FG to unveil National Policy on Renewable Energy

The Federal Government on Friday said it had concluded plans to launch a National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to boost power supply in the country. The Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, made the disclosure in Abuja when the Vice President of China Hydro International, Mr Han Yang, visited him in his office.

Wakil said that in the policy, government sought to provide an integrated framework for all stakeholders, especially investors in clean energy for power generation and the general development of renewable energy in Nigeria. He said government was committed to joining the global trend of using clean energy and harnessing solar wind and hydro resources to address the power challenge in the country.

He added that “as we are conversing now, we have concluded work on the National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. “The policy will harness and provide focal point for all national efforts on renewable energy. This is in line with the commitment of the ECOWAS President, Kadré Desiré Ouedraogo, as well as the need for us as a nation, to diversify our sources of power supply.’’

The minister also said that the government was working on a vision to generate about 30,000 megawatts from renewable sources to augment supply from the national grid.

He added that “we are committed to driving President Goodluck Jonathan’s agenda; his vision of a Nigeria where 30,000MW will be generated from renewable sources in the next one decade.’’
“It is to that end that we are also working on a Presidential Initiative on Renewable Energy for power generation. This is to provide the needed political support at the highest level of government for local and foreign investment and drive in solar, wind, small hydro and bio-mass power.’’

Wakil said the work had reached advanced stage at the Katsina Wind Farm, with a capacity of about 10MW, while other renewable energy projects were ongoing around the country. The minister added that Nigeria was ready to partner with countries like China to develop its power sector.

“We appreciate and envy China’s great strides in the field of renewable energy for power generation. Many Chinese investors are already in this country. We welcome genuine investors and we offer them generous incentives, including attractive tariffs and ease of profit repatriation’’, he said.

Earlier, Yang had told the minister that China Hydro International was interested in collaborating with Nigerians for investment in all sectors of renewable energy.

He added that the company, with its over 50 years of experience in executing projects in solar, wind and hydro power, “we are in Nigeria to explore investment opportunities.

“We are satisfied with details provided by the minister.’’