The Global Environment Facility (GEF), project on 'Mini-grids based on renewable energy (biomass) sources to augment rural electrification' was launched yesterday in Abuja, with representatives of the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) and the Energy Commission of Nigeria as well as stakeholders present.

The initiative which is expected to kick off in Ebonyi, according to UNIDO Country Representative and Director of UNIDO Regional Office in Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, is to promote renewable energy (biomass) based mini-grid as an alternative to diesel based energy generation systems in Nigeria.

He said Ebonyi State was chosen because of its rice production and availability of rice husk. "We first carried out an assessment on rice production and the availability of rice husk.

"The next phase is to build the biomass energy plant which will be commissioned next year," he said.

On his part, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, said the gesture will be extended to other biomass products.