Mini grid operator GVE, partners Abuja DisCo to provide independent power to Wuse market

Nigeria’s largest mini grid operator, Green Village Electricity (GVE) Projects Limited has signed a tripartite agreement with Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) Plc. and Wuse Market Traders Association for the development of a  1MW Megawatt interconnected mini-grid system in Wuse Market, Abuja.

The plant is part of GVE’s Distributed Renewable Energy commercialization initiative aimed at the delivery of reliable power supply to underserved economic clusters like markets, industries, plazas, estates, MSMEs etc across Nigeria. The company says it has identified over 300 more sites has been identified and will be developed.

The project to be cited in Wuse market, the busiest economic cluster located in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria will be the first private sector led interconnected mini-grid solution to be deployed in Nigeria.

The project will provide 24/7 electricity supply to over 5,000 traders who operate in the market and will also lead to the displacement of over 3,000 petrol/diesel generators thereby mitigating significant amount of GHGs.

The project will transform Wuse market into Nigeria’s first 100% green and generator free economic cluster in the largest black nation of the world. The project will also lead to the extension of trading hours in the market thereby significantly increasing the productivity, income and profitability of traders in the market while ensuring sizable cost reductions when compared with current alternative power sources available to the traders.

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This initiative aligns with expectations of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s (FGN) Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI) delivered through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), according to a press release from GVE.

This initiative is also supported by AEDC’s recent grant of US$1.06m by USTDA to support studies to identifying and developing similar projects.

Green Village Electricity (GVE) Projects Limited is the leading distributed renewable energy solutions provision company in Sub-Saharan Africa. GVE’s business footprint covers the design, sales, installation and maintenance of renewable energy solutions for residential, commercial, industrial and rural off-grid or under-served communities through commercially sustainable business models in line with our clients’ needs.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) Plc. is one of the 11 power distribution companies that was successfully privatized and handed over to new investors on 1 November 2013. AEDC has a franchise for the distribution and sale of electricity across an area of 133,000 km2 in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger State, Kogi State and Nassarawa State.

Wuse Market Traders Association (WUMATA) is an Incorporated Trustee duly registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria acting as the legally authorized representative of Wuse Market Cluster.

The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA), set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) with the primary objective of increasing electricity access to rural and underserved communities has developed the off- gird electrification strategy. Part of this strategy is to fast track some of its development initiatives towards achieving the overall objective of the FGN Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) and the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP). REA is providing enabling environment and facilitation of the project to boost socio-economic growth.