Yemisi Izuora
The Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), has entered into partnership agreement with two renewable energy developers for solar projects with collective capacity of 120 MW.
NBET signed the put call options
agreement with Afrinergia Power, a Nigerian renewables developer for the construction of a 50-MW solar plant in Nasarawa State.
According to Afrinergia, the plant will generate 114.56 GWh per year and will be connected to the national grid through the Keffi-Akwanga section of the 132-kV Karu-Keffi-Akwanga national grid.
The company had earlier indicated that it would develop the solar plant in partnership with AEE Power Spain, an international EPC contractor and developer focused on the energy industry and on developing countries. However, the Spanish company has not yet issued an official statement on its partnership.
NBET also signed an agreement with CT Cosmos, a subsidiary of Nigeria’s Communication Towers, for the development of a 70-MW solar plant in Plateau State, at an estimated cost of US$150 million.
The two solar projects are among the 14 for which power purchase agreements (PPAs) were signed in June 2016. 975 MW of photovoltaic (PV) solar capacity was commissioned, ahead of the anticipated financial closure and subsequent commencement of commercial operations by the developers.
In addition to Afrinergia and CT Cosmo, PPAs signed also included those with Pan Africa Solar, which is developing a 75-MW solar plant in Katsina State; Nigerian Solar Capital Partners, building 100 MW in Bauchi State; Motir Dusable, for 100 MW in Nasarawa State; Nova Solar 5 Farm’s 100 MW in Katsina State and Kvk Power, building 100 MW in Sokoto State.
Others signed were Middle Band Solar One for 100 MW in Kogi State; LR Aaron Power for 100 MW in Abuja; Nova Scotia Power Development for 80 MW in Jigawa State; En Africa for 50 MW in Kaduna State; Oriental Renewable Solutions for 50 MW in Jigawa State, and Quaint Abiba Power for 50 MW and Anjeed Innova Group for 100 MW, both in Kaduna State.
Initial plans were to have a tranche of these projects commence construction in the last of quarter of 2016, with building work taking place over a period of between 12 and 18 months. The electricity generated would be sold at US$0.115 per kWh.
It has not been yet confirmed which if any of these projects had commenced actual construction by the last quarter of 2016.