NIGERIA SEES ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM SOLAR

Given reports on the state of Nigeria’s public program development in the face of ongoing violence and corruption in its oil industry, NewEnergyNews is encouraged to learn anybody is even THINKING about a solar energy infrastructure. More power to 'em...

Nigeria: Minister Advocates Use of Solar Energy
Jacqueline Opara, 19 September 2007 (Leadership Abuja via All Africa)

WHO
Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhre, Nigerian minister of science and technology; chief Nwadiora Nwosu, managing consultant, African-Asian company;

click to enlarge

WHAT
In response to Nwosu’s presentation on solar energy, Ekpiwhre advocated for its development in Nigeria as a source of energy and as a source of economic growth.

WHEN
Ekpiwhre and Nwosu met September 19.

WHERE
Discussions were held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

WHY
- Ekpiwhre indicated solar is still cost noncompetitive, called for the use of local raw materials to cut costs and encouraged collaboration between science and technology ministry agencies to facilitate that process.
- Nwosu appealed to the minister for ministry assistance with planning, executing and funding solar energy innovation.

Nigeria's insolation: It has sun where it doesn't have oil and oil where it doesn't have sun. Here's one for the college students who've had too much coffee and sugar and should be doing their statistics assignment: What would Nigeria be like today if the deep pockets had come in to develop solar instead of oil? (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Nwosu: “…parastatals like the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) would be useful in the area of local content development and SHETSCO (SHEDA science and technology) will need solar energy to power its gamma radiation facility.”