Oscarline Onwuemenyi
07 November 2014, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo has stated that the bi-national conference, scheduled for October this year in Berlin, Germany, will be a platform for strengthening of co-operation between Nigeria and Germany, especially in the area of solar power.
Nebo, who stated this in Abuja while receiving the newly posted Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Michael Zenner, explained that the conference will examine and review existing MoU and agreement in order to make them workable.
He noted that with a number of German firms involved in solar energy generation in the country, Nigeria stands to benefit from the partnership between the two countries.
The Minister said German companies have been playing a vital role in investing in the Nigerian’s power sector, disclosing that GIZ in conjunction with European Union (EU) is working assiduously to provide solar power to seven (7) Nigerian Universities across the country, with pilot study at the University of Ibadan.
He said Nigeria is poised to leverage on this mutually beneficial relationship especially in renewable energy which Germany has got a lot of investment.
He expressed optimism that these universities will create the required conducive environment for studies and research exercises.
Nebo described the GIZ as a veritable partner in the transformation agenda of the power sector in Nigeria, stressing that the agency has supported the nation’s privatization efforts from beginning to this present day.
The Minister said that the proposed conference will pursue with vigour a lot of investment on renewable energy sources like wind, solar and biomass, and would discuss on issues around gas supply to thermal plants.
Earlier, Zenner had said that he was in the ministry as part of his familiarization visit and stressed that the sector is very important component of the transformation efforts of this administration of key nation’s economic sectors which is underpinned by the privatization efforts of the power sector.
Zenner further revealed that the bi-national conference between Nigeria and Germany will focus on energy and urged the ministry to participate fully at the conference.
He also stated that Germany has reach advanced stage on solar energy issues adding that Nigeria can tap from its experience to fast track the nation’s quest for access expansion.
The Ambassador said he would facilitate in bringing more German companies to invest in the Nigeria’s power sector and emphasized that they require guarantees as safety of their investment and the ability to recoup return on their investments, are sacrosanct to their decisions to invest in Nigeria.