€5m Grant For Solar Energy

Government is negotiating a 5million Euro grant from the Spanish government to provide solar facilities in areas not connected onto the national grid.

The second phase of the Self Help Electrification Projects (SHEP) is to commence next year after over 190 communities have benefited from the current SHEP-4 programme.

The Ministry of Energy, through its Northern Rural Electrification Project is optimistic more communities would be connected onto the national grid.

Minister of Energy, Joseph Adda outlined these policy initiatives while responding to questions on the floor of Parliament last week.

In response to a question from Francis Osei Sarfo, the Karachi West representative, Kofi Adda said government was negotiating a 5 million euro grant from the Spanish government to provide solar facilities for public institutions and schools located in areas not connected onto the national grid.

This followed a similar project undertaken eight years ago to provide renewable energy for communities.

“The main concern of the ministry is to provide more communities with electricity, and the ministry is also in talks with partners to provide funding for the next phase of the SHEP-4 project,” the Minister noted.

Currently, 193 communities have benefited from the first phase of the self help electrification project-4, and Minister estimated that more communities would benefit.

He also told Parliament that more pre-paid metres would be made available to more consumers when the ECG rolls out its next phase of the provision of pre-paid metres.