By Lucy Ogalue
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RSE Energy Nigeria to provide off-grid and embedded power solutions for industrial clusters across the country.
During the signing ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, said that the agreement marked the culmination of engagements that began before his posting to the ministry.
“We are at a point where an MOU can be signed between our government and RSE.
“This journey started even before I was posted here, and I am glad that a year after that, we have made progress to a point where we can get this signed,” Enoh said.
He said the timing of the agreement aligned with ongoing policy efforts to address energy challenges facing industries.
“Just about two weeks ago, I convened my first in a series of ministerial roundtables, and that first roundtable focused on energy as the biggest challenge of industry in our country,” he said.
Enoh explained that the MOU outlined mutual commitments and would support the deployment of off-grid and embedded power solutions.
“An MOU has commitments from both parties, with expectations from RSE and from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, representing our country,” he said.
He said that the proposed solutions, including biomass and gas, were aimed at providing reliable energy for industrial clusters, special economic zones and agro-processing establishments.
“The solution that you are coming with is off-grid, embedded power solutions, biomass and gas, that are supposed to provide a pathway to reliable energy,” he said.
The minister said the Idu Industrial Cluster in Abuja was being considered as a pilot project.
According to him, the hope is that the company will be amongst the solution providers for the Idu Industrial Cluster, because it will be used as a test case.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Rimi, said that the partnership was in the overall interest of the country.
“We have come to the conclusion that it is in the overall interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria to go into this partnership,” Rimi said.
He said that the MOU aligned with the Renewable Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the ministry’s flagship programmes.
“Taking into consideration the Renewable Hope Agenda of Mr President and the flagship programme of the Minister of State for Industry, we are here today to sign the MOU,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of RSE Energy Nigeria, Olena Nedryhailo, said that the partnership was based on long-term commitment and practical experience.
“For us, the partnership is first and foremost about responsibility and long-term thinking,” Nedryhailo said.
She said that the company had deployed decentralised co-generation systems under challenging conditions.
“Over the past three years, we have been directly involved in the development and deployment of co-generation solutions under several stress on the energy system in Ukraine,” she said.
According to her, more than 1,020 co-generation units were deployed to support industrial communities.
“This experience taught us how systems integrate into networks, scale and remain reliable over time,” Nedryhailo said.
She said that the company was ready to serve as a long-term partner in building a decentralised energy system for Nigeria.
“We see ourselves, not simply as a supplier, but as a long-term partner in building a stable decentralised energy system for Nigeria,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
LCN/KAE
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Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
