KEDCO, energy developers partner to increase power supply

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) is partnering with some leading energy supply companies to develop Embedded Power Generation and Interconnected and Isolated mini-grids with focus on renewable energy.

Head, Corporate Communications, KEDCO, Malam Sani Bala Sani said this when he addressed newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.

Sani said the company was partnering with the governments of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa to ease the development of incremental supply projects in the network.

He said the company’s network in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa had high population growth rates and therefore needed incremental supply to meet the growing energy needs.

“In February 2024, KEDCO launched an RFQ process to qualify competent and experienced Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to partner in developing up to 40MW in supply projects within the franchise area.

“These ESCOs will partner with KEDCO in the conceptualisation, design, and development of projects focusing on Solar Energy, Battery Storage and Gas-Based Generation.

“After the evaluation, a total of 31 companies have been approved by KEDCO as ESCOs and were grouped under Tier 1 and Tier 2 categories depending on the capacities of the plant / project to be developed’’, he said.

He said under the Tier 1 category, the ESCOs were expected to develop sites with generating capacity of 1MW or above in which 15 ESCOs were qualified.

Another batch of 16 companies, the spokesman said were also qualified for a Tier 2 category to develop projects with a capacity of 1MW or less.

“KEDCO’s new core investor and Board are working with the state governments to accelerate outcomes for citizens within the franchise states.

“We are striving to be the leading renewable energy Electricity Distribution Company in Africa through innovative partnerships and strategic focus,” he told newsmen.