The Rural Electrification Agency and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria have demanded that solar inverters and batteries be produced locally, as the cost of solar batteries has reportedly fallen by 50%.
The South West Zonal Coordinator for REA, Adewale Bayejo, stated that although the global solar business was rapidly expanding, costs remained on the high side due to a lack of domestic production on Friday during a panel discussion at the second Gennex Colloquium 2023 in Lagos.
Given the current problems facing the power sector, he believed that indigenous production of solar batteries and inverters was preferable for Nigeria.
“At REA, the majority of what we do is attempt to promote local battery and inverter manufacture. But the issue is that those who are genuinely interested want a quick return on their investment. Few people desire to make long-term investments.
“Once more, the legitimate businesses who wish to manufacture lack the capital. As a result, we observe that local businesses import and assemble them heavily here. And the economy will not benefit from this.”
He urged that the SON and Nigerian Customs do more to ensure the caliber of solar products marketed in Nigerian marketplaces.
The Director of Laboratories at SON, Dr. Richard Adewunmi, explained that Nigeria should engage in collaborations with foreign firms.
