Oyo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Barrister Seun Ashamu, has revealed the plan by the state government through the ministry, to pilot renewable energy systems in some rural communities in the state.
He made this known while delivering his opening address at a one-day webinar summit on renewable energy for commercials and industries in Oyo state, organised by the State’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
According to him, the plan was to boost socio economic activities of the areas and the state at large.
He further disclosed that the government was actively pursuing the distribution of renewable energy in rural areas through the provision of mini grids and solar homes systems for residents towards adding value to their existence as contained in the ministry’s policy document recently approved by the State Executive Council.
According to him, “one of the aims of this administration is to drive the economy of the state through industry and agriculture, we understand that access and availability to energy at all segments of the value chain are critical to inducing economic growth and improving livelihoods.
“Oyo state is home to many industries and we know the overhead costs for energy consumption can be challenging. This is why we put together a panel of a few leading resource persons to broadly discuss some of the benefits and challenges of renewables in business with a view to proffering solutions within the shortest possible time for companies to thrive as expected.”
The commissioner noted that the Oyo state government has keyed into the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal number 7 and a number of other international protocols for the benefit of all and sundry. He thereafter assured developers and consumers of an enabling environment for sustainability of projects.
