In a promising endeavour to alleviate Nigeria’s chronic energy crisis, the World Bank has set its sights on funding the construction of 1,000 mini solar power grids in Africa’s largest economy. The ambitious initiative, carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian government and the private sector, seeks to bring light to millions of households and businesses currently dependent on unreliable petrol and diesel generators.
With Nigeria boasting a population of over 200 million people, one might expect a commensurate power generation capacity. However, the stark reality reveals a meagre 12,500 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity, merely a fraction of what the nation truly requires. This deficit has perpetuated a struggle for access to electricity, hindering progress and prosperity for countless communities.
Enter the mini grids – small-scale electricity generating units with the potential to transform lives. Typically ranging from a few kilowatts to 10 MW, these mini grids hold the promise of powering around 200 households each, offering a glimmer of hope in the darkened landscape.
During a recent visit to a mini grid site on the outskirts of the capital, Abuja, Ajay Banga, the esteemed President of the World Bank, revealed that approximately 150 mini grids have already been established with partial funding from the institution. These mini grids have brought much-needed electricity to communities previously living in the shadows of energy scarcity.
However, this is just the beginning of a grand vision. The World Bank, alongside the Nigerian government, is intent on pressing forward with an additional 300 mini grids, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to bringing power to those in the peripheries of access.
Banga shared, “We are putting another 300 in, but our ambition with the government is to go all the way to 1,000. We’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars that are being invested.” The scale of this undertaking underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency to ameliorate it.
Crucially, the World Bank is not shouldering this responsibility alone. Recognising the significance of collective effort, the institution aims to stimulate collaboration by providing financial support as a subsidy, encouraging further investments from other stakeholders.
The ramifications of insufficient electricity supply in sub-Saharan Africa are deeply concerning. According to World Bank data, a staggering 568 million people in the region still lack access to electricity. Unsurprisingly, Africa remains home to nearly 80% of the global population without electricity.
As the World Bank and its partners embark on this crucial mission to bolster Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, the hope is that these mini solar power grids will serve as beacons of sustainable progress. With access to reliable and clean energy, countless lives can be transformed, businesses can thrive, and the trajectory of Nigeria’s economy may take an illuminating turn for the better.
