Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has flagged off the construction of a 1.5-megawatt interconnected hybrid solar mini-grid in Pankshin Local Government Area, describing the project as a major step towards expanding access to reliable electricity, driving industrial growth, and boosting the state’s economy.
The project, funded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Federal Government’s renewable energy programme and implemented by MASK Nigeria Limited in partnership with the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), is among 48 interconnected solar mini-grid projects being deployed across Nigeria to improve electricity access through renewable energy.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony in Pankshin on Tuesday, Governor Mutfwang said the initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to building a resilient energy sector capable of supporting businesses, healthcare facilities, schools, industries, and households.
He noted that the project would reduce dependence on petrol and diesel generators, lower the cost of doing business, improve productivity, and unlock economic opportunities for residents of Pankshin and surrounding communities.
“Today we are flagging off a life-transforming and economy-changing initiative. When this 1.5 megawatts of electricity is delivered, the era of dependence on generators in Pankshin will gradually come to an end, while businesses and industries will flourish once again,” the governor said.
Mutfwang expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting Plateau State through strategic investments in infrastructure and renewable energy. He cited the approval of the Mararaban Jama’a–Pankshin–Langtang–Shendam–River Ibi Federal Road and the upgrade of the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, to the Federal University of Education as major milestones for the state.
The governor disclosed that Plateau is among the leading beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s $750 million renewable energy programme, revealing that about 10 additional interconnected solar mini-grid projects are planned across the state.
He also announced ongoing collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to strengthen electricity transmission infrastructure.
“Our vision is that within the next two years, Plateau State will not only generate sufficient electricity to meet domestic demand but will also become a net exporter of power,” he stated.
Mutfwang said all statutory approvals, including the Certificate of Occupancy for the project site, had been secured, expressing confidence that the project would be completed before the end of the year. He urged residents, particularly youths, to protect the facility from vandalism.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the project as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest for universal electricity access through renewable energy.
He commended the Plateau State Government for creating an enabling environment that has attracted renewable energy investments.
According to Aliyu, the project extends beyond electricity generation to include the rehabilitation and expansion of the distribution network, installation of more than 10 transformers, and comprehensive metering of consumers to eliminate estimated billing.
“What we are building here is not just a solar mini-grid. We are rebuilding the electricity distribution network by installing new transformers, rehabilitating existing lines, and providing electricity meters so that consumers will no longer be subjected to estimated billing,” he said.
Aliyu added that the Federal Government’s $750 million renewable energy programme is expected to leverage an additional $1.1 billion in private sector investment for clean energy projects across the country.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Bashir Lawandi Dati, described the project as the largest solar energy initiative currently under implementation in the state.
He said the Mutfwang administration had established the legal and institutional frameworks required to attract private investment into the energy sector, adding that the project would stimulate socio-economic development, create jobs, and improve the business environment.
Providing the technical details, Technical Lead of MASK Nigeria Limited, Lau Mohammed, said the facility would consist of a 1.5MW solar photovoltaic power plant supported by a 2MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a 600-kilowatt backup generator, a 1.2MW solar inverter, a 1MW battery inverter, transformers, and a modernised electricity distribution network.
He explained that the project was designed following detailed engineering studies to ensure reliable and efficient power supply to homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and other public institutions.
The Executive Chairman of Pankshin Local Government Council, Amos Felix Benu, described the project as another fulfilled promise by Governor Mutfwang, while stakeholders, including former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and member representing Pankshin North Constituency, Gabriel Dewan, praised the collaboration between the Federal and Plateau State governments in delivering impactful development projects.
The ceremony attracted top government officials, traditional rulers, legislators, representatives of the REA, JEDC, MASK Nigeria Limited, community leaders, and residents, who described the project as a transformative intervention for the socio-economic development of Pankshin and Plateau State.
