FG harps on hydro for power generation.

[FMINigeria]

                        The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali has said that because of environmental degradation associated with fossils power generation, the Federal Government is going to make hydro, the focus of the new energy mix for the country.

Speaking with the European Union delegation, led by Ambassador David Macrae in Abuja, Igali said that apart from being environmental friendly, small hydro power generation can be transmitted off grid for use by small rural communities around the dams.

DSC: 1530, L - R, Pierre Philippe, Minister Counsellor/Head of Operations to the delegation of EU,David Macrae,Ambassador/Head of Delegation EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS and Permanent Secretary, Power Ministry, Ambassador Godknows Igali He said there are about 200 Dams across the country that were hitherto constructed for purely irrigation purposes, but can now be adaptable for electricity.   He said the concomitant multiplier effect in agricultural value chain is unimaginable, employment generation and empowerment would naturally follow.

While commending the European Union for its unrelenting assistance in critical areas of the nation's economy, the Permanent Secretary assured the delegation that the waste associated with gas flaring would soon be a thing of the past.  He said that our Independent Power Projects (IPP) was designed to take advantage of our gas potentials.

The Permanent Secretary called for partnership with European Union and other development partners to provide un-interrupted electrification in Nigeria, "We need to leverage resources from European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank and others to develop our renewable energy, for instance, study has shown that in the North apart from solar, wind energy source is abound."

Ambassador Godknows Igali welcoming David Macrae,Ambassador/Head of Delegation EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS to Power Ministry, with Marta Abrantes, Project Manager, Economic Governance and Trade Cooperation EU Earlier, the EU leader, David Macrae has described Nigeria's energy sector as priority to the EU, saying that the EU will help Nigeria meet the gap in financing of some key capital projects in the sector.

Ambassador Macrae promised EU support for capacity building, he said, he is allying with the planned arrangement to bring to Nigeria trainers, rather than Nigerians going abroad for such training.  This, he reasoned is not only cost effective but would afford more Nigerians to be so trained.

He also said that EU programme will touch on bringing up stream renewable energy potentials, adding that the EU is interested in ensuring effective power transmission to the rural areas through Rural Electrification programme.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria