FG Investors Push Local Battery Production, Clean Energy drive

 

 

FG, Investors Push Local Battery Production, Clean Energy Drive

 

The Federal Government, in collaboration with private sector investors, has unveiled fresh initiatives to boost local battery production, solar technology, and compressed natural gas (CNG) adoption as part of efforts to cut reliance on petrol and imported components.

 

At the launch of a mobile solar generator and youth bootcamp in Abuja on Thursday, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Mustapha Abdullahi, said Nigeria is moving to localise battery and solar component production, leveraging its abundant lithium reserves.

 

“We have lithium in almost every state. The government is taking decisive steps to localise and domesticate technology. Agreements have been signed with top global producers to set up factories in Nigeria,” Abdullahi stated.

 

He disclosed that once large-scale production begins locally, the Federal Government is ready to ban the importation of lithium batteries and solar panels.

 

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Citibim Nigeria Limited, Abdul Gbadamosi, said the newly launched mobile solar generator would ease access to cleaner energy while creating economic opportunities.

 

“Our model allows users to generate income from clean energy transactions, just like POS operators. We are also training about 120 youths in emerging technologies such as AI and geo-intelligence to build local capacity for the green economy,” Gbadamosi explained.

 

Also speaking, the Investment Facilitation Coordinator of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), Jide Awolowo, revealed that over 100,000 vehicles have already been converted to run on CNG, with a target of one million by 2027.

 

“We now have over 60 CNG fuel stations, with 175 more expected before year-end. Over $1 billion in private sector investment has flowed into the sector,” he said, adding that over 300 conversion centres are operational, with plans for 10,000 centres by 2027.

 

The government’s clean energy agenda aims to reduce dependence on petrol, cut energy costs, create jobs, and increase renewable energy’s share to 30 per cent of the national energy mix.