- The project, set to commence this year, includes hydropower, solar for health care facilities, rural electrification, and minigrids.
- Isopi said the €37 million did not include the €200 million grants invested in the sector since 2008.
The European Union has disclosed plans to invest €37 million to boost hydropower, solar power for health care facilities, and rural electrification. The investment also includes isolated and interconnected mini-grid projects and circular economy in power sector projects. The EU ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, revealed this during a visit to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in Abuja. She was accompanied by the new Head of Cooperation of the EU, DE Luca Massimo and the Programme Manager on Energy, Godfrey Ogbemudia.
Isopi said the money was apart from the about €200 million grants invested in the sector since 2008. Speaking on the EU’s various intervention programmes in the power sector, the envoy said the current support would cover small hydropower and solar for healthcare facilities. Other areas to be covered in the recent intervention are rural electrification with isolated and interconnected mini-grid projects and a circular economy. According to her, the projects will commence soon.
The EU ambassador also invited the minister to an upcoming inauguration of two EU-funded projects implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO). Commending the EU envoy for their continued support, Adelabu stressed Nigeria’s need for more support to address the enormous challenges in the sector, stating that EU programs aligned with the ministry’s strategy for the power sector. He identified liquidity issues as the main problem the government was working to resolve. According to him, the Nigerian electricity supply market will only be sustainable and run efficiently when a cost-reflective tariff is in place.