The European Union, in continuation of its commitment to supporting the Federal Government in providing clean, affordable and sustainable energy for all, has introduced two new projects worth €9m in Nigeria’s energy sector.

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

It was reported that Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, had an electricity consumption per capita of 147 kilowatt-hours in 2022, while South Africa with a population of over 60 million boasted of electricity consumption per capita of 3,566 kilowatt-hours during the same period, according to the World Bank.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the country’s average per hour data stood at 3,689.700 MWh in September 2023 as it continues to struggle with low power generation and poor distribution infrastructure.

It is against this backdrop that, the partnership has been developed to address the poor energy situation in the country.

The projects – Small Hydro Power Development for Agro-industry Use in Nigeria 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 €4m The United Nations Industrial Development Organization will implement both projects”, EU noted.

Both projects are part of the EU Global Gateway Strategy, a transformative initiative to enhance connectivity, foster economic growth, and promote sustainability through collaboration.

These projects push Nigeria closer to its earnest aspiration to transition towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future, especially de-carbonizing its economy and working towards achieving a transition to net zero emissions by 2060.

Speaking during the official launch of the projects in Abuja, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Samuela Isopi, explained that the 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.

She said, “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.

“It will support the establishment of SHP of 2MW cumulative capacity for agri-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 her, 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 further explained that 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 the 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,” she added.

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

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

He further inaugurated Project Steering Committees to ensure the success of the projects.

END.