Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc has announced plans to deploy more than 17 megawatts of renewable energy capacity across its franchise areas through partnerships with developers and other stakeholders.
The company disclosed this during the commissioning of the Oke-Oyi Interconnected Mini-Grid (IMG) Project in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
IBEDC spokesperson, Daniel Adugbo, said the company was working with multiple stakeholders on a pipeline of renewable energy projects expected to add over 17MW to its electricity distribution network.
According to him, the planned investments are part of efforts to expand electricity access and improve power supply across communities within the company’s franchise.
Adugbo said the Oke-Oyi project was commissioned on Thursday by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.
Developed by Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited in collaboration with IBEDC, the project received support from the German Cooperation and the European Union.
It is designed to improve access to reliable electricity in Oke-Oyi, a community with an estimated population of 13,000 people.
Providing details of the infrastructure, Adugbo said the mini-grid has an installed capacity of 581 kilowatt-peak (kWp), comprising 1,336 solar panels and 84 batteries.
The facility also features approximately 10 kilometres of distribution cables and transformers to support electricity delivery across the community.
The project forms part of efforts to deploy renewable energy solutions through collaboration between electricity distribution companies, private developers and development partners.
Speaking on behalf of IBEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Deolu Ijose, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, North, Dr Ademola Adewumi, said the initiative demonstrated the importance of partnerships in expanding electricity access.
Adewumi said the company’s planned renewable energy projects would increase the adoption of cleaner energy, improve electricity availability and support sustainable socio-economic development across its coverage areas.
He described the Oke-Oyi mini-grid as evidence of what could be achieved when developers, distribution utilities, regulators, financiers and host communities work towards a shared objective.
“The Oke-Oyi IMG Project stands as another testament to what can be achieved when forward-thinking developers, distribution utilities, regulators, financiers and communities work together towards a common objective,” he said.
Adewumi added that continued cooperation among stakeholders would be necessary to ensure the infrastructure delivers lasting benefits to residents and businesses.
“Together, we can ensure that this investment continues to deliver lasting benefits for generations to come,” he said.
IBEDC’s planned renewable energy expansion comes amid efforts to improve electricity supply through alternative energy sources and partnerships with private-sector developers.
The company said its pipeline of projects could unlock more than 17MW of renewable energy capacity within its franchise, although it did not disclose the individual projects, their locations or expected completion timelines.
