Description:

The European Union is to launch a project in Nigeria on the sustainable utilization of gas and renewable energy resources.

The project, funded by the European Union, is called EU SUNGAS and will be implemented by the International Institute for Energy Development (IIED), UK.

The project seeks to improve access to energy by Nigeria’s citizens from renewable and non renewable sources. It will be implemented in the Niger Delta region over the next three years, at a cost of 460 Million Naira (about €2.3 million).

The launching ceremony will take place on December 7, 2009, at the conference hall of the Valencia Hotel in Abuja, and is expected to give the general public the opportunity to know more about the project. Expected at the event are the representative of the current presidency of the European Union Sweden, EU member states and the Delegation of the European Union in Nigeria.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the reduction of poverty and conflict and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the Nigerian government’s goals of National Vision 20/20 by enhancing the potential for Nigeria to resolve its energy crisis using its own energy resources in a sustainable manner.

This project is also in line with the 7-point agenda of the current administration of the Federal republic of Nigeria and will contribute to the reduction of the impact of Climate Change in the Niger Delta region.

The project would be managed by a group of three national NGOs (Social Development Integrated Centre, Niger Delta Wetlands Centre & Living Earth Nigeria Foundation) and an international NGO (Living Earth Foundation), under the leadership of the UK-based IIED.

At the end of the project it is expected that a reformed policy framework to promote sustainable utilization of gas flaring for community based electricity provision and energy is developed. In addition, a community based demonstration project for utilization of flared gas to generate electricity for household and enterprise consumption, support to public services in the target communities and five community-based renewable energy facilities. The product would work on scaling up and replicating lessons and successes of the pilot initiatives in order to satisfy the energy service requirements of communities in the Niger Delta.

The project would also initiate networks and build capacity of Institutions managing Energy issues in Nigeria to be able continue work beyond the life of the project, including a multi-stakeholder Energy Policy Forum, a civil society coalition to address energy policy, and Community Energy Councils in target communities.