Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), announced plans for a landmark clean energy project in partnership with North-South Power (NSP) Company Ltd. The initiative will see the construction of a 20-megawatt solar power plant, marking the first phase of a much larger 300-megawatt program.
This announcement comes amidst Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with reliable energy access. Despite having an installed power generation capacity of 12,500 megawatts, the nation falls short of meeting its demands. This shortfall forces millions of households and businesses to rely on expensive and polluting diesel and petrol generators.
The new project, dubbed the Shiroro Generating Company, will be a hybrid solar-hydro facility located in Shiroro, Niger State. The 20-megawatt pilot plant serves as a crucial first step towards the ambitious 300-megawatt solar program. Notably, the solar component will be co-located within the existing 600-megawatt Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Plant concession area.
“This project signifies Nigeria’s commitment to a more sustainable future,” declared Vice President Kashim Shettima in a statement. “By diversifying our energy sources and reducing our carbon footprint, we ensure a cleaner environment for generations to come.” Shettima further emphasized the project’s potential as a model for future large-scale solar integration into the national grid.
