EU and Germany pledge US $40m for Nigeria’s power sector

The European Union (EU) and Germany has announced a financial package worth US $40m to fund further developments in Nigeria’s power sector, the package is part of the rollover of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme( NESP), which is managed by the German Cooperation agency- the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

Iner Hommes, who is the NESP programme head, explained that the package will be used in the second phase of the NESP, which runs from December 2017 to November 2020.

The programme aims to support the provision of stable data for electrification planning, sustainable on-grid and off-grid electricity, as well as creating an enabling environment for renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Nigeria.

According to Hommes statement, the EU would provide US $25m in the programme while the German government through its ministry of economic cooperation and development would give US $ 16m in support.

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Hommes also added that, as part of the programmes schedule, it will ensure that up to 500 MW of solar Photovoltaic (PV) electricity is procured and generated to serve about 100, 000 people and to also endeavor in supporting renewable energy operators to scale up their electricity provision.

“The first phase of the NESP has been successful and contributed in providing electricity to about 10,000 people in Sokoto, Niger, Ogun, Cross River and Plateau,” she revealed.

Head of delegation of the EU, Karlsen Ketil, stated that studies have shown that Nigeria could generate up to 53,950 MW of electricity from solar and hydro sources, and as such, supports to ensure that right investments are made in this regard is appropriate.

“The success of the first phase of the NESP inspired the EU to continue with its support for the second phase thus calling for a replication of the same expertise used in implementing the first phase in the second, “Ketil explained.