“Nigeria to Harness Renewable Energy to Meet Power Demands” – Sambo

Abuja (NAN) – Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Thursday in Abuja said Nigeria would fully utilise its abundant renewable energy resources to enhance electricity supply across the country.

According to a statement by the vice-president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Malam Sani Umar, Sambo made this known when he met with a delegation from Total Nigeria Ltd.

The vice-president noted that the global trend in power generation was efficient utilisation of renewable energy, particularly solar energy, which Nigeria has in abundance.

The statement quoted Sambo as saying President Jonathan’s administration was doing everything possible to meet Nigeria’s electricity demands.

“The issue of power is one of the cardinal points of this administration and anything that will increase the supply of power in Nigeria will be deeply welcomed and the administration will do everything to ensure that it succeeds.”

It said Sambo commended Total Nigeria Ltd. for its determination to ensure utilisation of Nigeria’s solar energy as a source of electricity generation.

“It is impressive this has been handled in the highest corporate level,’’ he said.

The statement said the vice-president, therefore, assured the delegation of government’s commitment to ensure that the noble objective was achieved.

It also quoted Total’s Executive Director and leader of delegation, Olubunmi Obembe, as saying in his remarks that the company acquired US-based SunPower, a world leader in solar power operation.

He said this was in the company’s bid to become a major global player in the solar energy market,

Obembe said the company was collaborating with various Federal Government institutions and international partners to fast-track the construction of solar power plants in Nigeria.

“This will be achieved through Public Private Partnership (PPP), particularly with state governments.

“Already, the company is collaborating with three states, namely Nasarawa, Ekiti and Katsina, for the development of 150MW in Nasarawa State, 80MW in Ekiti and 30MW/100MW in Katsina State,’’ he said.

Obembe further revealed that the company was at various levels of discussion with other states for the construction of the solar power plants.

“The project is expected to deliver in the next five to eight years 1700MW of solar independent power projects, to be distributed across the country with a minimal size of 30MW.

“Our objective is to have the first project ready by the second quarter of 2015,’’ he said.