The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) said it has built around 103 mini-grids across the country through the Nigeria Electrification Project (NPE) initiative.
Ahmad Salihijo, the agency’s CEO and CEO, revealed this while speaking during the 10th virtual roundtable on mini-grids on Wednesday.
The NEP is a federal government initiative driven by the private sector and seeks to close the energy access deficit by providing electricity to homes, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MIPYMES), educational and health care facilities in underserved and underserved rural communities. through deployment. of mini-grids, solar home systems (SHS), captive power plants, and productive use appliances to ensure the sustainability of these off-grid solutions.
During the roundtable, Salihijo said that REA has successfully implemented 103 mini-grids in Nigeria under the performance-based grants (PBG) sub-component of the NEP.
This, he said, marked a crucial breakthrough in improving access to electricity for households, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as public facilities in rural and underserved regions of Nigeria.
“REA was created with a mandate to increase access to electricity by reducing the energy access deficit in Nigeria. Since its inception, we have made significant progress in achieving this goal.
“The Agency is implementing various electrification programmes, such as the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which aims to create lasting impacts by fostering economic growth, improving education and improving the overall quality of life for Nigerians,” he said.
He explained that one of the key strategies the agency is using to achieve this goal is the PBG sub-component.
He said the PBG is a funding mechanism that provides grants to qualified developers to build and operate mini-grids in rural communities.
So far, Salihijo said the PBG has been very successful in attracting private sector investment in mini-grids.
“Through the NEP, more than 80 mini-grids have been completed and put into operation, connecting some 32,000 homes, MSMEs and public facilities and supplying clean and reliable electricity.
“The hybrid solar minigrid component has been remarkably successful, with a total of 46,661 verified connections made to homes, MSMEs, and public facilities,” he added.
He said that each connection is a step towards closing the energy gap and fostering economic development.
“An additional 281,578 connections are being made, which will further expand the impact and scope of the project,” he said.
In his speech, Abba Aliyu, head of NEP’s OER project management unit, expressed his satisfaction with the achievement.
“We are delighted to announce that we have successfully completed and commissioned 103 mini-grids as part of the NEP initiative. This achievement underscores our commitment to provide reliable and sustainable energy solutions to communities that have long been underserved,” he said.
“Our goal has always been to empower communities with the power of electricity. These 103 mini-grids represent brighter futures, better livelihoods, and opportunities for growth.”
According to him, the initiative has already had a positive impact on more than 230,000 people in Nigeria, generating positive changes in their daily routines, economic activities and overall quality of life.
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“The installation of 5.8 MW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity underscores REA’s commitment to harnessing renewable energy sources for sustainable energy solutions,” he added.
He explained that the successful deployment of 103 mini-grids is a testament to the project’s dedication to creating a brighter, more electrified future for communities across Nigeria.
“We will not stop here. Our vision is to keep expanding, to keep innovating, and to keep bringing light to every corner of this nation,” he added.
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