L-R: Counselor for Economic Affairs, Embassy of the United States of America, Mr. Douglas Climan; President/CEO General Electric(GE) Nigeria, Dr. Lazarus Angbazo and Communications Manager, General Electric(GE) West Africa, Mr. Osagie Ogunbor, during the GE/United States African Development Foundation "Off-Grid Energy Challenge" Press Conference in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, today.
· In order to support off-grid energy solutions, the U.S.
African Development Foundation (USADF) has teamed with GE Africa (NYSE: GE) to
launch the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge, a three-year, USD $2 million
challenge that will award 20 or more grants of up to $100,000 each to African
companies and organizations providing off-grid solutions that deploy renewable
resources and power economic activities.
To increase electricity access to
underserved, marginalized communities in Africa, United States government
agencies and private corporations are working in concert with Power Africa, the
White House-led initiative, to drive growth by increasing access to reliable,
affordable, and sustainable power and by helping to ensure responsible,
transparent and effective management of energy resources.
The Off-Grid Challenge, funded by
USADF and GE Africa, will benefit rural or urban populations currently
underserved by existing utility companies.
In addition, it will promote innovative solutions that further develop,
scale-up or extend the use of proven technologies for off-grid energy. The focus is on delivering power for productive
and commercial activities. African-owned
and -operated businesses or organizations that are developing their own
technologies, and/or acquiring and installing technology developed elsewhere,
are eligible to apply.
Speaking at a news briefing in
Abuja to announce the call for proposals, President/CEO of GE Nigeria Lazarus
Angbazo said GE is proud to be associated with this initiative, which promotes
innovation in Off-Grid Energy solutions.He said GE deeply involved in efforts
to energize the power sector in Nigeria. He disclosed that GE had signed an MOU
with the Federal Government to help develop an additional 10,000MegaWatts of
power over the next ten years, a commitment Mr. Angbazo said was achievable by
leveraging on GE’s technical expertise pedigree and experience in the sector. Nigeria and Ghana are
the first set of countries to benefit from the initiative but other countries
like Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia could be included over the next 3
years. “GE is working with stakeholders in Nigeria and Kenya to provide
sustainable ways to power more of Africa. Nigerians and Kenyans know what works
in their communities, and are encouraged in this competition to apply local
solutions to the power challenges.”Said Angbazo.
On his part, Mr. Douglas Climan, the Economic Counselor at the U.S embassy in Nigeria praised
the leadership of USADF and GE Africa for this move which clearly supports the
U.S. government’s Power Africa initiative.
“Through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, the United States is
committed to expanding the grids and helping ensure transparency in the large
scale energy sector. USADF, with its
focus on economic development from the grassroots level and African-led and
–managed projects, is bringing that commitment to underserved communities “off
the grid” who need power as much as anyone else. We support this Off Grid Challenge that will
benefit Nigerians with innovative solutions” Mr. Climan declared
In selecting the winners, initiatives
from Energy Service Providers, Community Associations and private companies
that are developing Energy Enabling technology will be strongly considered.
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