By Franklin Alli

The Global Environment Facility(GEF) and the government of Cuba are set to implement a four-year (2011-2015) energy efficiency project in Nigeria.

In the project document made available to Vanguard weekend, the GEF said it has approved a grant for UNDP Office in the country to design a project to promote energy efficiency in both residential and public sectors across the country.

The document stated that the project which will be implemented through the UNDP, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Energy Commission of Nigeria, will assist the government of Nigeria to put in place comprehensive energy efficiency policy and legislation.

“The activities to achieve these objectives are designed to enhance the capacity of all relevant stakeholders at the national level of the concept, nature and potential of energy efficiency; develop policy and legal energy efficiency requirements of end-use appliances in Nigeria; train relevant professionals and carry out public outreaches; and conduct pilot projects where one million compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) will be distributed in residential and public buildings in Nigeria. Opportunities to leverage carbon finance for the scaling up of energy efficient appliances will be assessed.

“The overall objective of this project is to identify and overcome the technical, financial, institutional and regulatory barriers for the scaling up of energy efficient measures across Nigeria.

The project will focus on improving the energy efficiency of a series of end-use equipment (refrigeration appliances, air conditioners, lighting, electric motors and fans, heating appliances etc) used in residential and public buildings (schools, hotels, offices) in Nigeria through the introduction of appropriate energy efficiency policies and measures (such as Standards and Labels) and demand-side management programmes,” the document said. The document further noted: “Another objective of the project will be to strengthen the regulatory and institutional framework, develop monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, provide training to appliance and equipment professionals, and launch a public outreach campaign to promote energy efficiency in Nigeria.

“The GEF will train relevant professionals and carry out public outreaches; and conduct pilot projects where 1 million compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) will be distributed in residential and public buildings in the country.

“This pilot project will quantify the economic, social and environmental benefits of replacing old incandescent bulbs with CFLs. This outcome will address gaps on the influence of income level on consumer behaviour change.

“Opportunities to leverage carbon finance for the scaling up of energy efficient appliances will be assessed.”

Meanwhile, an inception workshop for the project team members (UNDP CO, UNDP/GEF RTA, including members of the steering committee, and private companies) will hold next week in Abuja.

The workshop, being convened by UNDP is part of the processes for the commencement of the implementation of the project tagged: GEF Promoting Energy Efficiency in Residential and Public Sector in Nigeria.