Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc (OOPC), in partnership with the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), ETIN Power Limited has commissioned a solar hybrid mini-grid to provide clean, reliable and affordable electricity to households and businesses in Gbelebu Community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The mini-grid was formally inaugurated by the Executive Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa.
Comprising 61 kWp of solar generation capacity, a 50 kW inverter, and 154 kWh of battery storage, the facility will initially connect 100 households and micro, small, and medium enterprises.

The facility is expected to reduce dependence on costly diesel and petrol generators, improve household welfare, and enable local businesses to operate more efficiently and expand their services.

The project translates OOPC’s N1.2 billion, three-year partnership with PIND, formalised in 2025, into tangible infrastructure for its host communities.
The broader partnership advances peacebuilding, youth employment, agricultural development, access to finance, and renewable energy across OOPC’s host communities in Edo State.
Funded through OOPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, the project was delivered through an implementation framework formalised by OOPC, PIND, ETIN Power, and the Gbelebu Community in May 2026.
The framework includes a Power Purchase Agreement, Land Transfer Agreement, and Sustainability and Operations and Maintenance Framework.
OOPC provided the investment and served as host partner, PIND facilitated the project from concept development through community engagement, technical planning, and implementation oversight, while ETIN Power designed, installed, and will operate the system.

In his remarks, the Edo State Governor, commended Okomu, PIND, and ETIN Power for the laudable initiative, describing the project as more than an electricity intervention, but an investment in the people, their livelihoods, economic opportunities, and overall quality of life.

The Managing Director of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Dr Graham Hefer, said the project reflects the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable and measurable benefits to its host communities.

“Investing in energy infrastructure is an investment in the future of neighboring communities. This project demonstrates how corporate investment, technical expertise, and community ownership can come together to deliver meaningful and sustainable development,” Hefer said.
Also speaking at the commissioning, PIND’s Programs Director, Dr. Effiong Essien, described the project as a practical demonstration of how strategic partnerships can transform underserved communities.

“Reliable electricity is more than infrastructure; it is an enabler of livelihoods, enterprise growth, and community resilience. However, the lasting value of this investment will depend on community stewardship and ownership. This facility is now under Gbelebu’s collective watch, and protecting it, using the electricity productively, and supporting its proper operation will be essential to its optimal utility and long-term sustainability,” Essien said.
The Chief Executive Officer of ETIN Power Limited, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing Gbelebu with a safe, reliable and high-quality electricity service that meets the needs of residents and businesses.

The commissioning marks the commencement of commercial electricity services in Gbelebu and positions the project as a scalable model for expanding renewable-energy access to other underserved OOPC neighboring communities.

Through its Access to Energy program, PIND and OOPC will continue to support stakeholder engagement and monitor the project’s contribution to household welfare, business productivity, employment creation, and community resilience.