EU, Germany donate N3.4bn to support renewable energy

The European Union (EU) and its ally, German Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ) have pledged the sum of N3.4bn donation to the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), aimed at improving energy access, with focus on the renewable energy option.

Speaking at the launch of the NESP at the Ministry of Power in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo said the EU’s €15.5 million Euros, in addition to the already given €9 million (total of about N3.4 billion) by GIZ is commendable as grant intervention, and is not the same as a debt overhang.

Nebo who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Godknows Igali said it is in the overall interest of the country that capacity building is embedded in the selected intervention area, so the country sector’s training arm - National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), will help address training gaps in the new skills in renewable energy like wind, solar and biomass.

The Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Alan Munday, stated that the N3.4billion additional funding would allow NESP to continue advising Nigerian institutions on the enabling policy, institutional and regulatory framework conditions at the federal level.

Earlier, the Programme Director of GIZ, Daniel Werner said the German authorities intend to use the technical co-operation for the application of grant to support investment opportunities in renewable energy, energy efficiency and rural electrification.

Werner added that 10 pilot programmes have been identified especially in Northern Nigeria and indeed other regions across the country, and that Nigerians will be trained in new technology to install and maintain solar panels and other facilities.