The programme took place at the Anambra-Imo River Basin Authority in Owerri, which is one of the two pilot small / mini hydro demonstration sites selected by UNIDO. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources Dr. L.C. Ibe opened the meeting, which was also attended by representatives from various state governments within the Anambra-Imo River Basin.

Readers may recall (see UNIDOScope 1- 7 December, 2002) that UNIDO organized a National Stakeholder?s Forum on Renewable Energy for Rural Industrialization, 14 to 15 November 2002, in Abuja. The objective was to formulate strategies to generate employment through rural industrialization, by providing rural people (70% of the population) access to clean and reliable energy services. The forum recommended (view or download recommendations) promotion of local renewable resources such as small and mini hydro potential, agricultural residues, solar and wind. The highlight of the November Forum was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Energy Commission of Nigeria and the UNIDO International Centre for Small Hydro Power (IC-SHP), Hangzhou, China for further cooperation in tapping the estimated potential of 740 MW of small/mini hydro power through technical assistance, capacity building and establishing demonstration projects. The Embassy of the People?s Republic of China offered turbines for 2 demonstration projects. Subsequently, UNIDO and the Energy Commission visited 12 sites covered by four River Basin Authorities and identified the two pilot project sites in Abia and Bauchi states.