3 firms to build 1000mw solar powerplant

At least three renewable energy
companies –Solius NGPC, Peoples Home
Association and Solar Force Nigeria
Limited – have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Federal
Government for the production of 1000
megawatts solar electricity across the
country.
Apart from power generation, the
companies would also provide training for
their Nigerian staff. Chairman of Solius
Solution, Mr. Onu Eluwa, promised to
establish a training school here in Nigeria
as part of his company’s commitment to
Federal Government power sector reform.
Chief Operating Officer of Peoples Home
Association, Rasaki Porbeni, disclosed
that the company will provide 500MW
solar power. This would be done in
tranches of 100MW to five different
locations in Nigeria just as it intends to
establish Solar Research Centres in
universities across Nigeria to generate
10,000 jobs for Nigeria, while Solar Force
Company on its part will produce 1MW
each of solar energy to 200 villages in six
states of the federation. The projects by
these companies would be self-funded.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu
Nebo, commended the three CEOs for
their readiness to partner the Federal
Government in providing electricity using
renewable energy to Nigerians.
He assured them of the Federal
Government’s commitment to stable
power delivery to Nigerians, especially the
rural communities who appear alienated
from electricity due to the demographics
of the country. Nebo stressed that
President Goodluck Jonathan is
committed to giving power to the
grassroots hence his government’s
readiness to support and encourage
genuine investors in the power sector.
“We will do all that is needed for you to
come on board in the granting of licences,
Power Purchase Agreements,
Environment Impact Assessment.”
He further assured them that assistance
would be provided with regards to land,
while the Transmission Company of
Nigeria will assist in deploying what is
generated to the national grid.
The Minister concluded that with the
signing of the MoU, all other agencies of
government now know that the Federal
government is involved and will cooperate
with them.