Fayemi to partner consortium on IPP project for Ekiti

By Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

Ekiti state Governor, Kayode Fayemi is set to partner a consortium of firms in drawing a masterplan on how best to achieve alternative sources of electricity for the state

Fayemi is set for this project in a bid to improve power supply and boost economic activities in the state.

Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Bamidele Faparusi, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, said the consortium of renewable energy companies was led by Dr. Wieber Boer, the chief executive officer of All Energy Company.

Faparusi said the firms visited Ekiti on May 9 to explore partnership opportunities with the state government on off grid electricity, adding that other companies in the consortium include, Lumos, Starlight, OoluSolar, Rubitec Solar and GV Projects.

According to the commissioner, the Fayemi administration’s has drawn up a power masterplan for Ekiti state and that the governor directed his team to commence discussions on areas of convergence to ensure that the state’s power situation improves as soon as possible.

“We are not unaware of the significance of electricity to economic development and that is why we are exploring alternative opportunities to generate power.

“As we speak, the state government has viable dams which we are investing in and our waterfalls are there; if we want to go through turbine system, all these can generate power for the state to make our medium scale enterprises work and to improve our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he stated.

The commissioner applauded the consortium for their confidence in the Fayemi administration, assuring them of his ministry’s willingness to partner with alternative power providers to break the monopoly of the distribution companies.

Faparusi added that the government has commenced work on formulating a renewable energy policy that will attract investors into the state’s energy sector.