CAREER ON POWER AND ENERGY IN NIGERIA

Nigeria's government has just announced its intention to make another round of investments in solar energy to supply up to 10 rural communities that currently lack access to the national power grid. The initiative, funded by Nigeria's Ministry of Science and Technology, will benefit around 5,000 individuals living in villages spread across several local governments and is projected to cost 150m Naira, or $1.25 million.

The solar panels, built by an industry consortium that includes the Dynamic Treasure Chest Company, Hafas Enterprises and Impasse Technologies, are expected to be delivered by the end of January 2008. A similar project was launched last year in a village on Bishop Kodji Island; an earlier scheme in 2002 — coordinated with the assistance of Japan — lit 200 rural communities.

The infrastructural reforms in this critical sector through the development of sufficient and adequate power supply will be to ensure Nigeria’s ability to develop as a modern economy and an industrial nation by the year 2015.