Power knowledgeable, Theophilus Nweke, has criticized the Nigerian federal authorities’s proposed plan to ban the importation of photo voltaic panels.
Talking on the 2025 Lagos Power Summit, Nweke expressed skepticism concerning the feasibility of the coverage, urging the federal government to prioritize governance and foster private-sector-led progress within the renewable vitality sector.
The plan, introduced by the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, goals to encourage native manufacturing of photo voltaic panels by limiting imports.
Based on Nnaji, the Nationwide Company for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has already begun producing photo voltaic panels, and personal firms are actively contributing to the initiative. This transfer is a part of the federal government’s broader technique to strengthen native industries below the Presidential Government Order No. 5.
“With NASENI right here, you understand that we’ve panels. It has a manufacturing unit that has began producing photo voltaic panels, and different non-public people are additionally producing photo voltaic panels as we communicate. By science and expertise, and thru our Presidential Government Order No. 5, we are going to cease all these importations of photo voltaic panels. We’ll assist our native industries to develop,” Nnaji stated.
Nonetheless, Nweke, who’s the CEO of Cloud Power, argued that Nigeria lacks the infrastructure and technological capability to provide essential elements required for photo voltaic panel meeting, reminiscent of photo voltaic wafers and photo voltaic cells.
He highlighted that the businesses presently assembling photo voltaic panels in Nigeria depend on imported elements, emphasizing that manufacturing photo voltaic panels domestically requires extra superior services.
“Photo voltaic wafers aren’t produced from silicon in Nigeria. Photo voltaic cells aren’t produced in Nigeria. So, how will the minister implement a ban on imports? The businesses assembling photo voltaic panels in Nigeria are importing cells for meeting—they aren’t even working from wafers,” Nweke said.
He additional questioned the practicality of the coverage, asking whether or not the federal government might reveal the existence of factories able to producing photo voltaic wafers or cells.
“Do you might have a photo voltaic wafer manufacturing unit? Do you might have a photo voltaic cell manufacturing unit? Are you able to present us the place these factories exist? The expertise wanted to domestically manufacture photo voltaic panels is solely not in place.”
Addressing renewable vitality challenges
To deal with Nigeria’s renewable vitality challenges, Nweke steered that the federal government deal with making a supportive framework for private-sector involvement, moderately than making an attempt to straight management manufacturing.
- He proposed the institution of a renewable vitality intervention fund to supply low-interest financing for operators and residents searching for entry to photo voltaic options.
- This fund, he argued, would perform equally to the agricultural intervention fund that has efficiently supported farming initiatives.
“The federal government can create a renewable vitality fund at low-interest charges to permit operators like Cloud Power to entry it. This can allow non-public firms to deploy renewable vitality options throughout Nigeria,” Nweke stated.
What it’s best to know
The controversy surrounding the proposed ban coincides with the current signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Power Fee of Nigeria (ECN), China Power Engineering Company Ltd (Power China), and the Nigerian Governors’ Discussion board.
- The settlement goals to handle Nigeria’s long-standing vitality challenges by way of strategic partnerships and innovation-driven options.
- Amongst its goals is the institution of the Nigeria-China Renewable Power Analysis Centre, which is able to drive technological innovation and human capability improvement within the renewable vitality house.
Whereas the federal government’s ambitions sign a dedication to advancing Nigeria’s vitality sector, consultants like Nweke stress the necessity for clearer insurance policies, technological investments, and collaborative approaches to make sure sustainable progress.
Be First to Comment