PVTIME – Nigeria’s Energy Commission and China’s LONGi Green Energy Technology have signed a significant solar cooperation agreement. Led by ECN Director Dr Abdullahi Mustapha, the agreement signals a new phase for Nigeria’s clean energy sector, focusing on local manufacturing and large-scale adoption. It will also bring fresh momentum to solar development across Africa.
During their visit to LONGi’s global headquarters in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, the ECN delegation held high-level talks with company management and toured its world-leading solar cell production facility. They observed the research, development and manufacturing of high-efficiency PV modules in order to gain an understanding of LONGi’s technical strengths and innovative capabilities. The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding in London earlier this year, paving the way for this formal agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, LONGi will assist Nigeria in constructing a solar panel factory with a capacity of 500–1,000MW. This will significantly boost Nigeria’s local PV equipment production, generate numerous green jobs, attract international investment to Africa’s clean energy sector and strengthen the regional renewable energy supply chain. During the talks, Dr Mustapha noted that Africa has abundant solar resources and growing rural demand for solar microgrids, and that the partnership will effectively address regional energy supply gaps.
The ECN emphasised that this collaboration is closely aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Hope Solar Initiative. A centrepiece of Nigeria’s energy strategy, the initiative aims to improve national access to electricity through clean energy solutions, enhance livelihoods, and drive sustainable economic growth. Partnering with LONGi is seen as a vital step in delivering this strategy and accelerating the adoption of solar technology in urban and rural areas of Nigeria.
Industry analysts have noted that Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has long suffered from energy shortages. This PV manufacturing project will ease local power constraints and is likely to serve as a model for the clean energy industry across Africa, supporting the development of renewable energy sources on the continent.
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