The Rural Electrification Agency on Wednesday said it attained a fresh milestone on the Solar Hybrid Mini-grid component of its Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), as it has successfully deployed 103 mini-grids across the country.
The organization said NEP is funded by the World Bank, adding that the achievement coincides with the hosting of the 10th Mini Grid Roundtable discussion, held virtually on Wednesday, in conjunction with developers.
“The REA has successfully deployed 103 mini-grids across Nigeria under the Performance Based Grant (PBG) subcomponent of the NEP, signaling a crucial advancement in enhancing electricity access for households, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as public facilities in rural an d underserved regions of Nigeria” noted a statement by REA, in a statement.
Speaking during the 10th Mini-Grid Roundtable discussion, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), expressed the agency’s dedication to bridging the energy access gap in Nigeria.
“The REA was established with the mandate to increase access to electricity by bridging the energy access deficit in Nigeria. Since inception, we have made significant progress in achieving this goal.
“The Agency is implementing various electrification programmes – like the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) — targeted at creating lasting impacts by fostering economic growth, improving education, and enhancing the overall quality of life of Nigerians,” he stated.
Highlighting the key strategy, he added, “One of the key strategies that we are using to achieve this goal is the Performance Based Grant (PBG) sub-component. The PBG is a financing mechanism that provides grants to qualified developers to construct and operate mini-grids in rural communities. So far, the PB G has been very successful in attracting private sector investments in mini-grids.
“Through the NEP over 80 mini-grids have been completed and commissioned, connecting about 32,000 households, MSMEs, and public facilities, and providing clean and reliable electricity.”
The Solar Hybrid Mini-grid component has witnessed remarkable success, with a total of 46,661 verified connections made to households, MSMEs, and public facilities. The MD noted, “Each connection is a step towards bridging the energy gap.
