EU, UNIDO boost renewable energy drive in Gombe

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are intensifying efforts to bolster Nigeria's renewable energy sector, with the 620kW Balanga Dam Small Hydropower Project in Gombe State serving as a key example for powering agro-industrial growth.

UNIDO, supported by EU funding, organized a capacity-building workshop in Gombe. The event aimed to strengthen the abilities of policymakers, project developers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders in developing and implementing small hydropower projects. The workshop also included the fourth meeting of the project steering committee, where participants explored the potential of small hydropower to increase electricity access, foster rural development, and support agro-processing.

Philbert Johnson, UNIDO Representative and Sub-Regional Director, noted that Nigeria possesses an estimated 24,000 megawatts of hydropower potential, with approximately 3,500MW from small hydropower sources. He highlighted that electricity access in Nigeria remains below 60 percent, underscoring the critical need to harness renewable energy resources to bridge this supply gap. "Among these renewable energy sources, SHP holds great potential towards increasing access to electricity and addressing climate change," Johnson stated.

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Among these renewable energy sources, SHP holds great potential towards increasing access to electricity and addressing climate change.

The project is a collaborative effort involving UNIDO, the Federal Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Rural Electrification Agency, and relevant state governments, including Gombe. The Balanga Dam project was chosen as a practical case study to equip participants with the necessary skills for effective small hydropower project development and implementation. Johnson emphasized that the project offers a hands-on opportunity to examine how water resources can support economic transformation, improve livelihoods, and enhance energy security.

The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Jatau, pledged the state's full support for the project's speedy completion. He thanked the EU Delegation, UNIDO, the Global Environment Facility, and the Rural Electrification Agency for their contributions. Jatau recognized the Balanga Dam project's strategic importance to Gombe, as it will generate clean electricity while simultaneously supporting irrigation, water supply, flood control, and local livelihoods.

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The Balanga Dam Small Hydropower Project is more than a mere energy infrastructure initiative. It provides us with a hands-on opportunity to examine how our water resources can be optimally harnessed to support economic transformation, improve livelihoods and strengthen energy security.