Nigeria's push for more efficient and sustainable energy solutions received a boost on Thursday as the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) entered into a strategic partnership with RSE Engineering Nigeria Limited to promote the deployment of advanced cogeneration technology across critical sectors of the economy.

The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja, marking a significant step toward strengthening local capacity development, fostering research collaboration, and accelerating the adoption of innovative energy technologies capable of improving electricity generation and distribution nationwide.

Cogeneration technology, also known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP), enables the simultaneous production of electricity and usable thermal energy such as heating or cooling from a single fuel source. By recovering and utilising waste heat that would otherwise be lost, the system can achieve overall efficiency levels of between 85 and 90 per cent, substantially higher than the 35 to 55 per cent efficiency typically recorded by conventional power generation methods.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, described the agreement as another milestone in the country's quest for sustainable energy development and stronger institutional partnerships.

“Today marks another significant milestone in the commission’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s energy sector through strategic partnerships, innovation and sustainable energy solutions.

“The complex energy challenges facing our nation require collaboration, strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, technological innovation and the collective efforts of stakeholders.

“The true value of these partnerships will not be measured by the signatures affixed today but reflected in the successful implementation of agreed programmes,” he said.

Abdullahi noted that addressing Nigeria's long-standing electricity challenges requires practical solutions backed by technology, investment, and international cooperation. He stressed that the success of the agreement would ultimately depend on the execution of projects and programmes outlined in the partnership framework.

Also speaking at the event, the Second Secretary for Economic Issues at the Ukrainian Embassy, Mr David Hohiia, expressed his country's readiness to support Nigeria with advanced modular and cogeneration technologies aimed at enhancing power efficiency and strengthening energy resilience.

Hohiia highlighted Ukraine's experience in maintaining electricity supply despite severe infrastructure disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts, explaining that decentralised energy systems have played a critical role in sustaining the country's power network.

“We want to share with Nigeria how to get more efficient power supply and more efficient electricity.

“We can achieve this not by building big power plants, but by using some modular technology, cogeneration technology and environmental proper technologies.

“That is why we are here to collaborate with the Energy Commission and the MoU has been signed already,” he said.

According to him, modular and decentralised energy solutions could offer Nigeria a more flexible and reliable approach to meeting growing electricity demand, particularly in industrial clusters, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and other energy-intensive sectors.

The Chief Executive Officer of RSE Engineering Nigeria Limited, Ms Olena Nedryhailo, expressed optimism that the introduction of European-standard cogeneration systems under the partnership would help address some of Nigeria's persistent power supply constraints.

She explained that the technology has been successfully deployed in several countries and has demonstrated strong performance over many years, making it suitable for Nigeria's energy needs.

L-R: Abubakar Umar Wushishi of the RSE Engineering Nig. Ltd; Director, Electricity and Fossil Fuels, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Felix Olu; Chief Executive Officer, RSE Engineering Nig. Ltd, Olena Nedryhailo; Director-General, ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi; Director of engineering, RSE Engineering Nig. Ltd, Kenneth Ogbebor; and the Second Secretary for Economic Issues, Ukrainian Embassy, David Hohiia, during the Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony at the ECN Headquarters in Abuja.
“Our technology is working for more than 15 years and our mother company in the Czech Republic shows good results.

“Now we are selling a lot of cogenerator model systems and hope we will be useful to help solve the problem with electricity,” she said.

Nedryhailo added that the latest agreement builds on previous collaborations between the company and the Federal Government, further expanding its commitment to supporting Nigeria's transition towards cleaner, more efficient and sustainable energy infrastructure.

Industry stakeholders believe that wider adoption of cogeneration technology could significantly reduce energy waste, lower operational costs for businesses, improve electricity reliability, and contribute to Nigeria's broader energy security objectives. The ECN-RSE partnership is expected to pave the way for pilot projects, technical knowledge transfer, and investment opportunities that could accelerate the country's journey towards a more resilient power sector.