Nigerian-German Energy Partnership, NGEP, yesterday has renewed agreement for extension of the bilateral relations for development of energy across the states of the federation.
The bilateral relations which resulted from the MoU signed by both governments in 2008, was extended to another five years, after a two day meeting between federal government and German delegation held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, who signed on behalf of the federal government, said the extension became necessary after a careful review of the achievements of the cooperation in the last five years.
Igali noted that over 19 states have already keyed into the programme, adding that the group emphasised the need to encourage more private sector participation in development of renewable energy.
The leader of the German delegation, State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister of Germany, Prof. Harald Braun, said the NGEP target to generate 500MW of power from solar energy alone within the next five years.
Braun said already several areas have been identified for development stressing partnership agreement has taken a holistic approach to power generation in the last five years.
"We had focus on renewables with large Hydro rehabilitation and capacity support to the Nigerian. We have the solar map of the country. The meeting had full content and we intend to generate 500MW of electricity from solar within the next five years".
Source: Nigeria, Germany renew agreement on energy development (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/nigeria-germany-renew-agreement-on-energy-development/)