The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh has called for the adoption and introduction of renewable energy for the provisions of electricity in remote areas of the Niger Delta region to improve the quality of life and enhance development in the region.
The Minister made this remarks when officials of SAF-AGA, a Solar Hybrid Mini-Grid Solar Power Partners paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.
A statement by Chindaya Amadu, Director Press made available to Channel Network Afrique on Wednesday said the minister commended the alternative energy company for its efforts in the region, while also noting that the adoption of clean or renewable energy to remote areas in the Niger Delta region will help improve the living standard of the people in all ramifications.
He explained that “solar energy, generated from solar powered system is clean energy, cleaner than gas which is transition energy. Adopting solar powered energy is adapting to global best practices, moving away from fossil energy that consumes a lot of resources in building and operating a transmission station.Also clean energy is invoke globally and would also earn “carbon credit”, he said.
Momoh assured that, the Ministry will soon key into alternative energy sources to see that most of the communities that are hitherto not connected to the national grid will also have access to power via the solar powered system.
Earlier, the managing director, SAF-AGA, Godbless Safugha, explained that their focus is to develop mini grid in communities that does not have access to power grid, noting that they have started with four communities in the Niger Delta, in Delta state. Also two mini grids is being constructed each in Bomadi and Burutu local government area which they hope to expand later.
“Out of these four grids we are able to complete one grid. The four grids would empower 2,500 households, the one that will be commissioned soon is connected to 350 households and we hope to expand to 595 households”, he stated.
