Page 17 - AfrElec Week 50 2022
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AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
Nigeria announces new 2030
renewable energy policy
NIGERIA NIGERIA has announced a new National “Through the agreement with Siemens,
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy, orders had been made for the purchase of 10
the Minister of Power has revealed. morbid power transformers and 10 mobile sub-
Speaking at the 5th National Council on stations,” he said.
Power, Abubakar Aliyu explained the policy At COP26 in Glasgow, Nigeria pledged to
and its “Vision 30:30:30,” which will see the achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. This com-
country add 30,000MW of electricity by the year mitment was made by President Muhammadu
2030. The vision will also see 30% of the coun- Buhari, who highlighted the challenges that cli-
try’s energy mix coming from renewables. mate change has posed for the country.
According to Aliyu, Nigeria has already put In line with this commitment, Nigeria has
a focus on renewables, as is seen by completed launched an energy transition plan that aims to
and ongoing projects, including the Zungeru provide all Nigerians with access to energy by
Hydroelectricity Power Project (97% complete, 2030. This plan is expected to lead to net-zero
providing 700MW), Kashimbila Hydroelectric- emissions within three decades.
ity Project (providing 40MW), and Dadin-kowa “In our lifetime, Lake Chad has gone from an
dam (providing 40MW). adverse expanse of biodiversity to a shadow of
The minister also noted that the projects were itself; we are investing in renewed growth, hydro
funded by International Organizations such as dams, and solar projects – Nigeria is not looking
the World Bank and African Development to make the same mistake that will be suffered in
Bank (AfDB). He also mentioned an agreement the future,” Buhari told COP26.
between Nigeria and Germany, resulting in a col-
laboration with Siemens.
Bitcoin miner Gridless raises
$2m for East Africa expansion
KENYA GRIDLESS, a Kenyan bitcoin mining company “Our work in supporting renewable energy
that helps generate new sources of electrification mini grid developers fills a gap, helping develop-
in rural communities in East Africa, has raised ers expand faster, be more sustainable, and serve
$2m to expand into new markets, the company thousands of households,” he stated.
said in a statement. “In its first year, Gridless has contracted five
The investment, announced on December project pilots in rural Kenya with HydroBox, an
6, was raised in a seed investment round led by African hydroelectric energy company, three of
venture capital group Stillmark and payments which are currently operational. The company
company Block, Inc, led by Twitter co-founder plans to expand to other geographies in East
Jack Dorsey, as well as an angel round led by Fac- Africa in the near future.”
tor[e] Ventures. Stillmark managing partner Alyse Killeen
Gridless acts as a buyer of last resort for said their company is drawn to Gridless’ focus in
energy produced by renewable mini-grid energy sustainable energy solutions.
generators in rural areas and uses the excess “Gridless does this by bringing a socially and
energy to run Bitcoin mining operations onsite. environmentally conscious approach to bitcoin
Company chief executive Erik Hersman said mining, one that provides tangible benefits by
the investment would finance the company’s way of access to electricity for communities in
drive for affordable electricity in the region. rural parts of East Africa,” she said.
Week 50 14•December•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P17
