A 1MW mini-grid has been commissioned after a reported 17-year blackout, alongside plans for 16MW across four communities.
The Federal Government, working with Gombe State and private-sector partners, has inaugurated a solar mini-grid in Tallasse and commenced plans for a network of four additional solar facilities with a combined capacity of 16 megawatts.
The Rural Electrification Agency said the 1MW Tallasse installation, supported by a 2.4MWh battery system, had restored electricity to a community that experienced a 17-year interruption in supply. The project was reported to serve 6,028 connections and to support activities including groundnut-oil processing, rice milling, flour grinding and electric transport.
The planned 16MW network will cover Dukku, Bajoga, Kumo and Kaltungo. Officials presented the projects as part of the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up programme, which promotes decentralized electricity in areas underserved by the national grid.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said the value of rural electrification should be judged by improvements in residents’ lives, including opportunities for farmers, traders and artisans. He urged communities to protect equipment against vandalism.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya welcomed the collaboration, saying electricity paired with productive equipment could stimulate local economies. REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu said the agency was increasingly focused on the economic benefits of connections rather than installed capacity alone.
Long-term performance will depend on battery maintenance, affordability, reliable service and the ability of local businesses to make productive use of electricity. The supplied announcement did not specify the total cost or completion schedule for the four-community expansion.
