Radda Meets Desert Technologies, Genesis Energy in Jeddah To Advance Rural Electrification
In pursuit of his administration’s vision to deliver clean energy access and modern agricultural infrastructure across Katsina State, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, has held a strategic meeting with the leadership of Desert Technologies, a global leader in renewable energy solutions, and Genesis Energy Group, a key energy development partner to the state.
The meeting took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and was attended by Dr. Hafiz Ibrahim, Special Adviser to the Governor on Power and Energy, and Haruna Abbagana, Lead Consultant to the Katsina State Government.
Also present was the Chairman of Genesis Energy Group and his senior team, a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed said on Thursday.
Governor Radda highlighted the devastating impact of post-harvest losses on smallholder farmers, particularly in the southern region of Katsina State, where limited access to cold storage leads to massive spoilage of perishable produce.
Through the partnership with Desert Technologies—renowned for its containerized solar-powered solutions—the state plans to deploy a network of solar-powered cold storage facilities to help farmers preserve produce, reduce waste and spoilage, increase shelf life and market value, and boost farmers’ earnings and improve food security.
“Our administration is committed to transforming agriculture in Katsina. These cold storage solutions will empower our farmers and unlock rural prosperity,” he added.
The discussions also focused on a major off-grid electrification programme designed to power underserved communities across the state.
The project will leverage Desert Technologies’ solar-plus-battery systems to power public schools, health centers, and Micro and Small Scale Enterprises such as phone charging stations, tailoring shops, welding businesses, and barbing salons.
According to Dr. Hafiz Ibrahim, the target is to significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuel generators and promote sustainable grassroots entrepreneurship.
“This marks a paradigm shift. Solar energy is not just about lighting homes; it’s about powering dreams. We’re deploying bottom-up solutions that transform lives,” he said.
Under the initiative, Katsina State Government will lead in planning, and policy direction for rural electrification and agricultural modernization while Desert Technologies will provide solar-powered containerized systems, cold storage technology, and technical expertise.
On its part, Genesis Energy Group will serve as funding facilitators, implementation partner and technical advisor on deployment, integration, and infrastructure scaling.
