– By Magnus Emuji
The Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA), has held a strategic meeting with AAKS Bros. Ventures Limited over a proposed energy project aimed at cutting the huge cost of electricity and diesel consumption in two State-owned universities, namely Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) and Denis Osadebay University, Asaba.
The meeting, which held at DIDA’s Conference Hall in Asaba, focused on a proposal by AAKS to replace diesel-powered generation with solar and storage systems at Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) and Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director-General of DIDA, Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Elekeokwuri, said the Agency is responsible for investment promotion and facilitation in the State and assured AAKS of Delta State Government’s willingness to partner with credible investors.
Hon. Elekeokwuri said DIDA was ready to be a partner in the investment journey, but stressed the need for AAKS to provide its baseline information and evidence of where it has worked before to enable the Agency to encourage relevant institutions to key into the initiative.
He disclosed that DIDA would interface with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Higher Education to convene a joint technical meeting with AAKS at a later date for further evaluation of the proposal.
Hon. Elekeokwuri assured that the state government through his Agency would partner with AAKS to see how the project would materialize.
Earlier, the Director of West Africa Operations for AAKS, Mr. Kaneocha Fraoad and the Director of Nigeria Operations, Engr. I. Oshone Saliu, said they were in DIDA to formally unveil their proposal for the State.
Presenting the proposal virtually from India, Mr. Anup Kumar said the project targets DELSU, Abraka and Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, with a metering system that accounts for energy, connects billing, and ultimately eliminates diesel consumption with solar and storage within 180 days.
According to him, Delta State currently spends over N1.5 billion annually on electricity and diesel for the two universities alone without proper metering to measure actual consumption, describing metering as the cheapest and fastest capacity the State can add.
Anup Kumar said AAKS has 15 years experience in power infrastructure development in Nigeria, with 8 years in Delta State, including the delivery of the 1,020MW Sapele Power Plant from 2014 to 2020, commissioning of Afisere Substation, and upgrading of Karu 132/33KV Substation from 2x60MVA to 2x100MVA.
He added that the firm has executed projects in several African countries including The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Togo and Republic of Congo, and is currently handling the Escravos Environs Power Supply Project (EEPSP).
Under the proposed commercial structure, Delta State would own 60 percent of the assets while AAKS would own 40 percent, with the State providing capital and authority while AAKS provides engineering expertise, labour and bears all performance risks.
In his remarks, Engr. Eddy Ebuke from the State Ministry of Energy commended the intention to reduce diesel cost but noted that some aspects of the proposal may be contrary to Delta State electricity law which provides for a mix of high and low consumers.