By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
Federal Government has commended the European Union, EU, and German government for their continuous support towards energy security in the country through the Nigeria Energy Support Programme, NESP, whose third phase was launched alongside its First Steering Committee Meeting yesterday in Abuja.
NESP, which was first commissioned in 2013, is a technical assistance programme co-funded by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development ,BMZ, and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fiir Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ, in collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power, FMP.
Speaking at the launch and 1st Steering Committee meeting of NESP Ill, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman said: “The Ministry continues to appreciate the EU and German Government for their continuous support to Nigeria, especially in ensuring energy security in the most affordable and sustainable manner”.
Mamman described the 3rd phase of the programme as “a welcome idea” that would build on the achievements of NESP II by attracting more investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as support towards the objectives of Nigeria’s Electricity Act 2013, aimed at stabilising the electricity market in states.
Earlier in her remarks, the Head of Section Greenland Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Inga Stefanowicz, said in the quest to continue to support Nigeria’s energy security plans and sustainability, the union was delighted to have approved additional funding to kickstart the 3rd phase of the programme.
“The EU is pleased to have commissioned an additional funding for the third phase of the programme to continue supporting the development of various frameworks and innovative models, bringing a new landscape to the concept of electricity franchising, attracting renewable energy investments and ensuring reliable power supply to its beneficiaries”, she said.
According to her, under the new phase which is only a part of the bigger programme that the EU is rolling out to support Nigeria energy wise the diversified sources, about 154,000 people will have new improved access to electricity while 30,000 people are expected to have new access to LPG, Liquified Natural Gas, for clean cooking.
And through installation of additional renewable energy capacity, about 5 million people are being targeted for access to clean affordable energy from about 400 megawatts, MWs, of electricity.
She highlighted some milestones achieved in the phases 1 and 2 of the NESP such as: one-stop investment platform for Renewable Energy Efficiency and development; launch of 37 standard solar PV batteries, inverters and meters; support for industries under the Energy Efficiency Network Initiative to achieve ISO 5001 certification among others.
On his part, Mr Johannes Lehne, Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, re-affirmed the commitment of the German government to Nigeria in achieving its Energy Transition targets.
He said, “Technologies and investments for renewable energy and energy efficiency will be key for diversifying Nigeria’s energy mix and decarbonising the five critical sectors identified in the Energy Transition Plan, ETP.
“The third phase of NESP was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ, with 8.9 Million Euros in May this year. The EU has recently commissioned an additional 9 Million Euros, which increases the total budget of the NESP programme to €17.9 million, about N30.5 billion.
While recalling the achievement of the programme in the past, Lehne said, We already have local solar power source for about 150 communities, so we are going to expand it further”.
He also noted that the German government’s partnership with GIZ and the EU in conjunction with the Nigerian government had paved way for the various projects of the World Bank in the country.
Also speaking, the Head of Programme, NESP, Mr Duke Benjamin, emphasised that “active participation of and collaboration with the public and private stakeholders is critical to improve availability and reliability of energy in Nigeria.
Hence, the 3rd phase of the programme would offer support ranging from sustainable energy generation for rural communities, healthcare centres, and businesses, to efficient utilisation of energy, bridging the energy and electricity data gaps, strengthening private sector investments, and developing the capacities of regulatory agencies and local financial institutions”.
So far, NESP has supported the Nigerian government in creating an enabling environment for local and international investments to thrive energy efficiency, renewable energy and rural electrification investments fostering investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and rural electrification, as part of NESP’s framework on in Nigeria, as confirmed by the authorities.
