Nigeria to build 1GW solar panel facility for local production

Solarge Nigeria Limited, a special purpose vehicle, will be co-owned by InfraCorp, REA and Solarge BV (Netherlands)

In an effort to accelerate Nigeria’s energy transition and industrialisation strategy, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), and Solarge BV of the Netherlands have announced the formation of Solarge Nigeria Limited.

This is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that will establish and operate a one-gigawatt (GW) solar photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturing facility in Nigeria. 

In a joint media statement, the parties said this co-ownership and strategic offtake agreement/collaboration aligns with the government’s National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI) and the broader objectives of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF).

The NPSSI and the RHIDF aim to scale clean energy access across public institutions while building robust local content in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.

The SPV, Solarge Nigeria Limited, will be co-owned by InfraCorp, REA and Solarge BV (Netherlands).

This public-private partnership is expected to leverage InfraCorp’s investment mobilisation capacity, REA’s policy leadership in rural electrification and public sector solarisation, and Solarge BV’s advanced technology and manufacturing expertise to localise high-quality solar PV production in Nigeria.

Local production to deepen Nigeria’s industrial base and energy self-reliance

Key project highlights include

• 1GW Solar PV Factory: A state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to be constructed in Nigeria, with a target of 50% local content within the first three years.
• Technology Transfer & Jobs: The facility will facilitate significant technology transfer, capacity building, and job creation, thereby advancing Nigeria’s energy transition and industrial policy objectives.
• Strategic Offtake: Under the agreement, REA has committed to procure at least 200MW of solar modules per year over five years from Solarge Nigeria Ltd for NPSSI, RHIDF, and other public electrification programmes.

Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, said the partnership exemplifies the type of innovation and collaboration that the Federal Government aims to promote under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.

“It not only supports our fiscal sustainability goals but also deepens Nigeria’s industrial base and energy self-reliance.”

Weighing in, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director/CEO of REA, said, “Through this joint venture, we are not only creating access to clean energy but building the local capacity to manufacture it. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda and our mandate to electrify communities and institutions.”

In September, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI) to solarise public institutions and cut governance costs. 

The NPSSI aims to deploy solar energy infrastructure nationwide, benefiting 75.5 million Nigerians, while also promoting local manufacturing, job creation, and skill development.

REA stated that this initiative was born from a strategic national priority: the urgent need to power essential infrastructure with clean, reliable energy, while transitioning away from diesel dependence and decreasing the public sector’s carbon footprint.

Solarge Nigeria Ltd will be governed by a Board of Directors representing all shareholders, including an independent non-executive director. A dedicated Project Management Office (PMO) and Offtake Coordination Desk will ensure seamless execution, regulatory compliance, and alignment with public procurement frameworks.

Cover photo:   yourapechkin©123rf.com