Renewables
Gombe community gets solar mini-grid after years without power
A new one-megawatt solar installation in Talasse aims to restore reliable electricity to thousands of households and businesses.
Key points
- Talasse in Gombe State received a 1MW solar mini-grid following a 17-year electricity blackout.
- The facility is designed to serve approximately 6,000 homes and commercial properties.
- Federal, state, World Bank, and private sector partners collaborated on the rural electrification initiative.
- State authorities plan to extend similar renewable energy programmes to 80 communities.
What happened
Residents of Talasse and surrounding areas within Balanga Local Government Area in Gombe State have gained access to a one-megawatt solar power facility. Voice of Nigeria reported that the infrastructure was commissioned jointly by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Minister of Power Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe after seventeen years of continuous power outages.
Voice of Nigeria stated that the project stems from a collaborative effort involving federal and state authorities, the World Bank, and Mids Dynamic Limited. The installation is intended to supply electricity to roughly 6,000 homes and commercial enterprises. To support local productivity, authorities plan to distribute productive-use equipment such as rice-milling and flour-grinding machinery at favourable rates.
Why it matters
According to Voice of Nigeria, state officials noted that prolonged energy shortages had previously hindered local commerce, agricultural processing, education, and healthcare delivery. Governor Yahaya attributed the state's expanding off-grid capacity to regulatory reforms under the Electricity Act 2023, which has facilitated greater private sector participation.
Minister Tegbe stated that Gombe is currently incorporating seventeen megawatts of solar mini-grid capacity across four local government areas under federal partnerships. Additionally, Rural Electrification Agency Managing Director Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu noted that the federal administration has secured $750 million to advance electricity access for more than thirty communities nationwide.
What comes next
Governor Yahaya announced intentions to scale the rural electrification scheme to eighty communities across the state, alongside preparations for interconnected solar installations totalling four megawatts. Projects in Filiya and Gelengu have already reached ninety per cent completion.
Officials urged local residents to protect the newly commissioned infrastructure from vandalism and illegal connections. State representatives pledged ongoing support for the maintenance and security of the facility to ensure long-term energy access.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
27.8% of electricity in the world was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
