In October 2020, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clement Agba announced the Federal government’s quest for the support and contributions of Nigerians in the Diaspora on the implementation of the country’s vision 2025.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s intention is to “Attain energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products, improve access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity, improve security for all,” while promising that government would work with the recommendation to be made by Nigerians in the Diaspora.
In an exclusive interview with AsheNews, Sweden-based Nigerian renewable energy expert, Dr Ade Raheem observed that “for Nigeria to achieve adequate electricity supply by 2025, the involvement of Nigerians in Diaspora, especially those involved in the development of renewable energy, is pertinent.” Excerpts:
Briefly tell us about yourself
I am Dr. Ade Raheem, a Sweden-based Nigerian expert in renewable energy. I am Chief Executive Officer of Scan-Sec Tech in Sweden. I am a biotechnologist, specialist in Biogas and huge Solar farm constructions. I am a co-owner of a renewable energy foundation “in samlings stiftelsen rewable energy stiftelsen.Sweden” Studied at both Uppsala and Umea Universities. I am originally from Iwo in Osun state with deep interest for Nigeria and a strong believer that I have got ever lasting solution to the shameful electricity situation in Nigeria.
Nigeria has opened its doors for its citizens in Diaspora for their support and contributions. How would you help the country attain energy sufficiency by 2025?
First and foremost, Nigeria can only get it right if it concentrates on developing renewable energy rather than hydropower and fossil fuelled generators, which is capital intensive and outdated. So, with the country’s abundant refuse dumps from house-holds and sunny environment, outmost utilisation of these can help Nigeria’s energy upgrade to reasonable international level, which is expected of us to support, and of which we fully merit.
How could Nigeria optimize its solar and biogas potentials?
For Nigeria to optimise these, government should (in phase A), create huge solar farms in each of the 36 states and the FCT, of not less than 200MW, which will sum to 7,400MW. In phase B, government should create additional 400MW huge solar farms in every states and the FCT. This will total 14,800MW. When you add up Phases (A+B), each state and the FCT will have 22,200MW.
How will this be achieved?
We will maximise toilet refuse from households in villages, towns and cities and arrange them and depots created. The physical size of each depots or zones will determine the amount of electricity for each plant. Therefore, we will need to see the size and shape of each depot to be able to calculate the amount of Biogas Plants for electricity generation.
The sky is the limit for Nigeria, especially if it deals with Swedish government and especially with financial backing of the Swedish Export Guarantee (SEK). Nigeria should use this opportunity in order to tackle the issue power access by citizens. We can assist Nigeria with to achieve this.
How would Scan-Sec Tech execute these?
I am more into biogas and Scan-Sec Tech is a specialised company in renewable energy. We can help in the capture of biogas (methane gas) from the dump sites and burn. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions, through the combustion of the methane gas, which is contained in the entire dump site, and finally used for total production of electricity and heat.
We can set up extraction plants, comprising of a network of wells, connected pipes. The total extracted gas will then be connected to the blowers and then to the touches, for flare. The project, which includes technical combustion, contributes to sustainable development of the area, surrounding the landfill. The plants could be connected to the biogas-fuelled generator so as to satisfy the energy needs of the plant or be connected to the national grid. Local operators, will be trained, for the maintenance and control activities. Our plants will be controlled by PLC technic, so that we can control everything even from Sweden, through the Internet.
Let’s talk about cost
Depending on the capacity, the total cost of a medium biogas plant, constructed to produce between 0.8MW to 1.0 MW, (complete turnkey, with automatic control) costs 3.6 million Euros. However, there are series of international funds known as carbon purchase, directly purchased from the World Bank. European Union has what is known as ACP funds, for biogas/huge Solar farms owners. We have direct information about where/ how these funds can be accessed but Nigeria, for example, will have full responsibilities to follow up and make all the necessary documentation.
Are there possibilities for credit facilities for the project?
Sure! There are possibilities of full assistance to get combined loans for the constructions of biogas plants and even for constructions huge solar plant of 200MW-22.200MW, as projected and even more. Scansectech and partners, have unique opportunities to get full loans, from the Swedish government to cover as many capacities; from 200MW plant to 22,200MW or more. The loans requirement is a guarantee from the Ministry of Finance.
