The Japanese
Government, through its agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
has donated solar power worth $9.7 million to the Federal Government to boost
electricity in the country. The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria,
Mr Sadanobu
Kusaoke, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the
project.
Kusaoke stated that
Japan considered the power sector as one of the most important areas to enhance
Nigeria`s socio-economic development. “Since from 1970s, Japan has helped to
finance power sector to increase the capacity of power in Kainji dam hydro
power station. “This is the 10th project of power sector by the Japan`s Government
since then and this will not be our last. “
He said the project
which entailed the introduction of clean energy by solar electricity was
donated by the government of Japan to boost power and water supply at Usman Dam
Water Treatment Plant. “The project is being executed with grant assistance
worth Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Japanese YEN (980,000,000 JPY)
(equivalent to approximately 9.7 million USD) through JICA, “ he said.
According to
Kusaoke, stable power supply is crucial to support industry and to improve
economy and the lives of people. The Ambassador emphasised the importance of
stable power supply to Nigeria`s quest to diversify her economy.
He commended the
designer of the project, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, for its design, management
and the completion of the project on schedule. Kusaoke, who explained that the
project was capable of generating 1,496MWH, added that this would result in
reduction of N31.5 million per year for payment of the electricity bill.
Earlier, Mr Hirotaka
Nakamura, Chief Representative of JICA, Nigeria office, said improving core
infrastructure including power sector in Nigeria was one of the priority areas
of the agency in Nigeria. According to Nakamura, developing alternative energy
resources such as solar, wind and hydropower will boost electricity in the
country.
He explained that
the project was designed to introduce a demonstration unit of solar electricity
generation system with a view to increasing its economic strength on a
sustainable basis.
According to the
JICA official, with the Japanese assistance, about 1.2 mw of grid connected
solar generation will be gained at Usman Dam Water Treatment Plant to
supplement electricity supply from the national grid.
“Following
successful tests on the installed solar system, the first phase of the project
with generation capacity of 975kwp is being commissioned today. “The second
phase will bring additional 207kwp generation to this system hopefully in
January 2017. “
Nakamura further
stated that the project would contribute to the improvement of quality water
supply in the Federal Capital Territory. He, therefore, appealed to the FCT
administration through its water board to handle the project with care and also
provide sufficient funds to maintain the generation system.
In his remark,
Alhaji Hudu Bello, the Director, FCT Water Board, who expressed gratitude to
the government of Japan and its agency JICA, said the project would improve
revenue accruable from the water sector in the FCT. “This is elaborate project
that will improve water supply to the residents of Abuja; it will also reduce
the rate at which we consume diesel to pump water, “ he said.
Bello said the
project would reduce the cost of generating electricity and also contribute
power to the national grid to improve supply within the nation`s capital.
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