Nigerian Government begins EPP Phase II, hands over UniMaid’s 12MW solar hybrid power plant site to EPC contractor
Oredola Adeola
After the successful completion of Energizing Education Programme, EEP, Phase I, across 7 Federal universities, the Nigerian Government through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has carried out the official site handover of the 12MW peak solar hybrid power plant at the University of Maiduguri and UniMaid Teaching hospital, to one of the EPC Contractors, who signed contracts for the Development of solar power systems of the EPP Phase II (“EEP II”).
The groundbreaking ceremony of the EEP II at the University of Maiduguri was held on Monday. The official handover to the contractor was initiated by Engr. Baka Sajou, Executive Director, Technical Services Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria.
EnergyDay gathered that the Phase II of the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) valued at $250 million, is funded by the World Bank.
The objective of the project according to the REA and World Bank, is to increase access to electricity services for public educational institutions, the majority of which are located in rural and underserved communities.
The University of Maiduguri is one of the EEP II beneficiary institutions. The project was modeled around similar projects that have already been completed across 7 Universities.
The Energizing Education Initiative is an Initiative of the Rural Electrification Agency and the aim is to provide a sustainable and clean power supply to 37 Federal Universities and 7 University Teaching hospitals across Nigeria.
Phase 1 of the Initiative will deliver 28.5MW to 9 Federal Unis and 7 Teaching Hospitals using solar hybrid and/or gas-fired captive power plants.
Some of the institutions that benefited during Phase 1, which was funded through the Green Bond of the Nigerian Government are Bayero University Kano (BUK) -7.1MW, the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), 4.0MW, Usman Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) 2.0MW and the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (FUNAI) 1.0MW.
Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, 2.0MegaWatt, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, 0.5MW, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, FUPRE, 0.5MW.
Ahmad Salihijo the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of, the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, in his statement, said, “As planned, we are delighted that the delivery of the objectives of Phase II of the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) is underway. After months of strategic collaborations, roundtable sessions, energy audits, and other data-driven decisions.
“The REA Nigeria is initiating the site handover, one at a time, across all 7 beneficiary Federal Universities and University Teaching hospitals under Phase II. We look forward to the prompt delivery of these projects and the resultant social and economic impact.
“Armed with real data and lessons learned from Phase I of the EEP, the 2nd Phase of the Programme will further provide clean, safe, and reliable energy from solar-powered power plants to over 150, 000 students,” the REA MD said.
EnergyDay gathered that other EEP II project sites that are expected to be handed over to the contractors before the year include the University of Calabar and Teaching hospital, the Federal University of Gashua, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and the Nigerian Defence Academy (Afaka Campus), Kaduna.
The five Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) companies handling the projects are Em-One Energy Solutions JV for Lot 1; Dongfang Electric International Corporation for Lot 30; DEC & Mutual Commitment Company Ltd (MCC) for Lots 4 & 7; Eauxwel Nigeria Ltd & Greencells GMBH for Lot 5; ZNSHINE PV-Tech Co. Ltd for Lots 2 & 6.
EnergyDay’s check showed that most of the Federal universities and teaching hospitals currently use diesel-based self-generation to meet their power needs, due to unreliable service provided by DISCOs.
