As Nigeria prepares to witness a new era of large-scale rural electrification to satisfy the demand of over 90 million Nigerians, who currently lack access to electricity, a platform comprising of mini-grid developers called Africa Mini-Grid Developers Association (AMDA) Nigeria has been launched in Abuja.
The Association is a group of organizations and individuals committed to the development of the Nigerian power sector especially the off-grid energy space. The group was formed to galvanize support, influence policies, lobby government on key issues in the power sector, and accelerate the development of mini-grids in Nigeria.
“We believe it is time for Nigeria to develop its energy sector by leveraging on the benefits that alternative sources of energy such as mini-grids present. We therefore call on all stakeholders to join us in building an industry that has the capacity to eradicate energy poverty not only in Nigeria, but throughout the African continent,” said Alexander Obiechina, President of AMDA Nigeria.
Preceding the launch was a two-day capacity building workshop for AMDA Nigeria members and key original equipment manufacturers. This is a preparatory move as Nigeria awaits an influx of funding such as the $350million World Bank Nigerian Electrification Project among others, to energize off-grid rural communities currently in total blackout.
AMDA Nigeria is in partnership with AMDA, an association currently operating in three African countries, and rapidly expanding across the continent. Founding members of the association include current mini-grid developers and operators including GVE, GOSolar, Havenhill Synergy, ACOB Lighting, Nayo Tropical, Arnergy, Ajima Farms, RubitecSolar, CREDC and A4&T.
The launch was graced by international agencies, public sector stakeholders such as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), as well as private sector stakeholders including GIZ, Huawei, Sterling Bank Plc., Jinko Solar, and METKA among other partners.
