The South Korean Government announced that it will contribute $12.4 Million towards the construction of solar mini-grids in Nigeria.
The Ambassador of South Korea to Nigeria, Mr. Kim Young-Chae disclosed this on Monday the 6th in Abuja at the Stand-alone mini-grid project presentation ceremony organized by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Energy, ILJIN Electrical, S/D Powernics and Korea Polytechnic.
The Ambassador’s full statement was “The project to be implemented by KIAT was designed to meet rising energy demands of rural communities, by constructing solar power generation systems, in cooperation with the Nigerian Government. It involves the construction of mini-grids in non-electrified rural communities near Abuja, to ensure a stable supply of power, installation of transmission and distribution lines, supply of electric equipment and systems and training for the operation and maintenance of mini-grids The project began as a framework agreement signed by South Korea and Nigeria, and laid the foundation for technological support and related policies.
Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta also present at the event, made the following comments “For this demonstration, it is good it is in the Federal Capital Territory, but it will be better to extend it to other areas so that you will get wider buy-in. I will suggest we go to areas like Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Akwa Ibom and Kano which have a high population density.”
Project Manager, Mr Kim Dohyoung said the project will begin with project designing in April 2022 and extend until December 2024 and it will be delivered in partnership with the necessary government agencies and local businesses. He stressed that the project will boost standard solutions in the power sector, provide environmentally friendly and sustainable energy development, and help to eradicate poverty in the country.