Gombe Solar Grid Project To Power 30 Communities Nears Completion

Gombe State government says its Talasse solar mini-grid project is nearing completion and will soon restore electricity to more than 30 underserved communities in Balanga local government area.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya disclosed this on Tuesday during an inspection of the facility alongside his Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who was in the state for project commissioning.

The off-grid facility, located in Talasse, is designed to generate one megawatt of electricity and supply about 6,000 homes. Officials said the project is being implemented through a public-private partnership involving the World Bank, the state government and Balanga local government area.

The director-general of the Joint Project Development Agency, Mahmoud Yusuf, said the intervention targets communities that have remained cut off from the national grid for more than a decade.

He added that the project is expected to improve economic activities and access to essential services.

The project contractor, Engr. Halis Mohammed, said work had reached about 80 percent completion, with solar panels almost fully installed, while battery systems are undergoing safety and quality checks.

He noted that the facility has a storage capacity of 2.6 megawatt-hours and can deliver 24-hour power supply, with potential expansion to two megawatts.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya said the initiative formed part of his efforts to expand energy access and support rural development through renewable sources.

The Talasse solar mini-grid is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Other activities during the visit included the commissioning of key road projects across Balanga council.

Governor Fintiri inaugurated the 33-kilometre Ture–Sabon Layi–Awak–Dogon Ruwa–Gelengu–Balanga Gari Road, including a spur linking Bakasi, Balansani and Dasan Buzu, as well as the Talasse–Degri–Bembelem road.

The delegation also commissioned a Model Almajiri (Tsangaya) School in Bakassi aimed at integrating informal Islamic education into the formal system.

Fintiri describing the project as critical to improving livelihoods and encouraging economic growth in rural communities.