Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has handed over two completed solar hybrid mini-grids to health care facilities in Abuja and Lagos.
The projects include a 53.1kWp solar hybrid mini-grid installed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital COVID-19 Isolation Centre, 25kWp solar hybrid mini-grid at Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Public Health Laboratory in Lagos.
Two others that are yet to be handed are a 20kWp solar hybrid mini-grid at the 128 Bed Ikenne Isolation Centre, and the 10kWp solar-hybrid mini-grid at the 100 Bed Iberekodo isolation Centre in Ogun state.
“This initiative is being implemented by the Agency to complement the efforts of the federal and state governments as well as the private sector in containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country,” REA said in a statement.
“Implementing these projects will provide clean, safe and reliable electricity to enable our health workers thrive towards the fight against this COVID-19 disease,” the statement added.
This is following the outlined intervention and palliative measures of President Muhammadu Buhari, in his national broadcast of 29 March and the Minister of Power directives on the role of REA in complementing the Federal Government’s efforts on COVID-19 in his press release of 31st March 2020.
The REA further stated: “Also, the Agency outlined measures towards containing COVID-19 in the country in a press release on 3rd April 2020 by providing emergency electrification of COVID-19 health centres across the country, collaboration with development partners on accelerating disbursement to qualifying developers as well as engaging the Central Bank of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Power towards the inclusion of energy companies under the COVID-19 intervention program of the bank.”
Central Bank of Nigeria said: “We applaud this generous gesture by the Rural Electrification Agency of providing these solar hybrid mini-grids to COVID-19 isolation centers and the public health laboratory in Lagos state. This will truly help our health workers in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
