The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to learn from Egypt’s power generation and transmission strategies, recognizing the North African nation as a role model in the energy sector.
Strengthening Bilateral Energy Cooperation
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known during a meeting with Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, in Abuja. The discussions focused on renewable energy expansion and rural electrification, as Nigeria seeks to enhance its electricity infrastructure.
Egypt as a Model for Energy Transformation
Adelabu commended Egypt’s achievements in power sector reforms, highlighting its success in generation, transmission, and distribution. He acknowledged that Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens was inspired by Egypt’s model, aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s power sector.
“Egypt has made remarkable strides in energy transformation, and we are eager to collaborate and learn from their expertise,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure reliable, stable, and affordable energy access for all Nigerians.”
Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification
Adelabu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to rural electrification, emphasizing the high cost of connecting remote areas to the national grid. Instead, the government is focusing on renewable energy solutions.
He disclosed that Nigeria had secured $750 million from the World Bank’s DARES project and an additional $190 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to support this initiative.
Egypt’s Commitment to Collaboration
In response, Ambassador Fouad expressed Egypt’s eagerness to collaborate with Nigeria, particularly in closing the metering gap and improving energy access.
“Nigeria and Egypt share similar aspirations, and there is great potential for collaboration in the energy sector. We are committed to working together for sustainable energy solutions,” he said.
Conclusion
With this new partnership, Nigeria aims to leverage Egypt’s expertise in the energy sector to boost its own power generation and transmission capabilities. The collaboration is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s electricity sector reforms, particularly in renewable energy development and rural electrification.
