The European Union (EU) has unveiled two new initiatives worth €9 million in Nigeria’s energy industry as part of its ongoing commitment to help the Federal Government provide clean, affordable, and sustainable energy for citizens.
The EU disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the project inception workshop organised in partnership with the Federal Government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The projects – Small Hydro Power Development for Agro-industry Use in Nigeria (SHP-DAIN) and Advancing Nigeria’s Green and Just Transition to Net Zero through Circular Economy Practices, aim to enhance energy accessibility and promote circular economy practices to address pollution and climate change.
The EU noted that while the SHP-DAIN is a three-year project with a budget of €5 million, Advancing Nigeria’s Green Transition to Net Zero through Circular Economy Practices is also a three-year project with a budget of €4 million.
The international organisation disclosed that UNIDO will implement both projects.
Speaking during the official launch of the projects in Abuja, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi, explained that the SHP-DAIN project would increase the capacity of small hydropower in Nigeria’s total energy mix to promote productivity along the agricultural value chains and other businesses, enhance livelihoods, and promote food security and decent work.
She said: “The SHP-DAIN will support capacity strengthening of major actors from the private, government, finance, and target micro, small, and medium enterprises sectors in the specifics of small hydropower through tailored training and knowledge management.
“It will support the establishment of a SHP of 2 MW cumulative capacity for agri-industrial use across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
“It will support the development of policies and an institutional framework on renewable energy for productive uses to streamline policies and incentive schemes towards a greater use of SHP, with cross-cutting activities for ensuring sustainability, which includes awareness development, visibility promotion, the implementation of gender strategies, project management, and monitoring.”
According to her, both projects are part of the EU Global Gateway Strategy, a transformative initiative to enhance connectivity, foster economic growth, and promote sustainability through collaboration.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS explained that the new initiative would support the strengthening of policy and regulatory frameworks on promoting circular economy principles and practices, the management of used energy equipment, and the related implementation capacity, while also supporting the strengthening of enabling institutions at the federal and state levels.
“It will support the strengthening of the private sector by developing business models to support SME-led circular economy practices, including reusing and recycling of used equipment in the energy sector, with cross-cutting activities for ensuring sustainability, which include awareness development, visibility promotion, implementation of gender strategies, project management, and monitoring,” she added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Power, Mr. Adelabu Adebayo, while officially launching the projects, expressed confidence that the projects would not only enhance the management of used off-grid energy equipment and plastics but also increase agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods.
He also inaugurated project steering committees to ensure the success of the projects.
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