Beyond the Turbines: What Katsina and Egypt Tell Nigeria About Renewable Energy
By Aisha Haruna Nigeria’s experience with its first utility-scale wind farm offers a warning about what can happen when renewable-energy projects are treated as infrastructure projects rather than parts of a wider energy and industrial system. In Katsina, a 10-megawatt wind farm took years to reach commissioning and later became the subject of another government […]
Nigeria’s first utility-scale wind farm in Katsina offers a cautionary tale about the challenges faced when renewable energy projects are treated as standalone infrastructure rather than part of a broader energy and industrial system. Egypt, on the other hand, is pursuing a different approach with a 2,000MW wind project linked to a manufacturing plant and localisation efforts.
While the Egyptian project is still in the early stages, the Katsina wind farm took over a decade to reach the commissioning stage and has since faced numerous setbacks. Egyptian officials have framed the project as a means of localising technology, increasing local content, and reducing dependence on foreign exchange – ambitions that remain untested.
The Katsina wind farm, consisting of 37 turbines rated at 275 kilowatts each, began as a state project in 2005 and was later taken over by the federal government in 2007. French manufacturer Vergnet S.A. was contracted to build the turbines, with a local partner, CREDCO Nigeria Limited. However, Vergnet declared force majeure in 2012 and withdrew from the project.
The federal government then re-engaged CREDCO, but the project ultimately failed to achieve reliable operation even after years of delays and rehabilitation attempts.
Experts emphasize that a renewable energy project cannot be judged solely by the installation of its turbines. The success of such projects lies in creating a complete value chain, from financing and construction to grid connection, revenue collection, and, most crucially, maintenance. Without addressing these aspects, a plant may be built but struggle to generate reliable electricity.
The impact on local communities hosting these projects is another critical factor. While some residents have seen temporary job creation, many others have not seen tangible benefits. Electricity remains unreliable despite the proximity of the wind farm in Katsina, and some residents have even been displaced from farmland they relied on for food and income. These issues highlight the need to consider the socioeconomic implications of renewable energy projects beyond just their technical aspects.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
