From Uche Usim, Abuja
The Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (SEPAN), has vowed to rid the country of quacks who sell substandard independent energy products to Nigerians.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja recently, the President of the body, Dr. Chidi Onuoha, said plans were afoot to improve and enforce standards in the renewable energy business such that consumers get good value for their money and the environment better for it.
He said the association was working closely with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure that imported renewable energy components are of high quality to make the project sustainable. Most of these quacks come from the Asian Tigers, but we are determined to enforce high standards. Poverty has driven people to our field and yet they cannot do it well.
That is why we are planning a capacity building programme for over 100 entrepreneurs in our field. Coupled with the impressive work SON is doing, I am optimistic that in the next one year, our sector will be cleaned up,” he said.
Onuoha also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend some intervention funds to his members as it does to the agriculture and manufacturing sector.
He promised that with N500 billion intervention fund, SEPAN members will generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy by 2020.
