Katsina state government signed an agreement with a solar farm construction company to create enabling infrastructure and environment that will attract more investors into the state.
The Director General on behalf of the Katsina state Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PTM Power Limited, Afri-Nigeria Limited and Asabat Construction Limited for the construction of 100MW Expandable off-Grid Solar Power plant and the construction of 500 Housing units at Green Economic Zone.
The state government is already establishing an 800-hectares industrial park otherwise known as Green Economic Zone along Jibia Road, Katsina state.
During the signing ceremony held at the Katsina Investment Promotion Agency on Friday 28th April 2023 The Director General of the Agency Alhaji Ibrahim Jikamshi, explained that the aim is to also market and promote the zone to attract investors of three different calibers.
He explained that the 2023 and 2nd subnational ease of doing business ranking report recently released by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has ranked Katsina number 5th in the ease of doing business.
The state, he said, is now ahead of Lagos, Ogun, and 30 thirty others including Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He recalled that in 2021 ranking, Katsina state was number nine despite the challenge of insecurity facing the state because it gone digital.
On his part, the country Representative/Facilitator representing Afri-Nig, PTM Power Limited and Asabat construction limited Mr Tope Banjako, said the agreement will soon be implemented.
He maintained that the housing complex will be designed to have amenities such as Lawn tennis badminton court, shopping complex, football viewing center, Crèche and primary school, police post, 20 bedroom, hotel, small clinic, playing area fuel station and electric charging point.
‘’And regarding to the solar farm, we are looking at building an expandable 100megawatts.’’
‘’The focus of Afri-Nig Limited is to participate in the renewable energy space of Nigeria and the rest of Africa but we are starting with Nigeria now to be able to participate in the African free zone.’’
‘’We also want to set up a training school to bridge the huge gap existing which is going to meet up with international standards.’’
‘’The long-term idea is to make Katsina state the hub for renewable energy in the North because 30 percent of the government expenditure is on renewable energy because the intensity of the sun shine is more in the North than in the South with the difference of four to five hours and cost of batteries is coming down.’’
‘’So, it’s appropriate and right thinking that emphasis should be made to locate such infrastructure in the North especially Katsina state Green Economic Zone.’’
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