Sokoto govt, Chinese firm sign agreement on 100mw solar plant

Sokoto State Government on Tuesday said it was determined to multiply energy sources in the state to improve power supply.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Bashir Garba, stated this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese firm, Kunming Engineering Corporation, to establish 100-megawatt solar-powered plant in the state.

Garba signed on behalf of the state government, while the Assistant Managing Director for Overseas Business of the company, Qui Haisheng, signed for the firm.

He said that power that would be generated by the plant would among other benefits, boost small and medium-scale ventures in the state.

He said, “in Sokoto, we have abundant sunlight, so it is only logical that we tap from the natural resource for the benefit of the populace.

“After the exploratory talks held with various companies that showed interest in providing solar power in Sokoto, the government zeroed down on Kunming, because of the viability of their proposal and its future impact.”

The SSG added that when completed, “this project will complement the State Independent Power Project currently in place.

”We are confident that the two projects will ensure tremendous improvement in power supply in Sokoto.

“So I urge you to work on the terms of the agreement.”

He said that the project would be private-sector driven, and that the state government had agreed to provide land and other incentives.

He also said that the Chinese company would regularize approval for the project from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

In his remarks, Haisheng said that Kunming Corporation had vast experience in electricity generation in solar, wind and hydro.