- Commends Haruna for launching NASENI into new phase of accelerated development
By Hillary Asemota
History was recorded on Friday 24, in Gora, Nasarawa State, as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, laid the foundation stone signposting the beginning of Solar Cell (SC) production in Nigeria put at $171, 970, 000 million.
The culmination of the groundbreaking event started 10 years ago with NASENI consistently championing solar power as an alternative to hydro and fossil power sourcing.
The VP, said: “I must specially commend the dynamic Executive Vice Chair (EVC) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Prof. Mohammed Haruna, as a result of his leadership that has launched NASENI into a new phase of accelerated progress. Well done.”
Osinbajo, said Nigeria is witnessing this pioneering effort of NASENI as it seeks to transform the power and energy sector by establishing the first solar cell production factory in the West Africa region.
According to him, the landmark achievement places Nigeria within the ranks of countries pushing the boundaries in the use of climate-smart alternative energy sources, adding: “And as we have heard, this particular which is building on 10 years of work. 10years ago NASENI established its 7.5MW solar panel production plant to 21MW capacity.
He explained that those watching NASENI closely, will find the connection between this historic development and the federal government’s proactive steps to ensure that NASENI gets the 1% of the federation account annually as prescribed by its founding law.
On financial support and obligation to NASENI, the VP, explained that this has heralded a new dispensation for NASENI, one that has given it the financial wherewithal to execute its mandate of delivering technological and innovative interventions across critical sectors of the economy, including Agriculture, Health, Defence and Security, Power and Energy, Financial Services, Solid Minerals, Additive Manufacturing, Smart Fabrications, Factories, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and Virtual Manufacturing.
For over 10 years, NASENI has been consistent in championing solar power as an alternative to hydro and fossil power sourcing, he added.
“And it was to this end that the agency established NASENI Solar Energy Limited (NSEL) in Karshi, Federal Capital territory (FCT), with a mandate to deliver alternative solar energy to homes and businesses in Nigeria.
“The development and maturity of the NASENI Solar Energy Ltd whose operations have been driven with the vim and zest of a tech start-up, forecasted an increase in local content of the solar energy production system in Nigeria, leading to ever-increasing production of solar cells.” He said.
The VP reiterates that solar cells are critical to the entire solar energy value chain, because they determine the sensitivity of solar panels to trap and accumulate solar energy, from the sun.
But perhaps more importantly given the urgency of climate action today and the importance of developing African green energy manufacturing and solutions NASENI’s solar cell production factory in Nigeria will be a game-changer, he explained.
Osinbajo, said: “In Sub-Saharan Africa, $50 billion worth of diesel fuel is used each year, with diesel generators producing more energy than the entire energy grid in 17 countries in the region. The resultant emissions of carbon monoxide has since become a major and worrying source of pollution.
“In Nigeria, for example, generator emissions are equivalent to emissions from all of the country’s 11 million cars put together. This is clearly unsustainable and calls for a significant shift.
“Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (NETP), the first in Africa, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council last year sets out our pathway to de-carbonisation by 2060 and achieving universal energy access by 2030. The NETP projects an increase in the use of solar power in the Nigerian energy mix, surpassing even gas by 2035.
“Indeed, this factory could not have come at a more crucial time. Not only is the beneficiation model it has adopted innovative and consistent with the African Union’s (AU), energy transition plan in the face of global warming, its output, at full operational capacity, will further impact the solar energy value chain in Nigeria through the low production costs of solar panels. In due course, this will in turn attract new investment, local and foreign, for the establishment of solar panel manufacturing plants across Nigeria.
“The prudent decision to site the factory in Gora, Nasarawa State, leverages translational research into the biogeography, geological surveys, and mining cadastral reconnaissance that has positioned Nasarawa as the home of solid minerals in Nigeria.
“The major raw material requirements for the production of solar cells – silicon and silica – are naturally occurring in abundance in this area. We are grateful to the good people of “Nasarawa for hosting this important project and congratulate you in advance for the positive boost it is certain to bring to the local economy.
“I congratulate NASENI on the leadership role it has played in bolstering our national Science, Technology, and Innovation ecosystem, and commend the agency for its transformational advances across the country.” He added.
In his remark, the Representative of the China Great Wall Industries (CGWI), Mr. Hi Shinkai, expressed appreciation to be present at the groundbreaking ceremony of NASENI solar cell manufacturing line entirely built in Nigeria.
The Solar PV Cell, he said makes up around 65% of the raw materials for solar panels and is now imported by NASENI Solar Energy Limited (NSEL) Karshi, and is one of the main raw materials used in the production of solar modules.
Shinkai, said in an effort to create solar panels that are totally created in Nigeria, NASENI sought cooperation with CGWIs to set up a solar cell manufacturing factory using just the plentiful silicon in Nigeria.
According to him, the creation of silicon from sand in Nigeria serves as the basis for the development of various electronic and communication equipment.
The production line he added will increase NSEL’s capacity from its current 7.5 MW to 50 MW per year of solar modules and open the door for the replication of this factory in other parts of Nigeria, making solar energy more widely available and affordable while also reducing the country’s current power shortage.
Since no one is currently manufacturing solar cells in Africa, this will also result in the export of excess capacity. This initiative is timely, and the actual outcomes and advantages won’t be apparent for some years. But there are huge, immediate benefits connected to this production line, Shinkafi, said.
As a result of sand processing to extract silicon, aluminum frame, encapsulating materials, tempered glasses, welding, and fabrication using locally abundant raw materials, the solar cell manufacturing facility will generate a minimum of 19,800 jobs, expressing conviction that the project will also result in the establishment of additional enterprises for suppliers, artisans, craftsmen, and vendors along the renewable energy value chain.
He said: “Very importantly, the production of solar cells will enable Nigeria to take the lead in the development of electronic products and solar power, as cell technology will enable the production of integrated circuits and other electronic/communication components comparable to those found in Silicon Valley.
In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, said the production and research plant consists of 4 main production sections on a 15.8 ha of land in Gora, which include: “Polysilicon section of 1,000 ton per annum, Ingot of 50MW per annum, Wafers of 50MW per annum and Solar cells of 50MW per annum.”
Haruna, revealed that the project has been estimated $171, 970, 000 million dollars with 85% funding equivalent of $146,174,5000 million support from China Africa Development Bank (CAD) fund through the Bank of China and 15% local counterpart funding, equivalent of $25,795,500 million from Nigeria
“The other two projects are Electric Power Transformer Production Plant at $2123, 990 and High Voltage Testing Laboratory at $29,900,690. The total cost approved for the three projects is $325,860,690 and a total of $276,981,586.5, representing 85% from China. The 15% counterpart for the three projects is $48,879,103.5 and NASENI has installmentally remitted up to 46.89% or $22,921,505.40 of the 15%. “Excess capacity of Polysilicon and future expansion of wafers and solar cells production will lead to exportation for foreign exchange earnings.”
