By Princewill Ekwujuru

Nigeria and Kenya are to benefit from the $2 million General Electric, Africa and US African Development Foundation, USADF grant as part of a three-year Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge.

Both partners said first round of the off-grid energy challenge will award about five grants of up to $100,000 each to African companies and organisations providing off-grid solutions that deploy renewable resources and power economic activities. 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 is deeply involved in efforts to energise the power sector in Nigeria.

He also disclosed that GE had signed an MoU with the Federal Government to help develop an additional 10,000 megawatts of power over the next 10 years, a commitment Angbazo said was achievable by leveraging on GE’s technical expertise, pedigree and experience in the sector. Nigeria and Kenya 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 three 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 lauded the leadership of GE Africa andUSADF for this move which clearly supports US Government’s Power Africa initiative. “Through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, the US 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,” Climan declared.

The off-grid energy challenge will benefit rural or urban populations currently underserved by existing utility companies.

Requests for proposals from African entrepreneurs, companies, and purchasers of innovative off-grid solutions are open from now through October 16, 2013.

To increase electricity access to underserved, marginalized communities in Africa, US 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.