REA signs agreements with Everlink, others to increase off-grid connections

Ezeme Solomon

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in its bid to improve off-grid power supply in Nigeria, has recently entered agreements with some indigenous solar developers in the country, to deliver Solar Home Systems (SHS) and mini-grids to businesses and households.

The agency known to have partnered with several developers to supply renewable solutions across the country, is enhancing its impact on off-grid communities under the Federal Government’s Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).

The REA on Saturday disclosed that it had entered a Performance-Based Grant (PBG) agreement with Everlink Telesat Network Limited, to construct a 360KW mini-grid which will supply electricity to about 12,000 people in Delta State.

Another local developer, Fenix Nigeria, under the NEP-Output Based Fund (OBF) sub-component, equally signed a Grant Agreement Addendum with the REA, to deliver 50,000 SHS units to 500,000 people in Nigeria, by the end of 2022.

“This past week, our portfolio was further expanded with Everlink Telesat Network Limited signing a Performance-Based Grant (PBG) agreement to construct a 360KW mini-grid to impact about 12,000 people, adding 2400 renewable energy connections to households and MSMEs in Tamigbe community, Delta state.

“Also, this past week Fenix Nigeria signed a Grant Agreement Addendum, under the NEP-Output Based Fund (OBF) sub-component, targeted at distributing an additional 50,000 SHS units across Nigeria, which will benefit about 500,000 people by the end of 2022.

“The team Fenix Nigeria commended the REA and the NEP for the upward review of the grant rate which has led to a significant increase in the demand for SHS products by 60%.

“The company also plans to roll out 50 mini-grids across 5 States in Nigeria,” the agency said.

It also stated that A4TPower (a solar provider into Integrated Solar Power Systems) is planning to distribute 230,000 SHS units to serve over one million Nigerians.

The company is also in the process of executing about 25 solar mini-grids in the country.

“Another firm that keyed into the OBF this past week was the team from A4TPower, a local renewable energy company and one of the 1st companies to have qualified for both the SHS & Mini-grid components under Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) in 2019.

“The company, A4TPower had earlier completed 2 solar mini-grids with a cumulative capacity of 40.15KwP in Lomileju and Ugbonla in Ondo State, adding 480 connections and serving about 2400 people.

“There are now 25 more of such projects in the pipeline.

“A4TPower also plans to distribute 230,000 SHS units, which will impact over one million people across the country,” it further revealed.