UNILORIN to Build a Mega Solar Energy Plant to Provide Electricity

The University of Ilorin is partnering with a U.S company to build a 500 megawatts solar energy plant as part of efforts to tackle the challenge of power supply in Nigeria.

Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, disclosed this while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday.

“The 500 megawatts is too much for the university alone to utilize; in fact, we in the university require just a maximum of four megawatts. Which means the extra 496 megawatts would have to be given to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, either the immediate community or nationwide. I think that is what is being processed.

 “We have had talks with various stakeholders who are going to be party to the consumption and payment of the 496 megawatts because the project is going to cost about 1.5 billion dollars. They ( the company) have made tremendous progress, they have talked to the government, they are talking with agencies of government and by the time they harmonise all these product of their discussion,  I am  sure they will take off and the government and Nigeria will now be the overall beneficiary of all those efforts.’’

 The Mr Brain Travis, Managing Director of the American company, said the selection of UNILORIN as its partner was because the university had many reliable innovative projects. Travis, who described the project as the largest solar plant in Africa, said it would help empower the locals in terms of employment and training.

Source: The Nation