Nigeria Vice president ,Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) on Friday flagged off the establishment of a world class Solar Cell Production Plant at Gora ,Karshi Development Area of Karu Local Government ,Nasarawa State, says the Solar Cell Production Plant would be the first and largest ever in Africa.
During the flagged off ceremony, the vice president ,Professor Yemi Osinbajo ,reiterated that the Solar Cell Production Plant was set to transform Nigeria Energy sector by establishing the first solar cell production factory in west Africa.
Professor Osinbajo, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari ,the Chairman of NASENI governing board sent his warm regards and greetings to all.
According to him, the land mark achievement of NASENI places Nigeria within the ranks of countries pushing the boundaries who are in use of climate smart alternative energy sources ,particularly solar power.
” This project is building on ten years of works .Ten years ago, NASENI established a 7.5 Megawatt solar production plant and the capacity is now 21 mega watt .
” For those watching NASENI closely ,i am sure you will find the connection between this historic development and the Federal Government proactive steps to ensuring that NASENI gets 1 % of the federal government account annually as prescribed by it founding laws ,and i think as the NASENI Vice Chairman, professor Haruna Sani, has said as prescribed by it founding laws, that has been achieved in the one percent as Federal Government own contribution is already coming into the coffers of NASENI ” The VP said.
Professor Osinbajo ,added that they are still expecting the one percent contributions from the 36 states ,that should come into the coffers of NASENI in order to boost it to do what it was created to do, to lead the production of manufacturing equipment and manufacturing ideas and lead hydrations and generally of all equipment in Nigeria.
He further stressed that the collaboration that Mr. President has done has launched NASENI into a new dispensation, one that has given it the financial muscles to execute it mandate of delivering technological and innovative interventions across the critical sectors of the economy ,including agriculture ,health ,security ,power and energy ,solid minerals ,additives manufacturing ,smart fabrications factories and even Areal view and virtual manufacturing .
” For over ten years NASENI has been consistent in championing solar power as an alternative to Hydro and fuel power sources .
” It is to this end that the agency has established the NASENI solar energy plant in Karshi, Feferal Capital Territory with the mandate to deliver alternative solar energy to homes and businesses in Nigeria” The vice president added.
While Speaking, the host Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, posited that he can not remember the countless times Mr Vice President has visited Nasarawa State. The Governor however stated that the first of it kind visit by Mr Vice President was to deliver working capital for market women inside the Keffi market, inside the Karu market and a visit to homes of the most vulnerable people ,yet he had the time to walked into their homes and gave them hope” We shall ever remained grateful to you in office and out of office” Sule reiterated.
According to the Governor ,when it comes to promoting Agriculture ,the VP was there at Panda. In tryimg to promote Health,Mr vice president stood firm for Nasarawa during the commissioming of the Diagnostic Center at Lafia .
” And interms of promoting our party you.were also there for us ” He added.
Governor Sule also commended the Vice Chairman NASENI for development in Nasarawa State ,pointing out that the first upon his assumption of office as Governor of Nasarawa State was the commissioning of the Agricultural and Equipments Development Institute at lafia ,that was where rehabilitations and refurblishment of tractors is done.
Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI) Professor Mohammad Sani Haruna took the stage and unraveled the significant importance of establishing the NASENI Solar Cell Production Plant in Gora,Nasarawa State,which marks the commencement of implementation of one of the three projects contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASENI and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation(CGWIC)
Professor Mohammad Sani also revealed that the project has a capacity to positively change the energy status of Nigeria ,the region ,and the continemt of Africa ,since it is the first of its type.
He added that ” The agreement to establish this production plant was initially signed in July 2013 and was renewed in 2018 after surmounting various frustrating obstacles and bureaucratic bottlenecks that almost led to the termination of the project.
” This foundation laying ceremony ten years after ,is worth celebrating ,which i think the chief celebrant today is His Excellency, the Vice President ,Professor Yemi Osinbajo ,because of the role he played to secure the buy-in and approval of the National Economic Council ,under his chairmanship ,on this end and other projects of NASENI.
In continuation, the Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI ,averred that today many households in rural Nigeria particularly Nasarawa State and the FCT are beneficiaries of NASENI solar homes, among other solar products ,he lamented that the cost of solar energy is still beyond the affordability of an average Nigerian hence the necessity of this project here in Gora .
” 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 energy and power supply industry as well as industrial development of Nigeria” He pointed.
Furthermore ,the NASENI Chief Executive ,Professor Sani Haruna, pointed out that the production and research plant consists of four main production sections on a 15.8 hectres of land which are Polysilicon sectionof 1,000 ton per annum,Ingot of 50 MW per annum,Wafers of 50 MW per annum and Salar Cells of 50MW per annum.
Stating the cost at a total of $171,970.000 USD with 85% funding equivalent of $146,174,500 USD support from China Africa Development (CAD) fund through the Bank of China and 15% local counterpart fumding ,equivalent of $25,795,500 USD from Nigeria.Adding that two other projects are Electrical Power Transformer Production Plants costing $123,990,000 USD and a High Voltage Testing Laboratory which also cost $29,900,690 USD.
He however announced that the total cost for all these as approved for the three projects was $325,860,690 and a total of $276,981,586.5 representing 85% from China.