18 January 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Federal Government has disclosed plans to begin the production of solar cells locally, in a bid to increase power generation through solar energy.
This is the initiative of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, through its subsidiary company, the NASENI Solar Energy Ltd.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed the partnership plan with China and the move towards local production of solar cells when he visited the company in Abuja.
Onu said the ministry would facilitate access to the 85 per cent offer from China for the approval of the 15 per cent counterpart funding to guarantee the local production of solar cells.
“This will facilitate advance research, drastically reduce the cost of solar power installation and increase clean energy local content in the power sector,” he said, as he promised that the ministry would make a strong case for the patronage of NASENI Solar Energy Ltd.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, Prof. Sani Haruna, said the objective of setting up the company was to inject local content in the power sector .
The objective also includes developing and demonstrating local capacity; creating business; generating revenue and building capacity in renewable energy generally.
