The Japanese Government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has donated solar power worth US$9.7 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria to boost electricity in the country.
The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke, said during the inauguration of the project that Japan considered the power sector as one of the most important areas to enhance Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
According to a statement, the event took place Tuesday in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, with Mr Kusaoke saying that “since the 1970s, Japan has helped to finance the power sector to increase the capacity of power at the Kainji dam hydro power station. This is the 10th project of the power sector by the Japanese government since then and this will not be our last.”
He said the project which entailed the introduction of clean energy by solar electricity was donated by the government of Japan to boost power and water supply at Usman Dam Water Treatment Plant.
Kusaoke said, “The project is being executed with grant assistance worth 980 million Japanese Yen (approximately US$9.7 million) through JICA.”
According to Kusaoke, stable power supply is crucial to support industry and to improve economy and the lives of people.
The ambassador emphasised the importance of stable power supply to Nigeria’s quest to diversify her economy.
He commended the designer of the project, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, for its design, management and the completion of the project on schedule.
Kusaoke, who explained that the project was capable of generating 1,496MWH, added that this would result in the reduction of 31.5 million Naira per year on electricity bill.
Earlier, Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, Chief Representative of JICA, Nigeria office, said improving core infrastructure, including the power sector in Nigeria, was one of the priority areas of the agency in Nigeria.
According to Nakamura, developing alternative energy resources such as solar, wind and hydropower will boost electricity in the country.
He explained that the project was designed to introduce a demonstration unit of solar electricity generation system with a view to increasing its economic strength on a sustainable basis.
According to the JICA official, with the Japanese assistance, about 1.2 mw of grid connected solar generation will be gained at the Usman Dam Water Treatment Plant to supplement electricity supply from the national grid.
He said, “Following successful tests on the installed solar system, the first phase of the project with generation capacity of 975kwp is being commissioned today. The second phase will bring additional 207kwp generation to this system hopefully in January 2017.”
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