By Abdullahi Lukman
The Jigawa State Government has signed a Joint Venture (JV) Agreement with Tesni Energy Nigeria Limited and Leda GreenPower Energy Engineering Company of Beijing for the establishment of a 100-megawatt-per-annum solar panel assembly factory in the state.
The agreement was signed on Friday at the Government House, Dutse, during a ceremony attended by members of the State Executive Council and representatives of the partnering companies.
Speaking at the event, Governor Malam Umar Namadi described the project as a key component of the state’s long-term industrial and energy development strategy.
He said the solar panel assembly factory would serve both commercial and strategic purposes, supporting Jigawa’s plan to develop a 100-megawatt solar power generation facility.
According to the governor, the plant will not only assemble solar panels but will also manufacture related components such as solar-powered irrigation pumps and other associated products, including nitrogen-related outputs.
Governor Namadi noted that the project would deliver significant economic benefits to the state, including job creation, stimulation of local industries, and attraction of further investments. He assured the investors of the state government’s commitment to fulfilling all obligations under the agreement.
Earlier, the Team Lead of Tesni/Leda GreenPower Company, Beijing, Engr. Bashir Ishak, described the agreement as historic, stating that the project is the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria and among the first in the country to deploy the technology involved.
He explained that the factory would produce up to 100 megawatts of solar panels annually and position Jigawa State as the first location in Nigeria where this category of solar panels is produced locally from start to finish.
Engr. Ishak disclosed that feasibility studies and Environmental Impact Assessments for the project have been completed.
He added that the factory would significantly reduce the cost of solar power deployment, noting that production costs are expected to drop by between 50 and 60 percent once the plant becomes operational.
The project, valued at over five million dollars, will be executed as a joint venture between GreenPower Energy Engineering Company of Beijing and Tesni Energy Nigeria Limited.
The facility is designed as a semi-automatic plant, combining automated processes with manual operations to ensure efficiency while creating employment opportunities for youths in the state.
Also speaking, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Engr. Surajo Musa, said the project aligns with ongoing power sector reforms by the Federal Government, which allow states to participate directly in electricity generation and related infrastructure.
He noted that Jigawa State is among the first in Northern Nigeria to domesticate the Electricity Act and establish a municipal power framework, adding that the state’s high solar irradiation makes it well-suited for solar energy development.
Engr. Musa said the project would lower production costs, promote technology transfer, and equip local workers with specialized technical skills, further strengthening Jigawa State’s position in the renewable energy sector.
