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ENGIE Energy Access has said governments in Africa can significantly address the perennial power challenge faced by many countries on the continent with alternative reliable and clean energy solutions including off-grid systems.
In a statement, the Head of Customer Experience, ENGIE Energy Access Nigeria, Kolawole Oluwamuyiwa, while speaking at the Western Africa Solar Week 2022, noted that partnership and collaboration with the private sector should be one of the significant strategies governments should give consideration, to achieve universal energy access for the people that needed it most.
The company, in recommending proactive steps to take to solve power inefficiency in Nigeria, said off-grid solutions such as mini-grids and solar home systems had proved to be triggers for socio-economic development, particularly in un-served and under-served rural communities in many developing countries.
He disclosed that the company was deploying innovative solutions that made affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy available for underserved and un-served communities in more than 11 states in Nigeria, impacting thousands of individuals, homes and small businesses in communities across the country.
According to him, the installation of the hybrid 90-kilowatt Gbangba mini-grid in Gbako Local Government Area of Niger State by ENGIE Energy Access, had boosted the productive economy of the community as well as accounted for improved quality of life of the people and businesses significantly.
He said, ‘‘Our revolutionary hybrid 90-kilowatt mini-grid is a benchmark rural electrification project in Africa. The power plant was completed in December 2021 and formally inaugurated on April 12, 2022 by the Niger State Governor.
“The project was instrumental in breaking the lack of access to electric power for the people of Gbangba community for over 100 years of its existence. Since December 2021, ENGIE Energy Access has been delivering uninterrupted, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, reliable and affordable power to a wide range of customers – individuals, homes and businesses in the community. Over 1,500 lives are being directly impacted and their lives changed for the better.’
Kolawole said getting more private sector investors in the power sector would help in addressing challenges such as poor implementation of tariff policy, high and unsustainable losses in the distribution chain, energy theft and frequent grid collapse as experienced in recent times across the country.
On Solar Homes Systems, he explained that as an easy-to-set up renewable energy solution, it could give more Nigerians access to efficient power.
He noted that, MySol Nigeria is a leading solar homes system company that had connected more than 80,000 households to solar power, and was impacting 400,000 more lives across Nigeria.
According to him, “These people now enjoy an on-grid experience with lights for TVs, radios, fans and small appliances and businesses can earn an additional income. Our commitment to Nigeria and Africa at large is that we will continue to innovate with ideas and to bridge the energy gap in Africa.”
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