YEAC-Nigeria electrifies Umuolu community with 90.12kwh solar mini-grid

By Tina Amanda

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has taken a significant step in addressing pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta by launching a 90.12kWh capacity solar mini-grid in Umuolu community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State.

This marks a historic achievement for the community, which has been without electricity since its establishment 700 years ago.

This groundbreaking project, achieved through the collaboration of YEAC-Nigeria, YEAC Community Energy and Development, YEAC-UK, and NXT Grid Nigeria, with support from various partners, funders, donors, and supporters, will provide sustainable and affordable electricity to the Umuolu community. The solar mini-grid will power homes, businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities, transforming the community’s socio-economic landscape.

Designed to support governmental efforts to combat pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution, the facility offers alternative livelihood opportunities.

During the commissioning ceremony, the Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, highlighted the project’s significance in promoting sustainable development and fostering a brighter future for communities in the Niger Delta.

“Today marks a significant step forward in our collective mission and vision to foster sustainable development and create a brighter future for our communities in the Niger Delta. This solar mini-grid facility represents more than just an infrastructural project; it is a beacon of hope and a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision.

“The primary purpose of this facility is to support the government’s and other organization’s efforts to mitigate pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and associated environmental pollution in the Niger Delta by offering alternative livelihood opportunities powered by renewable energy and thereby reinforcing positive behavior for environmental protection and sustainability.

“The idea of contributing to Nigeria’s oil theft mitigation mechanism through community energy for households and its productive use also posited that with households powered, people would no longer use illegally refined petroleum products, particularly DPK and PMS, to energize their homes.

“This would shrink the market for illegal refiners and reduce incidents of pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution, as their supply chain and demand would drastically drop in communities with clean, renewable, and sustainable solar electricity.

“Technically, the design of this mini-grid allows for a full capacity of 90 kwh, which can connect at least 262 houses, including businesses in Umuolu, with potential for expansion based on observed increased energy consumption levels.

He explained further that the Organization has earmarked other communities without electricity supply which is in line with the government-approved mandate to campaign against oil theft, artisanal refineries, and pollution.

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We have earmarked ten (10) solar mini-grids for installation in different communities without electricity (CWE) in the next couple of years to effectively strengthen our contributions to the fight against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution through alternative livelihood opportunities powered by clean and renewable energy for artisanal refiners and youths.

The YEAC-Nigeria boss noted that the launch of the 90.12kwh mini-grid has also ushered in other initiatives

“With the successful installation, operation, and inauguration of the Umuolu solar mini-grid today, YEAC-Nigeria has increased the list of its initiatives aimed at oil theft mitigation mechanisms for Nigeria which include our proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) that recommends the innovation and legalization of artisanal refineries, Network on Organised Crime in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea (NOCINAG) which has been modified by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR for establishment as ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), initiation of National Conference on organized Crime in Nigerian and the Gulf (NOCACINAG) as a platform for annual deliberations on ways to tackle organized crime in Nigeria and the West African Subregion.

“Others include the Nigeria Coast and Border Guards (NCBG), which proposes dissolving all private and paramilitary security groups fighting crude oil theft into a standby security group similar to the U.S. Coast Guards. Our publication, “THE DOCTRINE OF PACORDI AND OTHER OIL THEFT MITIGATION MECHANISMS FOR NIGERIA”, details these initiatives and others.

“We cannot win the war against crude oil theft with bombings, which further degrade our environment and scatter the oil thieves who regroup in the creeks to continue their illicit activities when the youths are hungry. Alternative livelihood opportunities and youth empowerment are among the solutions in the Niger Delta”.

Fyneface further called on the government, stakeholders, and cooperate organisations to support and continue investing in this transformative initiative.

“With additional funding, YEAC can also expand its efforts to assist Umuolu youths in establishing and growing small and medium-scale enterprises powered by this mini-grid. This will not only provide them with sustainable livelihoods but also help dissuade them from engaging in illegal artisanal refineries, which have devastating impacts on our environment, health, and the livelihoods of our fishermen and farmers.”

Engineer Isicheri Stanley Tabowei, President General of the Umuolu Development Union, expressed that the new solar mini-grid will significantly impact the community by fostering economic growth, improving living standards, and reducing carbon emissions.

Tabowei commended the Youth and Environment Advocacy Centre (YEAC) and their partners, including NXT Grid Nigeria and supporters from the Netherlands, for their collaboration and support in making the project a reality.

He highlighted that the 700-year-old community had only ever relied on generators for electricity and called for the replication of this transformative project in neighboring communities without access to electricity.

“It is the beginning of a new era for us in the community, since God created heaven and earth we have not seen electricity in this form in this community and neighboring villages around, this is the first of its kind.

“As we commission this solar-powered mini-grid, let it be known that the Umuolu community committed no funds to the execution of this project. I thank the “Uti family” and community leadership for making the parcel of land where this project is located free of charge to YEAC and NXT Grid.

“Since the creation of this community more than 700 years ago. We have not seen electricity in this form in Umuolu, this is the first of its kind and we are very grateful to God and YEAC and their partners for making this thing happen for us. We have lived over the years without electricity and the best we know is diesel generators and I-pass-my-neigbour generators which come at a very high cost due to fuel and diesel price.

“Today, Umuolu is being powered by solar which is noiseless and environmentally friendly. We are happy and we thank God for this. This solar-powered mini-grid marks a new era of energy independence and environmental stewardship.

“By harnessing the abundant power of the sun, we not only ensure a consistent and sustainable energy supply but also reduce carbon footprint.”

A member of the community, Mrs. Evelyn Tombia, said deceased members of the community if resurrected today, will be amazed at the electrification of the Umolu community.

“I thank God for a day like this because it has not been easy for us in this community, it is as if we are not part of this country. I thank God for bringing this project to our community.

“Even if you wake my forefathers from the grave, they will never believe that the electricity supply is now in Umuolu. I pray that more projects like this will come to the Umuolu community.”

Our Correspondent reports that the mini-grid was inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of Ndokwa East LGA, Honourable Vincent Osilonya, represented by the Supervisory Councilor for Health, Mr. Oliseh Ndudi.