The Abia State Government has announced that preparations are underway to inaugurate the Solar for Health project, an initiative by the European Union (EU) aimed at promoting renewable energy in healthcare facilities.
The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, disclosed this during a press briefing in Umuahia following the State Executive Council meeting.
Monday stated that Abia was one of six states selected to benefit from the programme, having met all eligibility requirements.
“Solar for Health is an EU initiative that uses renewable energy to power health facilities, as well as productive users around those facilities,” he explained.
He revealed that the EU was providing more than 2 million euro for the project, while Abia State would contribute more than 624,000 euro as counterpart funding.
“That is the total cost of the project,” he added.
According to Monday, the project will have a cumulative capacity of 500 kilowatts, to be distributed across a minimum of nine health facilities in the state.
“We are also considering powering businesses located near the health facilities, such as shops.
“It’s not just about the health centres, the goal is to ensure sustainability by also supporting productive users,” he said.
He noted that each installation would include metering systems, with small service charges to support operations and maintenance.
“In the event of faults or low solar output, such as during the rainy season, the systems will include battery storage technology to ensure uninterrupted supply.
“Multiple energy sources are also being considered in the system’s design,” he said.
Monday added that more than 50 personnel from the State Ministries of Power and Health had already undergone training in the operation and maintenance of the systems.
“Energy audits are currently being conducted at the selected facilities to determine the most effective deployment strategies.”
He described the initiative as timely, emphasising that reliable energy supply was critical for socio-economic development.
In a related development, the commissioner also provided updates on broader efforts to boost power supply across the state, particularly outside the Aba Ring-Fenced area.
“We’ve made some progress with Aba Ring-Fenced, but from Umuahia to Abia North, power supply has been a challenge,” he said.
He revealed that the government was in advanced negotiations with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to acquire a controlling stake in its infrastructure within Abia.
“We’ve completed due diligence to assess the value of the assets. Our first offer has been made, and negotiations are ongoing to reach a fair agreement.
“Full details will be disclosed once discussions are finalised,” he said.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Okey Kanu, confirmed that the state had submitted a bid to acquire a 60 per cent stake in EEDC’s interstate electricity assets in Abia.
“Negotiations for the acquisition have reached an advanced stage,” Kanu stated.
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