EU, Germany Launch Energy Efficiency Networks to Boost Kano’s Industries

The European Union (EU), in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has officially launched two Energy Efficiency Networks (EENs) in Kano State. This initiative, part of the broader Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP), aims to address the significant energy challenges impacting Kano’s economic growth and foster sustainable industrial development.

The launch event, which recently took place in Kano, saw participation from key stakeholders including representatives from the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), the Kano State Government, and various industry associations.

Inga Stefanowicz, Team Leader for Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasized Kano’s strategic importance as a major commercial and industrial hub in Northern Nigeria. She noted that while the state is a vibrant center for manufacturing, it experiences substantial energy deficits that impede performance and productivity.

“The EU in Nigeria has been engaging and partnering with Nigeria for many years to address energy and electrification deficit, especially in view of the socioeconomic development of the country,” Stefanowicz stated. She highlighted that improving energy efficiency is as crucial as installing new energy capacities, with a focus on renewable energy and potential development in the hydro sector for Kano State.

Markus Wagner, GIZ’s Country Director for Nigeria and ECOWAS (represented by Joshua Yari), reaffirmed Germany’s long-standing recognition of energy efficiency’s importance in enhancing industrial competitiveness. He stressed that these efforts align perfectly with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, which targets doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

The EENs are designed to empower industries, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to optimize their energy consumption. Through these networks, companies will have the opportunity to:

• Share best practices in energy management.
• Access technical expertise and know-how.
• Benchmark their energy performance.
• Co-create context-specific solutions for energy management.

Shehu Wada Sagagi, the Kano State Commissioner for Investment, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative, welcomed the initiative as timely, acknowledging that energy efficiency has been a persistent problem for SMEs in the state. He expressed optimism that solving the electricity problem would significantly contribute to addressing unemployment and attracting more investments to Kano.

The Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir (represented by Oluwasegun Ogundipe), described the launch as a bold and laudable step. He pointed out that Nigerian industries are heavily burdened by energy-related constraints, with the cost of alternative energy sources rising sharply. He expressed confidence that the Kano networks would enable manufacturers to identify and implement cost-saving energy solutions, reduce power consumption, and cut carbon emissions, ultimately boosting profitability and competitiveness.

The Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), under which these networks are launched, is implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, co-funded by the EU and German Development Cooperation, and executed by GIZ. The success of similar EEN initiatives in Nigeria’s southwestern region, which reportedly led to over N5 billion in cost savings for participating companies within 15 months, serves as a promising precedent for the new networks in Kano.