The Federal Government has commissioned a 1-megawatt (MW) solar mini-grid in Tallasse community, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, while commencing construction of four additional interconnected mini-grid projects with a combined capacity of 16MW. The commissioning took place on Saturday and included the groundbreaking for projects in Dukku, Bajoga, Kumo and Kaltungo communities.
The commissioned facility is equipped with a 2.4-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system designed to support electricity reliability. It also includes equipment intended to promote economic activities, such as electric tricycles, an electric groundnut oil processing plant, a modular electric rice mill and electric flour-grinding machines. The facilities are expected to support agriculture, transportation, food processing and local businesses.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya described the project as a result of cooperation between the state government and the Federal Government through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). He said combining reliable electricity with agricultural processing equipment and electric mobility would help strengthen local businesses and create economic opportunities for residents.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Abba Aliyu, said the Tallasse project serves 6,028 connections. These comprise 5,929 residential connections, 84 commercial connections and 15 dedicated nodes for productive economic activities. He explained that the agency was increasingly focusing on the economic benefits generated by electricity access, rather than measuring progress only by the number of connections or megawatts installed.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said the projects aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to expand electricity access and economic opportunities across the country. He noted that reliable power could help farmers process produce closer to their communities, enable traders to preserve perishable goods and support artisans and young entrepreneurs. The projects form part of the government’s wider push to expand renewable energy and improve electricity access beyond the national grid.
