The Federal Government has inaugurated a 1-megawatt solar mini-grid in Tallasse, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, ending a 17-year electricity blackout in the community, while launching a 16MW network of interconnected solar mini-grids for four other communities.
The Tallasse facility, delivered through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in partnership with the Gombe State Government and a private developer, includes a 2.4-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system and currently serves 6,028 connections.
The project also features electric groundnut oil processing, rice milling and flour grinding facilities, as well as electric tricycles, aimed at supporting local businesses and agricultural activities.
The inauguration also marked the flag-off of construction of a 16MW network of four interconnected solar mini-grids across Dukku, Bajoga, Kumo and Kaltungo, intended to extend electricity access to homes, markets, farms and small businesses.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the projects were designed to improve livelihoods by enabling farmers to process produce locally, traders to preserve perishable goods and artisans to operate equipment without relying on costly self-generation.
“The true significance of these investments will be measured in the daily lives they improve,” Tegbe said, adding that the facilities could strengthen public services and attract businesses as they become operational.
He urged residents to protect the infrastructure against vandalism, stressing that the government’s responsibility, in collaboration with the state government, developers and host communities, was to translate the investment into reliable electricity and lasting economic benefits.
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the project reflected cooperation between the federal and state governments through the REA.
He noted that combining electricity with rice milling, groundnut processing, flour production and electric mobility could strengthen the local economy beyond household lighting, particularly in an agricultural community such as Balanga.
REA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abba Aliyu, said the agency was shifting its focus from counting electricity connections and installed capacity to measuring the economic benefits of its projects.
He said the mini-grid programme incorporated battery storage, intelligent monitoring, productive-use equipment and sustainable operating models to improve reliability and support economic activity.
The projects are being delivered under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up programme, as the Federal Government pursues renewable mini-grids alongside national grid expansion, embedded generation, solar home systems and dedicated electricity solutions for universities, markets and agricultural clusters.
Traditional rulers, members of the state executive council, national and state lawmakers, community leaders and religious representatives attended the ceremonies.