The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna on Friday said the agency has embarked on a $325,860,690 solar cells production plant to lower the cost and increase the accessibility of power.
In an address at the foundation laying for plant in Gora, Nasarawa State, he said the plant is a game changer in the nation’s energy sector.
Haruna said that although the agreement for the production plant was initially signed in July 2013, the intervention of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the project take off.
He said the agency’s goal was to use science, technology, innovation, and engineering to advance local content interventions in power sector reforms.
The EVC said the commencement of the plant signalled the implementation of one of the three projects contained in the Memorandum of Understanding between NASENI and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation.
He said: “The cost of solar energy is still beyond the affordability of an average Nigerian hence the necessity of this project. When fully commissioned, the price per watt of solar power supply will be cheap enough to be affordable to everyone and it is a game changer in the energy and power supply industry as well as the industrial development of Nigeria.
“This production and research plant consists of four main production sections on a 15.8 hectares of land which are: (a) Polysilicon section of 1,000 tons per annum; (b) Ingot of 50MW per annum;(c) Wafers of 50MW per annum; and (d) Solar cells of 50MW per annum
“It will cost a total of $171,970,000 with 85 percent funding equivalent to $146,174,500 support from China Africa Development fund through the Bank of China and 15 percent local counterpart funding, an equivalent of $25,795,50 from Nigeria.
“The other two projects are electric power transformer production plant at $123,990,000 and high voltage testing laboratory at $29,900,690. The total cost approved for the three projects is $325,860,690 and a total of $276,981,586.5 representing 85 percent is from China. The 15 percent counterpart for the three projects is $48,879,103.5 and NASENI has instalmentally remitted up to 46.89 percent or $22,921,505.40 of the 15 percent ($48,879,103.5).
“Excess capacity of polysilicon and future expansion of wafers and solar cells production will lead to exportation for foreign exchange earnings”.
Haruna commended President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Chairman of NASENI Governing Board, for according the agency a new status that has fast-tracked its innovations.
He thanked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for making the plant project a reality. “This singular project has the capacity to positively change the energy status of Nigeria, the region, and the continent of Africa since it is the first of its type”, he further said.
