Africa mini-grid developers association debuts

As Nigeria prepares to witness a new era of large-scale rural electrification to satisfy the demand of over 90 million Nigerians, who currently lack access to electricity, a platform called Africa Mini-Grid Developers Association (AMDA) Nigeria, has been launched in Abuja.

The Association is a group of organisations and individuals committed to the development of the Nigerian power sector especially the off-grid energy space.

The group was formed to galvanise support, influence policies, lobby government on key issues in the sector, and accelerate the development of mini-grids in Nigeria.

“We believe it is time for Nigeria to develop its energy sector by leveraging the benefits that alternative sources of energy such as mini-grids present. We therefore call on all stakeholders to join us in building an industry that has the capacity to eradicate energy poverty not only in Nigeria, but throughout the African continent,” said the President, AMDA Nigeria, Alexander Obiechina.

Preceding the launch was a two-day capacity building workshop for AMDA Nigeria members, and key original equipment manufacturers. This is a preparatory move as Nigeria awaits an influx of funding such as the $350 million World Bank Nigerian Electrification Project among others, to energise off-grid rural communities currently in total blackout.

AMDA Nigeria is in partnership with AMDA, an association currently operating in three African countries, and rapidly expanding across the continent. Founding members of the association are current mini-grid developers and operators including GVE, GOSolar, Havenhill Synergy, ACOB Lighting, Nayo Tropical, Arnergy, Ajima Farms, RubitecSolar, CREDC, and A4&T.

The launch was graced by international agencies, public sector stakeholders such as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), as well as private sector stakeholders including GIZ, Huawei, Sterling Bank Plc, Jinko Solar, and METKA among other partners.