The Anambra State Government says it has successfully converted 6,380 poles of streetlights from generator-powered to solar-powered model in the first phase of the switch.
Mr Julius Chukuemeka, Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, who made the disclosure in an interview in Awka, the state capital, on Thursday, December 22, 2022, said the government targets installation of about 25,000 units in the solar-powered streetlights project across the state by the middle of next year.
He said the project, which was going on in the four major cities of Awka, Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Nnewi, would be cascaded to the rural areas.
The commissioner said lighting up the streets, especially in the night, would enhance nightlife and security.
He said that the goal was to ensure residents moved in a well-lit environment anywhere in the state at night, noting that the work would continue during the Yuletide.
“The solar-powered streetlights project is going on smoothly. So far, we have successfully converted 6,380 streetlights from generator-powered to solar-powered; we are looking at installing 10,000 in the second phase.
“By mid next year, we hope to have installed not less than 25,000, depending on the availability of funds,” he said.
Chukwuemeka said the conversion became necessary in view of the increase in the price of diesel from about N145 per litre when they were installed to N800 which had made the powering of the lights unsustainable.
He said government was recovering the generators and cables which had become redundant for other purposes.
He said Anambra was discussing with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company on a possible Memorandum of Understanding on how privately generated power could be used to beef up the national grid to increase supply in the state.
The Commissioner said the rich gas resource of Anambra would be exploited to ensure improved power supply with little or no disruption.
By Chimezie Anaso
