From Maawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
Katsina State Government has set aside N2 billion for the take-off of an independent solar power plant in the state.
The General Manager of the State Rural Electricity (KREB), Engr. Abubakar Abdullahi Matazu revealed this while conducting newsmen around the project at the Government House.
Matazu said the project will supply electricity to Government House and Katsina General Hospital.
He explained that the initiative was aimed at addressing power outages and assisting the government in reducing the cost of buying diesel.
He observed that power outages had been compounding the effective service delivery, particularly at Katsina General Hospital.
“Government is spending 200 million every month for electricity supply to Government House by KEDCO, ”Matazu said.
He said the solar project if completed will supply one Megawatts of electricity to Gandment House and 250 kilowatts of electricity to Katsina General Hospital.
The General Manager said already Government is supplying constant electricity through solar to 102 Primary Health Centers.
According to him, a plan is underway to provide solar electricity to all government ministries and departments.
He said the government will also convert streetlights using diesel to solar.
Earlier speaking, a sub-contractor of the project, Abdullahi Bature said the project would be completed by October this year.
