REA signs grants with nine companies to expand energy access

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on Monday signed grant agreements with nine renewable energy companies to extend electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians.The companies involved are Privida Power Limited, Baobab Plus, Salpha Energy, Asolar, NTA-StarTimes, A4&T Power Solutions, Sunking Greenlight Planet, Bboxx, and D.

Light.This event marks the first set of signings under the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project, following its official launch in 2024.“This initiative also contributes to the broader Mission 300, a global campaign aimed at delivering energy access to 300 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, as Nigeria continues its progress toward achieving universal electricity access,” the REA said.



Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, explained that the project is targeted at electrifying 17.5 million Nigerians by deploying 1,350 mini-grids.He stated that the interconnected mini-grids being rolled out are designed to improve the reliability of electricity supply for Band D and E customers, while simultaneously expanding access for underserved communities.

Aliyu detailed that the project is being implemented in two parts: the deployment of mini-grids (both isolated and interconnected) and the distribution of solar home systems.He revealed that 198 sites have already been submitted under the programme, estimating around 340,000 new connections and the addition of 47 megawatts of clean, reliable electricity to the national grid.“The 11 sites we are signing with Privida Power Limited alone will add over 2.

5 megawatts of reliable energy, resulting in more than 11,000 new connections,” he said.“Meanwhile, eight companies will deploy 1.6 million solar home systems across rural areas,” he added.

According to Aliyu, this effort underscores the REA’s dedication to expanding access to electricity and tackling persistent challenges within Nigeria’s power sector.He also noted that the government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is taking aggressive steps to address the nation’s electricity issues.“The problem of 18 million Nigerians without access to electricity will soon become a thing of the past, thanks to interventions like DARES and other REA initiatives,” Aliyu said.

“Today’s signing is not merely a contractual formality; it represents a commitment to communities that have long been left out of conventional infrastructure development,” he stressed.Also speaking at the event, Mr Olufemi Akinyelure, Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), underlined the wider significance of the initiative.“Every connection made under DARES represents a doorway to education, healthcare, commerce, and greater inclusion,” he said.

“The more than 11,027 new connections to be delivered under this project symbolise lives being transformed, futures energised, and a Nigeria that refuses to leave anyone behind,” Akinyelure added.He remarked that partnerships like these provide a strong framework for reaching Nigeria’s national energy access targets.Akinyelure explained that DARES, a flagship programme within NEP, is structured to catalyse the off-grid energy sector through targeted grant support for mini-grid and standalone solar initiatives.

“These renewable energy solutions are essential for delivering reliable and affordable electricity to off-grid communities, unlocking their potential for social and economic development,” he said.Under the Performance-Based Grant sub-component for isolated mini-grids, Privida Power Limited has secured a grant to deploy solar mini-grids across 11 communities in Kogi State, resulting in more than 11,027 new connections.Additionally, eight other companies, under the Standalone Solar Systems (SAS) component, signed agreements to roll out Tier 1 and Tier 2 plug-and-play solar solutions for households and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), aiming to extend energy access across rural Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the companies, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Privida Power Limited, Mr William Akalume, expressed a strong commitment to the success of the initiative.“We are fully committed to the success of this project and deeply appreciate the REA for the impactful work they are doing to improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said.The post REA signs grants with nine companies to expand energy access appeared first on Nigerian NewsDirect.

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