Fact Sheet On Energizing Education Programme

• Share:

BACKGROUND

Access to uninterrupted power supply in Federal Universities and University Teaching hospitals in Nigeria has been cited as a major challenge and barrier to effective learning, institutional operations and student residency. Considering the role of education in economic growth and socio-economic development in Nigeria, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing resolved to embark on viable projects that will ensure the availability of reliable, sustainable and affordable power to our tertiary institutions. This led to the conception of the ‘Energizing Education Programme’ (the “EEP”).

• The EEP seeks to provide adequate power supply (89.6MW in total) to Thirty-Seven (37) Federal Universities (“the Universities”) and seven (7) University Teaching Hospitals across the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• It also aims to provide street lights to promote and facilitate safe, secure and productive learning environments and develop and operate training centers to train university students in renewable energy technology innovations.
• ENERGY AUDITS:

-Energy audits were conducted for all the Federal Universities and the adjoining University Teaching Hospitals across the country to determine the energy consumption and future load growth of each of the institutions and the results derived therefrom were then used to develop the business case for the EEP.

-The Energy audits for EEP Phase I revealed a total population of 224,800 across the Phase 1 Universities, thereby further justifying the necessity of the EEP Phase 1 Projects.

-This significant number indicates the number of residents, students and staff that will be positively impacted, as it relates to well-being, security, quality of learning and services provided and overall socio-economic development of the country.

• BENEFITS
  1. Improve quality of educational systems at tertiary level, in line with international best practice.
  2. Ensure self-sufficiency in power and sustainable development for Nigerian Universities
  3. Approximately 1000 generators currently in use by the universities will no longer be required, thereby reducing air and noise pollution which are detrimental to the environment
  4. Encourage the development of renewable energy and captive power plants. This is in line with Nigeria’s INDCs under the Paris Agreement with respect to developing renewable energy projects as an alternative cleaner source of energy.
  5. Improve the general standard of learning and living in Universities – improved security through street lights, costs of personal power sources, health and safety issues associated with alternatives such as candles and other open flames
  6. Improve healthcare service delivery, research, teaching and innovation in the Universities Teaching Hospitals and reduce mortality rate
  7. Improve the global status/ ranking of Nigerian Universities
  8. Surrounding communities will also benefit from reliable power supply, thereby not only improving the quality of life, but also bolstering economic/entrepreneurial activities within those communities
• IMPLEMENTATION

  -The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the government agency that has been vested with the responsibility of implementing the EEP.

-Due to cost implications and time constraints, the projects under the EEP cannot be implemented at the same time; therefore, the EEP has been divided into phases to ensure effective implementation.

-Phase I of the EEP is currently on-going and it involves the powering of the nine (9) Federal Universities and one (1) Teaching Hospital across the six (6) geo-political zones.

-The funds for projects under this Phase are derived from the National budget.

The selected universities for this Phase are as follows;

-Although the EEP Phase I  is funded by the Federal government, seven (7) of the solar projects under this Phase have received financial support from the Sovereign Green Bond, due to the positive impact they are projected to have on the environment/climate.

• MILESTONES/ ACHIEVEMENTS OF EEP PHASE I

The EEP Phase 1 is currently on-going.

-A Key Stakeholders Forum on the EEP was held with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Directors of the Thirty-Seven (37) Federal universities (selected for the EEP) and the Hon. Minister of State and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing

-The EEP was widely applauded and accepted, which led to the successful signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Rural Electrification Agency and the Phase 1 Universities in June 2017.

-So far, the NUC and the selected universities have continued to cooperate and provide the necessary support required from their part, to ensure the successful implementation of the EEP Phase I.

-Land surveys for the EEP Phase 1 Sites have been developed and duly certified by the Surveyor General

-In accordance with NERC Permits for Captive Power Generation Regulations 2008, the REA applied for the permits to operate the Captive Power Plants for the EEP Phase 1 Projects.

-The captive power permits have thus been granted and the permit certificates for each of the Phase I universities have been issued by NERC

-Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) has been developed and approval has been obtained from the Ministry of Environment

-A Certificate of No Objection has been received from the Bureau of Public Procurement to Award contracts under the EEP Phase I

-Approval was received from the Federal Executive Council (FEC)to award contracts to the successful bidders

-Successfully negotiated and executed the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract with the successful Contractor

-Held a kick-off meeting with the successful Contractors

-Received the Advance Payment Guaranty’s and Performance Guaranty’s from the Contractors

-Contractors have been paid the full 15% Advance Payment for the Solar Projects

-Project sites have been officially handed over to the Contractors via a site handover ceremony held between the 29^th of June – 9^th of July 2018

-Contractors have mobilized to site and have commenced civil works on site

-Topographical surveys, geo-technical and geo-physical investigation have been conducted by the Contractors.

­-Designs/ drawings submitted by the Contractors are currently being reviewed by EEP Phase I review team.

• SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

-The EPC Contractors are to provide Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the Phase 1 Projects for one (1) year.

-This 1 year O& M forms part of the ten (10) year O&M plan that has been developed for the Phase 1 Projects.

-Furthermore, the Project seeks to engage the university students in meetings and seminars on renewable energy.

• NEXT STEPS/ PHASE II

-EEP Phase II is supported and funded by the World Bank.

-A Project Management Unit (PMU) constituting of consultants from the World Bank has been put in place

-Development of a detailed timeline to guide preparation and implementation of EEP

-The Terms of Reference for technical assistance has been drafted

-A Subsidiary Agreement has been executed with the Ministry of Finance

-An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been developed in line with the National Regulations and World Bank Safeguard policies

-A Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) has also been prepared as a practical tool to guide the preparation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) for subprojects during the implementation of EEP Phase II, where needed.

-Seven (7) Federal universities and 2 teaching hospitals have been selected for this phase and have been informed in writing of this selection.

-A stakeholders meeting with the selected universities for phase II and the REA has been scheduled to hold on the 19^th of July 2018.

The selected universities for Phase II are;