By Demilade Aderibigbe
Plans are underway by the Lagos State Government to develop 1 gigawatts (GW) of grid scale solar energy as part of developing sustainable and renewable energy mix and to galvanize the Clean Lagos Electricity Market (CLEM), the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Biodun Ogunleye has said.
Ogunleye, who spoke, Wednesday, at the Year 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing of his ministry, which held at the Bagaulda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, said the ambitious project to which the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is committed, will not only reduce the state’s carbon footprints, but create jobs, stimulate economic growth and boost massively, energy security of the state for generations to come.
According to the Commissioner, 10 sites; Ogudu, Owode Onirin, Agbara, Badagry, Abomiti, Oke Balogun in Epe, Lagos Lagoon, Lekki Phase 1 Area, Omotayo, Navy Town and Egbon Terminal Plant site in Ikorodu, have been pencilled down for the offtake of the solar project.
He said: “We are committed to harnessing the abundant solar resources available to us while eliminating forex (FX) feedstock from other sources.”
According to him, the Ministry in its quest to be at the forefront of advancing the agenda of making Lagos a 21st century economy has made significant strides in enhancing energy access and efficiency to promoting sustainable mineral resources management all aimed at ensuring the prosperity and well being of every citizen.
Towards this end, the governor approved the procurement and installation of 20,000 units it prepaid energy meters for low-income communities in the state, while approval was further expanded for the full metering of houses across the state via collaborations with electricity distributing companies and Elsewedy, the leading smart meter solution company.
Ogunleye said discussion is at advanced stage with the African Development Bank (AfDB), on the implementation of the pilot phase of the Lagos electrification program, while the German organisation, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)is supporting the government with customer surveys a d grid assessment of identified pilot zones for metering and distribution network intervention scope requirement.
On oil and gas, Ogunleye said the ministry took decisive steps towards addressing the oil and gas safety issues and harmonisation of related activities of stakeholders involved in the petroleum sector of the state to improve the ease of doing business.
He said the government is collaborating with key industry regulators such as Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to ensure safety standards , regulatory compliance certificates and permits are adhered to by sector operatorsin conjunction with relevant Lagos State stakeholders like LASEPA, MPP&UD, Safety Commission and LASMIRA to establish the directives of the governor.
The Commissioner said the Ministry carried out a number of onsite monitoring and evaluation of so many mining sites across the state and took decisive actions aimed at mitigating the ugly effects of dredging to the ecosystem, the flora and fauna of host communities across the riverine areas.