanks to the solar mini-grids project under the Nigeria Electrific­ation Project (NEP).

 ??  ?? 234-kilowatts solar hybrid mini-grid power plant in Shimankar, Plateau State
234-kilowatts solar hybrid mini-grid power plant in Shimankar, Plateau State

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