Recently, the hospital in Ozubulu in Nigeria has been open day and night. The health facility located in the local government area of Ekwusigo, Anambra State, has just been equipped with a solar photovoltaic system. The facility, which has a capacity of 7.5 kWp, was inaugurated on November 15th, 2020 by Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The small solar power plant was installed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in partnership with the private engineering company Eauxwell, which specialises in the fields of water and renewable energy. The works lasted eight weeks.
Improving healthcare services
According to the governor of Anambra State, Victor Meju, the electricity generated by the solar system will improve health care services at the Ozubulu hospital. “We will now be able to take care of patients (young and old) at night, as well as store blood and medicines without fear of damage from power cuts,” says Meju.
A few days earlier, on November 12th, 2020, REA inaugurated another solar system in the community of Eka Awoke, in the local government area of Ikwo, Ebony State, Nigeria. The 100-kW small hybrid solar power plant consists of 330 panels and a 12 km long distribution network. At least 300 residential buildings, 150 commercial buildings will be connected to the solar power plant, as well as the residents of Ebony (500).
The small solar power plant built in Ebony is one of the twelve solar mini-solar grids of the Rural Electrification Fund – Call 1. This is the first call announced after the establishment of the Rural Electrification Fund Directorate under the aegis of the REA, for the award of a partial capital grant to implement renewable energy projects in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The objective is to provide rural communities in this West African country with access to clean and affordable electricity.
Inès Magoum