Environmental Group to donate solar energy to 70 families in Bayelsa
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the community, located in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, is not linked to the national grid.
Mr Chima Williams, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, told NAN on Tuesday in Yenagoa after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the community for the commencement of the project, that about 10,000 residents would benefit from the renewable energy project.
“We are using this to show that the solution to the power challenges the country is facing is within reach and cost effective, we hope that the government can see the effectiveness and and adopt it.
”It is very cost effective and is homegrown. The components are manufactured in Nigeria.
“The cost to provide solar street lights and power to an initial 70 households is about N20 million and the running cost is minimal. If more people switch to this cleaner energy source, our environment will be better for it,” Williams said.
The environmentalist said when completed it would afford members of the community the chance power their appliances and enhance the security of the area.
William said as part of the MoU, some of the community members would be trained by the solar equipment vendor on how to run and maintain the system.
Also, Chief Robert Ikisa, Paramount Ruler of Ondewari, a rural coastline settlement, said solar power was an innovative alternative as the community has not been connected to the national grid.
He commended Chief Alagoa Morris, Head of Field Operations at ERA who attracted the project to the community.
“We are grateful to ERA/FoEN and our illustrious son, Morris, who facilitated the project and the entire community is impressed. We have to move with this new project which has very low running cost.
“The benefits are many and it is very friendly to the environment, hopefully the entire community would be covered in subsequent phases,” the community leader said.
