In its bid to ensure efficient energy supplies to Nigerians, the federal government has been exploring all options in energy mix. As part of these efforts, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, embarked on a toured of the National Agency for Science Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Solar Energy Limited (Solar panel manufacturing plant) in Karshi, FCT and the Small Hydro installation at Gada, Akwanga, Nasarawa state, recently. In this encounter with MUSA ADAMU, the minister bares his mind on the projects.
His reason for the tour
We want to grow renewable energy resources utilisation and deployment in Nigeria. With the low level of electricity generation and transmission in the country, the only way to reach the rural communities is to ensure that we deploy as much renewable technology to reach communities that are far away from the national grid.
It was so good when we launched Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria (OLRN) that the leadership of NASENI contacted the Ministry of Power to partner with them. So we felt one way to do that is to come and have a visual, real technical visit to learn as much as possible from what they are doing. because I would rather patronise them than patronise foreign companies. I would rather create more jobs in Nigeria by utilising what they are doing.
Potentials of Solar energy
The potentials are so enormous, solar is the only thing you can deploy to every part of Nigeria and get electricity. We have challenges with wind because the onshore wind velocity is not quite amenable wind turbines, and only select part of the country would use that. Then, for biomass there are places we don’t have biomass and so on.
Therefore, solar energy is a veritable tool for making sure electricity gets to every nook and corner in Nigeria. I will say this is a learning visit and also to try to forge a relationship with NASENI solar company to ensure that we even train most of the technical people that will be going out there into the country to deploy this technology in our rural communities.
How his ministry will relate with NASENI
There are thousands of youth who would like to do that and I am sure NASENI would be in a position to be willing to help us equip them and build that kind of capacity so that wherever we deploy this technology, there will be people to maintain and repair them to make sure they don’t collapse.
NASENI, as we have seen, has very diligent methodology of quality control of making sure that whatever they sent out there is exactly what it is at the minimum. If it is 185w, they will write 180w, so that you are actually getting it better than what you see on the solar panel label, and that is the way it should be.
That is why the ministry of Power would like to collaborate with NASENI in the deployment of solar power technology in the country.
On prospects for NASENI projects
It has excellent prospects but it needs to be encouraged. 7.5mw can only take care of few communities. Many communities will need as much as 500kw, so you are thinking of only 15 communities and there are local governments in Nigeria that have more than 15 communities.
So, what NASENI is producing now is not enough but I believe that when we begin to patronise them and everybody else sees the need to patronise them, then they will grow their capacity to manufacture, and like we were told, they could move to 25mw and even replicate this round the country which will help to push solar all over Nigeria, which I believe is one way we have quick wind of power deployed across the country.
How NASENI can be aided by development partners
For me, that is an easy thing to do but it is also left for NASENI to do her own marketing. We will be promoting NASENI, for instance we will tell our partners that we prefer NASENI solar panels because Mr. President is so great when it comes to local content development especially in what he is demonstrating about Made in Nigeria vehicles. Once this quality continues to be international and best standard, why go outside for that. So we will patronize NASENI, no doubt about that.