NSIA, North-South Power partner to establish Shiroro solar company

• The initial phase, a 20 megawatt (MW) pilot project (phase 1a), is part of a larger 300MW solar program, set to be situated within NSP’s existing 600MW Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Plant concession area in Shiroro, Niger state
  

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The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and North-South Power (NSP) have inked a joint venture agreement to launch the Shiroro solar firm, aiming to tackle the pressing demand for clean and accessible energy.

Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media and communications, disclosed the deal in a statement.

The initial phase, a 20 megawatt (MW) pilot project (phase 1a), is part of a larger 300MW solar program, set to be situated within NSP’s existing 600MW Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Plant concession area in Shiroro, Niger state.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who witnessed the ceremony on Tuesday, said the joint venture “marks a significant milestone and will boost the country’s energy transition journey”.

He described the arrangement as an affirmation of the present administration’s resolve to embrace clean and renewable energy solutions.

“The federal government of Nigeria under the able leadership of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that drive economic growth, enhance energy security and protect our environment,” the vice-president said.

Speaking on the significance of the project, Shettima said the signing of the agreement for the 20MW solar plant is “a journey which is pivotal to our sustained growth and development as a nation.”

He commended the vision, innovation, and commitment of the NSIA to the project, noting that such strategic partnerships create opportunities for economic growth and technological advancement while simultaneously addressing the urgent need for clean and accessible energy.

“As a nation, our resolve is to take proactive steps to diversify our energy sources, reduce our carbon footprints and ensure a more sustainable future for generations to come. And this is a pioneering project in terms of hybridising power in solar and hydro,” he said.

“I believe that this is a harbinger of greater things to come. This project will serve to attract further investments in the space by growing both the business and financial models for such projects.

“This project will catalyse the realisation of other hydro-solar projects and serve as a test case for deployment of solar energy on to the national grid.”