The Federal Government, alongside European Union and Germany, yesterday in Abuja, released the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) targeting to address bottlenecks in the renewable energy sector and enable the country to meet the targets of adding 9,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid through the renewable sector before 2030.
The document developed by key agencies with critical contributions from the Ministry of Environment under the Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP), simplifies the process of carrying out Environmental and Social Impacts Assessments, reduces cost for local developers and promotes production.
Speaking at the event, the minister of power, Abubakar Aliyu noted that the new guidelines would fast-track government’s aspiration in terms of renewable contribution to the nation’s energy mix.
Represented by one of his aides, Isah Peter, the minister said the development would boost energy access in the country. Stating that the new guidelines would equally encourage sustainability of the mini-grid sector, Aliyu said the move would allay fears of investors.
