Nigeria launches mega solar plant to boost national grid

Nigeria has signed a deal to build a 20MW hybrid hydro-solar power generating plant, the first instalment in a 300MW project.

The project is part of the country's plan to transition to clean and renewable energy solutions.

The project will be built in Shiroro, in the central Niger state and will be a collaboration between the privately owned North South Power (NSP) Company and the state-run Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

"This is a pioneering project in terms of hybridising power in solar and hydro," Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima said during the signing of the agreement on Tuesday.

He added that it will help the country diversify its energy sources.

Nigeria has faced power problems for years, despite being a major gas and oil producer.

The country's inadequate and inconsistent electricity supply often causes widespread blackouts and power cuts and occasionally leads to total failure of the national power grid.

Most homes and businesses usually resort to generators, inverters and other sources of electricity to avoid dependence on the unreliable national grid.