Oyo To Complement National Grid With Mini Power Grids

The Oyo State government has declared its readiness to complement the national electricity grid by establishing 40 mini power grids which will be aimed at servicing the electricity demands of people in rural areas and government establishments.

According to Oyo Affairs, the State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Barrister Temilolu Seun Ashamu said this while fielding questions on the 2nd year anniversary of the Seyi Makinde-led administration at his Ibadan office on Monday.

He revealed that the government is also in the process of installing about 250 kilometres of public lighting projects in the State to illuminate major roads for security reasons and promote economic activities in major markets around the State.

The Energy Commissioner revealed that arrangements are in the final stage with the popular Shell company to install gas pipelines that will power the mini-grid project and thereby decentralize power production in the State.

“The Independent Power Plant (IPP) is about getting on board and the State has entered into an agreement with Shell company on laying of gas pipelines for the purpose of power generation in concert with the national power source to provide electricity for the people in the rural areas, urban areas, and government establishments.”

“The mini-grid project is in conjunction with private partners who will provide 19 mini-grids while the government will also provide others, this will promote industrialization, cut the cost of doing business, provide jobs for the youths and improve the economic power of the people and the government.”

Barrister Tolu ascribed the lighting project, which he called the ‘Seyi Gbenalee’ project to the need to use illumination to nip insecurity in the bud while the streetlights will also allow market men and women to stay long at markets to transact businesses and make more money.

Additionally, he disclosed that the Ministry has started to provide 351 Public Health Centers (PHCs) across the State with solar-powered energy to preserve vaccines and help power medical equipment.

Lauding Governor Seyi Makinde’s efforts to deliver people-based projects, Barrister Ashamu called on the people of the State to inculcate the habit of good maintenance, especially on social infrastructures so that the facilities would last long.