The Minister of Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh, will on Friday, February 23, 2024 commission a solar mini grid project located in Burutu and Bomadi local government areas of Delta state.
The mini grid project which has a combined installed capacity of 605 kWp was constructed by Saf-Aga Renewable Energy Limited.
However, Momoh while receiving the team of the company led by its Managing Director, Godbless Safugha, in his office on Thursday in Abuja said the ministry would not hesitate to key into the project in order to connect communities in the region that are without electricity.
The minister said the project was brought to his attention about two weeks ago.
His words: “I was interested, that is why immediately I assigned one of my Special Advisers in charge of monitoring in the South-south, Engr Dauda Okonoga. I asked him to proceed to go and take a look at the project. Because inviting a minister for a commissioning of a project, it must worth the presence of a minister.
“He went there, he came back and gave a report that the community has been out of electricity since 2012 and that people came to the aid of the community by installing solar. He said it has connected about 330 households.
“For a power project that has connected 330 households by private organisation, it is worth for me to have a look at so that if it is a thing that is functional at all time, there is nothing stopping us to replicate this type of project in the Niger/Delta region.
“I’m going to be there, I am going to look at the project and be rest assured that we will be committed to take a look at some other communities. I think your organisation has taken a very good step, by the grace of God we also key into it so that most of our communities that are not hitherto connected to the national grid will now be connected via solar.”
Earlier, Safugha said the company was dedicated to spearheading sustainable energy solutions and enhancing the quality of life in rural communities across Nigeria.
He noted that the company collaborates with technical services providers to bring clean energy solutions to unserved and underserved communities.
Safugha added: “This collaboration has catalysed the development of four mini-grid projects in Burutu and Bomadi Local Government Areas of Delta State with a combined installed capacity of 605 kWp, 2,500 connections with smart prepaid meters installed.”
The managing director noted that this reinforces the company’s commitment to empowering communities through sustainable energy.
He addsd: “The Okpokunou Mini-Grid project is part of a group of four Mini-Grid projects located in Burutu and Bomadi LGA. Other communities in this project include Enekorogha, Ogriagbene, and Esama. The Okpokunou Community is situated in the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, and can be accessed via road.
“The system has a grid capacity of 91 kWp and uses sustainable lithium iron ferrous phosphate battery storage chemistry of 170 kWh to connect 330 households.
“The system is scalable and will grow with the community, connecting up to 596 households and a capacity of 230kWp.”