Adelabu lays foundation for largest minigrid in Abuja community
After 10 years without electricity supply, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu yesterday laid the foundation for the Rubochi 900kWp interconnected and the Ikea 100kWp solar mini – grid, being the largest mini-grid plant in the country.
The standalone mini-grids are under the Korean Energy Project through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
At the groundbreaking ceremony in Rubochi, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Adelebu, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Renewable and Rural Energy Access, Engr. Samuel Ayangeor, said he celebrated with the people of Rubochi, Ikwa, Gada Biyu and Kugbaru as the beneficiary communities of the impactful support.
He described the foundation as an immense progress that would add 1.6MWp and 3.0MWhr capacity energizing 7,300 residential and commercial homes in the communities.
He also noted that the project will transform the socio – economic status of the people.
“It is a great progress to have an additional 1.6MWp and 3.0MWhr capacity energizing 7,300 residential and commercial homes in these communities while transforming the socio-economic status of the people,” the minister said.
Read Also: Adelabu tasks REA on rural electrification strategy plans
According to him, energy poverty is a problem that permeates different nations across the continent. Different stakeholders, said Adelabu, continue to address the effect of energy poverty in different ways.
He noted that in Nigeria, there has been a unique history that has taken the country through varying phases of the journey toward the desirable change it strives to see in the energy sector.
Continuing, he said: “It is my distinct honor to celebrate a milestone that embodies the spirit of progress and international collaboration – the groundbreaking of four minigrid projects through the generous support of the Korean Government under Official Development Assistance (ODA).”
Adelabu noted that in the last few months, there have been transformative changes in the power sector.
“We have a people-centered Electricity Act specifically designed to decentralize the sector and expand investment opportunities through the State Governments.
“This Act, as you can see, gives us the opportunity to further explore renewable energy solutions across the nation,” he added.
He said he was already briefed the level of support accorded to the REA on land acquisition, security, and overall support by the community.
He sought collaboration with the FCT on the long-term operation and maintenance of the plants.
The minister said the off-grid electrification comes with culture change through deliberate sensitization of beneficiaries and stakeholders.
He extolled the agency and its strategic partners for taking a solid path towards sustainability through the growth of the Productive Use Market in Nigeria.
Adelabu said through the central role of the Productive Use Market, more lives are being transformed just as more communities are being enlivened.
Speaking, the REA Managing Director, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, noted that the rural communities suffer profound health and economic impacts as a result of the wide use of non-renewable or polluting energy sources.
He said growing the market for lower impact energy technologies is a step towards equitable, cleaner development.
The REA boss recalled that on the 16th June 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korean Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) to develop four mini-grids within the FCT.
He said they include the Robuchi Interconnected Minigrid which will have a total capacity of 900kWp divided into three fractions.
“Construction of 100kWp is also ongoing at Ikwa Community of Gwagwalada while the remaining two would be delivered before December 2024.”
Upon full delivery of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) project, according to him, the intervention would have delivered a total renewable energy capacity of 1.6 MWp and 3.0 MWhr system across four main communities in the FCT.
Ahmad said the most significant part of this intervention is the fact that it further strengthens the Agency’s ongoing efforts on Productive Use through the auxiliary Productive Use Equipment such as smart metering devices certified by NEMSA, streetlights, indoor lighting, and clean water purification systems.
He said REA is currently working on a sustainable operation and maintenance model which would be applied in collaboration with the formed Rural Electricity Users’ Cooperative (REUCS) and the FCT, in order to take care of this investment.
He said as to the Korean Institute for the Advancement of Technology (KIAT) be assured that these projects have been developed with sustainability dimensions embedded from their conceptualization.
Meanwhile, the Korean Energy Project, Coordinator, Dr. Salman Bello said the project has been designed to deploy power to three communities.
Rubocuhi, he said, has the largest and it is going to be the largest mini-grid in the country today, adding that Rubouchi has not had light for the past 10 years and assuring the communities that they will be energized this time next year.
According to him, it is not only going to be reliable, will also be clean. He revealed that a cooperative has been set up to support the project.
For the 25 years life span of the project, Bello noted that all has been put in place for its sustainability.
Already 200 poles have been deployed to the communities. From the communities, Community Head, Rubochi of Rubouchi,
High Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Pada Sa, appreciated the government for citing the project in the community.
He counted the community lucky for meriting the project without money. According to him, the project will serve 4,400 households when completed. He noted that it will certainly change the lives of the people.
