The federal government has endorsed the efforts of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in the development of the renewable energy.
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, made the endorsement as the Agency’s research and development activities relating to power had begun to yield positive results.
The minister who visited two of the projects of the agency locations in Karshi – Abuja, and Gada Mada in Nasarawa state, commended it for its giant strides in the development and growth of renewable energy sources of solar and small hydro.
He said from what he saw on ground, the attainment of 10% target set for year 2020 would be achieved. At the Karshi site, where the minister was conducted round the pilot solar energy facility, he expressed satisfaction with the quality of equipment on ground, describing NASENI as an organization that had truly keyed into President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the area of local content.
He observed that NASENI had an impressive due diligence methodology and quality control mechanism that would soon send fake and sub-standard solar powered facilities out of the market. He appealed to NASENI to assist in the training of local engineers, technicians and artisans in the area of routine maintenance of solar powered facilities.
“NASENI should be given all it takes for it to harness its potentials for solar and small hydro, as a way of growing the nation’s renewable energy mix, adding that such off-grid energy could be deployed to provide power to the rural areas,” he said.
On its part, the NASENI’s team led by the chief executive officer, Mohammed Haruna, urged the minister to assist the agency in delivering on its mandate by fast tracking government’s patronage. He also faulted the indiscriminate importation of sub-standard solar facilities into the country.
He said NASENI had, through its research and development activities, built a 7.5mw pilot plant which could be enhanced to 25mw if approved by government. He stressed that the agency’s facilities were tested and had met high specification.
The team also conducted the minister round the mini-hydro project on River Mada at a location called Gada near Akwanga in Nasarawa state. The project which generates 5mw electricity was produced from a turbine powered by the River, with a mini sub-station for power distribution.
