AEDC Managing Director, Ernest Mupwaya (Extreme Right) in a handshake with the United States Charge d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon after signing documents for the grant, Friday

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has secured a support grant of $1.06 Million from the United States Trade Department Administration (USTDA) as part of commitments to facilitate the AEDC’s target of providing electricity to the population of 10 million people in its franchise areas.

At the formal signing for the grant, the AEDC Managing Director, Ernest Mupwaya, explained that it was meant to helping to provide electricity to underserved communities through the implementation of up to 1,370 solar-powered mini-grids with energy storage systems.

He noted that there is no one solution towards achieving 100 percent accessibility and good electricity supply, adding that AEDC is exploring alternative sources of power supply apart from that of national grid.

According to him on the modalities of covering its franchise areas of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger , “Our strategies is based on three pronged approach. There are some areas in urban areas which are underserved, though they are connected to the grid but they are receiving bad quality electricity.

“There are also other areas which are at the periphery of our network where we can easily extent to grid and capture in our network. But it is also a fact that there are others areas off the grid network and you see they can’t wait for the huge resources required to extend the grid.

“So, in those areas, it makes sense to develop mini grids so that they can start having electricity.

“The grant is to facilitate some feasibility studies so that we can package these areas, rural areas mostly, into bankable projects so that we can now partner with other investors to accelerate electrification by rolling out isolated grids that can supply them power.

“We project that if we are to reach 100 percent of electrification, our current demand may have to triple. But by augmenting it with renewable sources, then some of the Megawatts will come from solar.

“The study will be completed within six months and after that we should have bankable documents and then move to the next phase of sourcing for partners to start rolling out these projects.”

With the support grant from the USTDA and in partnership with Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Institute which is to carry out the study on electrification projects, AEDC would be able to conduct a feasibility study that will identify specific opportunities for different areas so that it can ultimately have bankable solutions, which in turn can facilitate partnerships with other investors.

The AEDC assured that this would enable the company to achieve sustainable overall improvement consistent with its desire to provide quality electricity to the franchise areas.

The goal of this grant for the study therefore include: The identification of optimal locations for complimentary mini grid deployments within the catchment area of AEDC; Part of strategic plan to provide power 24/7 starting with Abuja and the development of an integrated distribution framework that combines the central grid with decentralized off grid power solutions, which will, where appropriate, include mini grids, off grid mini grids, grid extension projects and solar home systems.

Earlier, the United States Charge d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon, expressed the commitment of USTDA to energy projects in Nigeria.

Further, she expressed optimism and confidence that AEDC would ensure the realisation of the target objectives.