ENGIE Energy Access, a leading provider of solar homes systems and mini-grid solutions has established its hybrid 90kW mini-grid to herald the connection of households and small businesses in Nigeria.
Following federal government’s opening of the power sector to private investors, Engie Energy Access Nigeria, had unveiled a strategic investment initiative that will see a phased deployment of Mini Grid power stations across underserved rural communities around Nigeria.
In the current effort, ENGIE Energy Access connects the people of Gbangba community in Niger State to an electric power supply for the first time ever and empowers over 300 customers, comprising households, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs).
The mini-grid directly impacts over 1,500 people by providing them with affordable, reliable and clean electricity.
The mini-grid was formally inaugurated by the executive governor of Niger state, Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Mrs. Emmanuelle Blatmann.
The managing director of ENGIE Energy Access Nigeria, Bankole Cardoso, there is a big gulf in Nigeria’s electricity challenge, highlighting that the gap needs to be filled in order to fulfill Nigeria’s full potential as a nation.
Cardoso said the situation requires the support of the private sector, pointing out that the construction of the Gbangba mini-grid demonstrates how private investment can help to address the infrastructure gap in the energy industry.
“This mini-grid will foster socio-economic development and prosperity in the Gbangba community, its people and its neighbors. It will serve private households and commercial businesses – provision shops, grocery sellers, bakeries, mobile phone chargers etc.
“It will boost the productivity of farmers and food production by powering agricultural loads such as irrigation pumping and cold storage, productive loads such as grind mills and wood or metal working shops, and semi-industrials such as telecom towers and processing plants,” Cardoso said.
Also speaking, the chief executive officer of ENGIE Energy Access, Gillian-Alexandre Huart, said that the mini-grid is a wonderful experience every community should have, and congratulated the Gbanga community.
“It demonstrates ENGIE Energy Access’s strong commitment to meeting the growing decentralized energy needs with an ambition to build 100+ mini-grids throughout the country.
“The launch of our first mini-grid in Nigeria means that we have now installed mini-grids in five African countries, with other ENGIE Energy Access mini-grid sites in Benin, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
“Our plan is to further expand our mini-grid business on the continent over the coming months and years – adding other countries to our footprint,” he said.
According to him, the launch of the Gbangba mini-grid is a further demonstration of ENGIE Energy Access’s commitment to improving the quality of life and economic potential of people in rural communities, by increasing their capacity for productivity.
Engie Energy Access Nigeria, which was formally known as Fenix International, a leader in Nigeria’s pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) solar industry announced a projected portfolio investment budget of N40 billion by the year 2025.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s lowest energy access rate, with more than half of its people unconnected to electricity. In Nigeria, about 43.5% of people live without access to energy. This presents an opportunity to employ grand-scale innovation and the intervention of renewable energy solutions within the electricity sector in Nigeria.
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