Nigeria in talks with UAE to increase power generation

Nigeria is in talks with the UAE to increase its electricity generation capacity by 5 gigawatts.

Solar energy is among the main areas of cooperation between the two nations, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported, quoting Nigeria’s power minister Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe.

The countries are working on financing as well as exchanging expertise and technical ideas in the renewable energy sector, he said, without providing details on projects or funding requirements.

Nigeria is adopting new strategies to ensure the power sector’s sustainability, including upgrading parts of the grid that are about 50-years-old and replacing infrastructure components, the minister said.

Tegbe said the country’s installed electricity generation capacity stands at 13.6GW, while transmission losses are almost 20 percent of the 5GW transmitted through the grid.

In January, the UAE and Nigeria signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) aimed at reducing tariffs and trade barriers and boosting bilateral commerce and investment. Non-oil trade between the two nations reached $4.3 billion in 2024, a 55 percent increase on the previous year.

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Abu Dhabi renewables company Masdar said at the beginning of this year that it was developing its first solar power project in Angola to support the Central African nation’s energy transition.

The UAE has signed Cepas in Africa with Kenya and the Central African Republic. Negotiations on a deal with Chad have also been completed.

The UAE has concluded 32 Cepas, including with India, Malaysia, Angola, Ukraine, New Zealand and the Philippines, with 14 in force.