– NSIA has completed the development and construction of a 10MW solar farm in the Kumbotso Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Kano State Government, and Kumbotso Local Government Area.
– Sitting on a 24 Hectare parcel of land, the US$16 million photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant and associated 12km energy evacuation infrastructure is the largest utility-scale solar farm in
Nigeria.
– The commissioning was a remarkable feat delivered under a very tight timeline despite significant supply chain challenges in the aftermath of COVID-19.
– The commissioning of the plant is an important milestone in Nigeria’s energy access and transition agenda.
Kumbotso, Kano, January 30, 2023 – Today, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a 10-megawatt Solar plant located close to the Challawa Industrial Estate, in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State. Appointed as funds and project manager by the President, NSIA undertook the development, construction, and operationalisation of the plant over a 2-year period and completed the project in January 2023. Sitting of 24 hectares of land, the plant is the largest grid-connected PV solar plant in Nigeria.
The US$16 million plant is jointly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Kano State Government, and the host Local Government Area, Kumbotso. It is expected that full operationalisation of the project will catalyse growth in the power sector as the plant demonstrates that large-scale-renewable energy projects can be successfully delivered in Nigeria.
The plant was built by a consortium of Eauxwell Nigeria Limited, a local contractor, and their international partners – Greencells Energy Middle East & Africa Limited – on a turnkey, lumpsum and date-certain basis.
In addition to providing access to clean, affordable, and sustainable energy to local industries and other consumers, the solar plant offers significant socio-economic and environmental impacts. To date, the project has created about 2,000 direct and indirect jobs within the immediate community.
Comments
Welcoming President Muhammadu Buhari to the occasion, the Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, thanked the President for “approving NSIA’s participation in the project as the Project developers.” She further indicated that the plant will “generate and supply cleaner power to the nearby Challawa Industrial cluster and citizens of the Kano State”.
In his remarks, the MD & CEO of the NSIA, Mr Aminu Umar-Sadiq said, “the Project serves as proof of concept and represents our ongoing approach to supporting sustainable, green, and renewable systems for energy generation and distribution. NSIA is set to launch a Renewable Energy Platform this year, as it strives to proliferate such renewable energy projects and other
solutions across the country as well as demonstrate NSIA’s continued commitment to sustainable development.”
He further said, “the NSIA believes that Nigeria’s renewable energy goals are attainable with consistent investment and development of projects such as the Kano Solar project”. In closing he
stated that “the project strengthens Nigeria’s standing in the battle against climate change, as well as supporting Nigeria’s pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060.”
About NSIA
The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is an investment institution of the Federation set up to manage funds in excess of budgeted hydrocarbon revenues. Its mission is to play a
leading role in driving sustained economic development for the benefit of all Nigerians through building a savings base for the Nigerian people, enhancing the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure, and providing stabilization support in times of economic stress. The NSIA is empowered to receive, manage, and invest funds in a diversified portfolio of medium and long-
term assets on behalf of all three tiers of government including the Federal Capital Territory, in preparation for the eventual depletion of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources. For more information, please visit www.nsia.com.ng.
