The United States Embassy in Abuja said on Friday that the its Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, had supported Nigeria’s energy sector by funding three projects toward electrifying dozens of rural communities.
The Public Affairs Department of the embassy made this known in a statement.
According to the embassy, the support would strengthen business ties between both countries and that the agencies are poised to deliver critical gas resources to support economic activity and job creation in the country.
The embassy stated that USTDA had committed funds for the execution of a feasibility study that would help Xenergi Nigeria Ltd. expand and construct a natural gas gathering and processing plant.
It added that the opportunity for US firms to conduct the study would be posted on the U.S. Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fbo.gov.
It explained that the plant would increase access to customers in the Niger Delta region substantially.
The embassy said that the agency had empowered the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company with a grant that would enable it to provide electricity to under-served communities through the implementation of up to 1,370 solar-powered mini-grids with energy storage systems.
“Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Institute will carry out the study.
“In addition, USTDA is funding a study to assist Havenhill Nigeria Ltd develop off-grid solar and storage mini-grid sites in up to 110 Nigerian communities.
“That study will be completed by Colorado-based Odyssey Energy Solutions, Inc.
“These activities all support Power Africa, a U.S. government-led initiative to increase electricity access across the continent.
“Prosper Africa, a U.S. government initiative, is also to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa,” the Embassy stated.
According to the embassy, USTDA has now funded more than 70 projects in Nigeria with major focus on energy, telecommunications, transportation, healthcare, and agribusiness.
It said that the Agency’s assistance was built on its 27th years of support for Nigeria’s energy sector.
It quoted USTDA’s Acting Director, Mr Thomas Hardy, as describing Nigeria as a dynamic market with many opportunities for cooperation between private sector players.
