Jigawa partners Kano DisCo for stable renewable power

The Jigawa State Government and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) have signed an innovative partnership that will ensure stable electricity across the state.

Jigawa State in partnering with the new Core Investor in KEDCO (Future Energies Africa) and increasing its shareholding in KEDCO to 10 percent (from 7.5 percent), while also committing KEDCO to an electrification partnership.

The partnership will see KEDCO (and partners) invest to build up to 10MW of Solar Interconnected mini-grids in the key urban hubs of Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Kazaure, and Ringim, to augment power supply and ensure stable electricity across the State.

According to the parties, the partnership will also see KEDCO complete the Gagarawa-Taura-Ringim line and connect the communities on the axis to the grid.

“The agreement between the Jigawa State Government and KEDCO will include the two parties partnering on joint electrification plans, to take access levels for electricity in the State to greater than 90 percent by 2030.”

The electrification plans will include grid expansion, embedded generation, solar hybrid mini-grids, and solar home systems across the State.

This agreement is in line with Governor Umar Namadi’s dynamic agenda for the State dubbed “Greater Jigawa”.

“We believe with stable electricity across the State, the lives of our people will be improved, and we can sustain a consistent double-digit growth rate to exit more and more people from poverty and make Jigawa State a prime destination for investment and jobs in Nigeria,” Namadi said.

This multi-billion-naira agreement will catalyse the continued transformation of Jigawa into an Agri-Processing and Renewable Energy hub.

Ibrahim Gumel, the chairman of Kano DisCo, said the new Core Investor in KEDCO is focused on ensuring that KEDCO becomes the best DISCO in Nigeria in the next few years.

“We hope to unveil similar partnerships with Kano and Katsina States later this year as part of our broad recapitalisation exercise.

“We will make KEDCO the first Green Electricity Distribution Company in Sub-Saharan Africa while supporting the development agendas of the State Governments in our Franchise Areas,” he added.