The
Managing Director of Paras Energy, Mr. Yashwant Kumar, on Thursday in Ibadan,
assured that his partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power and other
electricity distributing companies will take Nigerians to a different Solar
Power threshold in two years’ time.
Kumar
gave this assurance in his welcoming address during the Ground-Breaking Ceremony
of the 17.7MW BESS Hybrid Interconnected Solar Mini-Grid Project with a 17.74MW
battery energy storage system to serve communities across Akinyele, Ido, Ibadan
North, Egbeda, and Lagelu Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
The
program was held at the Bishop Phillips Academy, Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State,
with the theme: “Powering Ibadan Communities: Groundbreaking for Solar Mini
Grids”, adding that Paras Energy will replicate what has been done in other
parts of the world in the area of power generation through solar power.
Kumar
noted that the power generated becomes effective when investors partner with
distribution companies in the power sector, explaining that constant power
distribution and availability will increase the economic potential of the
beneficial communities in Ibadan.
He
commended the Oyo State Government, the Federal Ministry of Power, the Rural
Electrification Agency, the World Bank, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution
Company for their commitment to the project.
In
his address at the occasion, the Minister of Power, Engr Joseph Tegbe,
disclosed that another mini-grid project is underway to increase power supply
around communities around the University of Ibadan, University College
Hospital, and The Polytechnics Ibadan.
Tegbe
said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Ahmed Tinubu,
has no intention of increasing electricity tariffs; instead, there are plans to
eradicate inadequate and epileptic power supply across Nigeria.
According
to the Minister, “This is to ensure stability and reliability we are delivering
in the energy zones can be extended to every part of Nigeria. This is how we
plan to ensure 24/7 power becomes a national reality, in line with the Renewed
Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”
He
added that these projects address the electricity access challenge close to
where people live and work, by improving supply to homes and productive
activities within the beneficiary communities, will help reduce dependence on
generators, support longer working hours, and create better conditions for
investment and jobs.
The
Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, disclosed
that the Federal Government is committing over $650 million to improving
electricity across Nigeria, with an impactful presence in Oyo State.
He
added that over 28,000 households will benefit from the project across five
local governments in Oyo State.
In
his goodwill message, the Managing Director of Ibadan Electricity Distribution
Company, Mr. Deolu Joel, noted that this initiative provides an important platform for collaboration with
government, development partners, regulators, and private-sector developers to
address electricity access challenges through practical and commercially
sustainable arrangements.
He
maintained that “the interconnected mini-grid model presents one such
opportunity. This project is designed to serve five community clusters: Bola,
Jiboye, Molade Adelubi, Ogo-Oluwa, and Sooko-Elega, with an estimated 22,597
electricity connections. The project will deploy a combined 17.7 MWp solar
photovoltaic (PV) generation system, supported by battery energy storage,
interconnected with IBEDC’s existing distribution infrastructure. This
integrated solution is expected to improve electricity availability and supply
reliability for households, businesses, and productive-use customers across the
beneficiary communities”.
In his royal address, Olubadan of Ibadan,
Senator Rasheed Ladoja, thanked the government and partnering agencies for
considering Ibadan for the mini-grid project, adding that the project, when
completed, will attract more investors to Ibadan city.
Olubadan urged the people to take ownership
of the project and protect it from vandalism.
The event was attended by several Ibadan High
Chiefs, serving Senators and House of Representatives members, Baales from various
communities, the Governor of Oyo State, represented by the Commissioner for Energy, and representatives of the benefiting communities.
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