The Federal Government has commissioned a 1-megawatt (MW) solar mini-grid with a 2.4-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system in Tallasse, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, while commencing construction of four interconnected mini-grid projects with a combined capacity of 16MW.
The commissioning, held on Saturday, also marked the groundbreaking for projects serving Dukku, Bajoga, Kumo and Kaltungo communities, as the government expands distributed renewable energy infrastructure across the country.
The Tallasse project also includes productive-use equipment designed to connect reliable electricity with agriculture, processing, transportation and local enterprise.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya described the project as an outcome of the partnership between the Gombe State Government and the Federal Government through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
He said the infrastructure would help translate electricity access into economic opportunities for residents, particularly those working in agriculture and related businesses.
The project includes electric tricycles, an electric groundnut oil processing plant, a modular electric rice mill and electric flour-grinding machines.
The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Power and REA leadership for supporting the initiative.
He described the partnership as an example of how cooperation between federal and state governments could deliver infrastructure with direct benefits for communities.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of REA, Abba Aliyu, said the 1MW Tallasse project serves 6,028 connections, comprising 5,929 residential units, 84 commercial connections and 15 dedicated nodes for productive economic activities.
Aliyu said the agency was moving beyond measuring rural electrification by the number of connections and megawatts installed to assessing the economic outcomes enabled by electricity.
He added that the productive-use equipment was intended to help farmers process produce locally, support new businesses and improve productivity and income.
Aliyu also highlighted the role of the 2.4MWh battery storage system in improving electricity reliability.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said the Gombe projects formed part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at expanding access to economic opportunities regardless of location.
He cited renewable energy projects in Kwara State, the Federal Capital Territory and Oyo State as evidence of the government’s efforts to extend electricity infrastructure to more communities.
The Gombe commissioning follows the groundbreaking of a 17.7MW interconnected mini-grid project in Iwo, Ibadan, Oyo State, earlier in the week.
The Federal Government is pursuing distributed renewable energy alongside conventional grid expansion, including interconnected and isolated mini-grids, embedded generation, solar home systems and dedicated renewable power projects for public institutions and productive communities.
These initiatives form part of the government’s broader effort to expand electricity access and support a commercially sustainable distributed renewable energy market.
