The Federal Government has increased the deployment of mini-grids to boost power supply in rural communities and help cushion the effect of the recent removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.
It disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Rural Electrification Agency, adding that the mini-grids would provide 24/7 electricity in the communities where they were deployed.
The Managing Director, REA, Ahmed Salihijo, who just inspected the 200KWp Solar Hybrid Mini-Grid in Danchitagi Community, Lavun Local Government Area, Niger State, said the facility, just like others, would cut down the volume PMS purchased by beneficiaries of the community.
He explained that through the Nigeria Electrification Project-Performance Based Grant initiative, over 80 similar mini-grids had been deployed across the country, ensuring equitable access to electricity.
Salihijo said the 200KWp mini-grid in Danchitagi Community was built to supply uninterrupted electricity to the area, which hosts about 2,670 people who were predominantly farmers.
He explained that of the 534 consumers of electricity from the facility, 13 of them use it for services such as tailoring, welding, refrigeration and milling of rice, as well as other farm produce.
“From the feedback we are getting, most people actually rely on petrol generators and with this mini-grid, it means that they are going to buy less of that petrol.
“That means with the subsidy removal, this could serve as a palliative that will help them cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy,” the REA boss stated.
