‘For affordable power’ — EU launches €9m energy projects in Nigeria

The European Union (EU) has launched two new projects worth €9 million in Nigeria’s energy sector in continuation of its commitment to support the federal government in providing clean, affordable and sustainable energy.

The EU disclosed this on Tuesday, during the project inception workshop organised in partnership with the federal government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in Abuja.

The projects – small hydropower development for agro-industry use in Nigeria (SHP-DAIN) and advancing Nigeria’s green and just transition to net zero through circular economy practices – aim to enhance energy accessibility and promote circular economy practices to address pollution and climate change.

While the SHP-DAIN is a three-year project with a budget of €5 million, advancing Nigeria’s green transition to net zero through circular economy practices is also a three-year project with a budget of €4 million.

Speaking during the launch, Samuela Isopi, EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said SHP-DAIN project would increase the capacity of small hydropower in Nigeria’s total energy mix to promote productivity along the agricultural value chains and other businesses, enhance livelihoods, and promote food security and decent work.

“The SHP-DAIN will support capacity strengthening of major actors from private, government, finance and target micro, small and medium enterprises sectors in the specifics of small hydropower through tailored training(s) and knowledge management,” she said.

“It will support the establishment of SHP of 2MW cumulative capacity for agro-industrial use across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

“It will support the development of policy and institutional framework on renewable energy for productive uses to streamline policies/incentive schemes towards a greater use of SHP, with cross-cutting activities for ensuring sustainability, which includes awareness development, visibility promotion, implementation of gender strategies, project management and monitoring.”

According to the ambassador, the advancing Nigeria’s green and just transition to net zero through circular economy practices project is aimed at improving the management of used off-grid energy equipment and plastics through circular economy practices for mitigation of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Isopi said the new initiative would support the strengthening of policy and regulatory framework on promoting circular economy principles and practices, and management of used energy equipment, and related implementation capacity while supporting the strengthening of enabling institutions at the federal and state levels.

“It will support the strengthening of the private sector by developing business models to support SME-led circular economy practices, including reusing and recycling of used equipment in the energy sector, with cross-cutting activities for ensuring sustainability, which includes awareness development, visibility promotion, implementation of gender strategies, project management and monitoring,” Isopi said.

She added that private sector participation is key to the success of the project.

PROJECTS WILL IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, while officially launching the projects, expressed confidence that the projects will not only enhance the management of used off-grid energy equipment and plastics but also increase agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods.

He also inaugurated project steering committees to ensure the success of the projects.