Federal Gov’t Signs Pacts With Ukrainian Partners, 15 Others To Boost Energy

The federal government has signed Memoranda of Understanding with a Ukrainian company RSE Engineering Nigeria Ltd and 15 others to boost energy efficiency in Nigeria through innovation, capacity development, research collaboration and sustainable energy solutions.

The government made this move through the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) during the signing ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, adding the complex energy challenges facing the nation require collaboration, strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, technological innovation, and the collective efforts of stakeholders across multiple sectors.

The director general of the ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, in his address said the Memoranda of Understanding being executed reflects the government’s “determination to build strong partnerships that will contribute meaningfully to national development while supporting the implementation of Nigeria’s energy transition objectives.”

The formalised partnerships were entered into with a diverse group of organisations spanning renewable energy development organisations, research institutions, professional bodies, regulatory agencies, development organizations, educational institutions, technology providers, and private sector investors.

The partnerships cover a wide spectrum of strategic areas including but not limited to renewable energy development; energy efficiency and deployment; biogas and waste to energy technologies; research and energy systems modeling and carbon reduction and clean energy pathways.

Others include Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric vehicle infrastructure development; Agri voltaic systems that integrate agriculture with renewable energy; and Capacity building, governance, and institutional strengthening.

The ECN boss said further that the move will support rural electrification initiatives, expansion of modern energy services to underserved communities and developing the technical workforce required for Nigeria’s energy transition. The Commission is also pleased to deepen collaboration in the areas of research and energy planning.

“Through these collaborations, ECN will work closely with our partners to promote innovative energy solutions, strengthen institutional capacity, support evidence-based policymaking, facilitate technology transfer, encourage private sector participation, and enhance access to sustainable energy across Nigeria which will contribute significantly to strengthening Nigeria’s capacity for long-term energy planning and sustainable development,” Abdullahi added.

In his reaction, the Second Secretary for Economic Issues at the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria, David Hohiia, said his country Ukraine is one of the leading countries in the world that have attained energy efficiency such that even amid Russia’s war of aggression, the country supplies all its people and industries with electricity.

“That is what we want to share with Nigeria, how to get more efficient electricity,” he said, adding that this will also enhance Nigeria’s competences and build businesses, industrial clusters and help agriculture in order to create new jobs.

The CEO of RSE Engineering Nigeria Limited Olena Nedryhailo told reporters in an interview the MoU is evidence of the company’s sustainable presence in Nigeria, adding this will help Nigeria in finding solutions to Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis.