The ongoing 28th Conference of Parties currently ongoing at the Expo 2020 in Dubai has already recorded some impressive wins right from the first day which includes the over $400million dollars in loss and damage fund commitment, Nigeria’s rolling out of 100 electric vehicles and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between The Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), a US$15 billion government- backed, privately managed infrastructure development, and African Green Infrastructure Investment Bank and Solarge International BV, a European manufacturer of lightweight solar panels, for establishing a solar panel manufacturing factory in Nigeria.
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With over 600 million Africans without access to electricity, world leaders, the private and public sector as well as institutional investors are prioritizing the need to bridge the energy access gap which currently exists.Energy access remains the life blood of any thriving economy and MoU’s of this nature would bring about knowledge and skill transfer, as well as bridge the unemployment gap which currently exists in the country.
The Solar PV Manufacturing Plant will be one of the first large scale production facilities in the world for lightweight solar panels with ultra-low carbon footprint. The project will play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable local manufacturing and critical infrastructure for achieving Net Zero emissions and advancing its energy transition plan to cleaner and sustainable energy sources, reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuels. More fundamentally, the project reinforces the drive towards localization, green manufacturing and import substitution agenda of the country.
While speaking at the launch which took place at the Nigerian pavilion, Dr Lazarus Angbazo, CEO of InfraCorp said “We are excited about the partnership with Solarge as it aligns with our commitment to driving an accelerated deployment of infrastructure in Nigeria and specifically toward sustainable development and economic growth. The Solar PV Manufacturing Plant represents a critical step in our aspiration to champion the deployment of climate-resilient infrastructure for a cleaner, greener, and more industrially vibrant Nigeria”.
His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Envoy of The Netherlands who was also at the Nigerian Pavilion said “This partnership is a significant step forward to realising Nigeria’s ambitions to transition to green sustainable economy, strengthening the relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands. The solar sector not only provides opportunities for climate mitigation but also contributes to increased energy access and job creation. Together, we are committed to leveraging these opportunities for a sustainable and prosperous future.”
Dr Jan Vesseur, CEO of Solarge also said “Solarge is honored to collaborate with InfraCorp in advancing Nigeria’s solar energy capabilities. Our joint efforts will contribute to the realization of a sustainable and resilient energy future for the country and strengthen the long-standing bilateral relationship between the Government of Nigeria and the Netherlands.”
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Nigeria is geared towards ensuring more MoUs and Partnerships would be signed as well as further investments even as we move towards a Just Energy Transition.
