Siemens, a global technology com – pany, and PANA Infrastructure, a Nigerian conglomerate with an increasing footprint across Sub-Saha – ran Africa, have formally announced a strategic partnership aimed at modernising and upgrading Nigeria’s electric power infrastructure through the provision of grid automation, and smart infrastructure solutions across Nigeria.
This collaboration, solidified through a formal agreement signifies a pivotal step towards addressing Nigeria’s pressing electricity challenges while fostering economic growth and technological advancement in the region.
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering sustainable development and advancing technology in Nigeria,” stated Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa.
“By combining Siemens’ expertise in smart grid technologies with PANA Infrastructure’s deep market insights, we aim to ensure a reliable power supply and drive economic progress in the region,” he said.
According to Mr. Daere Akobo, Chairman of PANA Holdings, “this strategic collaboration with Siemens is a pivotal opportunity to transform Nigeria’s power sector.
We are committed to addressing Nigeria’s critical power infrastructure with the use of advanced low voltage, medium voltage, and smart grid management technologies.
This collaboration is in alignment with the transformation agenda in the power sector by the Nigerian government to significantly improve power supply in the country, in a manner that translates to economic progress for all Nigerians.”
The agreement signed between Siemens and PANA Infrastruc – ture, focuses on enhancing grid reliability and stability, deepening electrification rates to meet the rapidly growing demand for electricity in Nigeria.
Simultaneously, recognising Nigeria’s potential for substantial investments in industrial modernization, the partnership will concentrate on unlocking Nigeria’s potential in the industrial power sector.
This initiative aims to revolu – tionise Nigeria’s industrial land – scape by harnessing the power of advanced technologies and solutions to enhance productivity, efficiency, and quality.
Through local capacity development, enhancing employees’ skills and capabilities, Siemens and PANA Infrastructure will pave the way for a new era of industrial excellence in Nigeria.
“Siemens reaffirms its commitment to Nigeria, with a focus on identifying and developing strategic business opportunities within the region.
By leveraging a goto-market strategy that includes knowledge platforms, collaborative business strategies, integrated sales and marketing teams, and global support, Siemens strives to bring significant business value to the Nigerian market,” says Sabine Dall’Omo.
Meanwhile, PANA Infrastructure has positioned itself as a key player in understanding and envisioning the needs of industry stakeholders and local communities.
By integrating innovative technologies and forming strategic partnerships, PANA Infra – structure provides sustainable solutions that support Nigeria’s growth across a range of industry sectors.
This strategic collaboration between Siemens and PANA Infrastructure represents the convergence of proven expertise and application know-how, ensuring the highest quality of solution implementation for Nigeria’s industrial power sector.
By addressing key challenges in Nigeria’s power and industrial sectors, including electricity losses, rural electrification, capacity building, local production, technology transfer, and quality standards, this partnership aims to drive sustainable growth and development in Nigeria.
Siemen’s commitment to Nigeria’s power development was enhanced in April when electric – ity transformers and substations meant for the $2.3 billion its power project arrived in the country.
The development came a few months after the Federal Govern – ment renewed the mega power project contract with the German government and Siemens, following several months of delays.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had said COVID-19 and the death of the late Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, hampered the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Nigeria and Siemens to transform power transmission and distribution in the country.
According to Adelabu, Kyari, who died as a result of COVID complications, was the arrow head of the project, saying the project remained stalled until President Bola Tinubu came on board.
“In 2018, the Nigerian government signed a memorandum of understanding with the German government for the presidential power initiatives, also known as the Siemens contracts.
The German government agreed to lend Nigeria $2.3bn and employ Sie – mens to transform Nigeria’s trans – mission and distribution sector.
“However, due to COVID-19, significant progress has yet to be made in implementing these proj – ects. Unfortunately, the late Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, the foremost champion of the project, passed away.
After that, an election occurred, and a new government took over. Between 2018 and 2023, there were no significant developments con – cerning the agreements.”
According to Adelabu, the project was supposed to proceed in two phases, but the pilot phase only progressed significantly when the Tinubu government emerged.
Related