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Job Title: Renewable Energy Power Expert
About the Job
Nexant seeks a Renewable Energy Power Expert to serve as a long-term resident in Abuja, Nigeria for the Power Africa Transactions & Reforms Program (PATRP), the contractor enabling partner for the US Government’s Power Africa Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa. This $64 million, 5 year technical assistance project is designed to bring more electricity to sub-Saharan African via a deal / transaction-centered approach. The Power Africa initiative seeks to shift the typical international development paradigm to a transaction‐centered approach that provides host country governments in sub-Saharan Africa, the private sector, and international donor agencies with a focal point to galvanize collaboration around priority electricity generation, transmission, and distribution transactions–with a focus on those that involve private sector participation and finance–helping to bring them to financial close and on‐line in an expedited time frame.
Nigeria is a priority country for Power Africa. While renewable energy is a very important part of that country’s energy mix, it has not been emphasized. Renewable energy has considerable potential in Nigeria, and in particular could bridge the major energy gaps in rural areas. The scale of opportunities is only just becoming apparent as new grid technologies, such as concentrated solar power, are emerging as in competitors with conventional power generation. Changes in technology also mean that solar, wind, and other forms of renewable power, with the appropriate type of financing, could bring transformational change to household energy needs. The country needs to formulate a comprehensive framework to create a realistic, credible, and clearly defined long-term strategy to grow its renewable energy capabilities, including developing an integrated renewable energy plan and associated investment, reinforcing its existing initiatives by developing both an integrated renewable energy plan and a systematic major increase in investment in research, market development, and regulation of renewable energy. The country’s regulatory authority also needs capacity building assistance to improve its organizational structures, policies, and procedures–including its oversight and regulatory capacity–over the renewable energy space.
Duties and Responsibilities
Renewable Energy Resources
Provide assistance with resource estimation, including examining and ranking primary locations of renewable energy
Recommend improvements to and costs of additional renewable energy infrastructure
Examine local markets and uses for renewable energy, including the tariff that can be obtained
Establish and/or manage a system for data management and analysis
Advise on the management of national renewable energy resources using databases, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), decision tools, and data analysis
Technical Issues
Review existing grid connected renewable energy integration strategy/program, planning methodology for renewable energy projects etc.
Perform preliminary due diligence on intermittent and base load renewable power plants under consideration, including their technical, environmental, community/social strengths, weaknesses and commercial viability
Assess and discuss critical design, interconnection, integration issues with grid connected variable renewable power plants
Tenders
Review and appraise current policy, regulation, planned capacity, and the enabling environment to attract more IPPs and private sector investment into the renewable energy power sector
Conduct preliminary due diligence as per Power Africa procedures on any priority transactions included in the pipeline of future renewable energy power projects contemplated by the government, and develop a screening framework, in collaboration with the government and other Transaction Advisors, which can be used to evaluate, rank, and prioritize the transactions
Develop policies and procedures to promote fair and open competition in awarding of licenses and transparency in contracting
Assist the government conduct fair and open bidding processes, including determining sale terms and conditions and proper evaluation of bid adequacy
Renewable Energy Policy, Laws, & Regulations
Assist in developing national renewable energy policies and laws
Advise on international best practices with respect to legal, policy, and regulatory regimes governing the renewable energy sector
Provide assistance in regulatory management and oversight
Health, Safety, & Environment (HSE)
Provide environmental management expertise and built capacity in host country institutions to effectively deal with environmental issues
Develop, implement, and monitor environmental regulations
Develop a process to conduct safety inspections
Provide advice on sector oversight, including the preparation of remediation, restoration, and abandonment plans
Assist and provide advice on environmental analyses, which included the following—(i) environmental and social impact assessments, (ii) onshore and offshore environmental analysis, (iii) consultations with local stakeholders, (iv) air and noise monitoring, (v) assessment of best environmental management practices, and (vi) mitigation and monitoring plans
Advise on Equator Principles compliance audits to assess environmental and social risk in project finance transactions
Capacity Building
Develop and administer capacity building programs—transfer of technical, financial, and commercial expertise— to plan and implement activities associated with renewable energy via seminars, workshops, and tutoring
Through meetings, interviews, and review of the resumes of those involved in the renewable power sector, and discussions with other development partners involved in the renewables sector, identify strengths and weaknesses of the various government institutions involved in developing the renewables sector to identify needs and opportunities for training and development of the technical staff of the government’s institutions
Build technical capacity of staff in renewable energy development, sector management, and oversight, including (i) sector research and analysis, (ii) issue identification, (iii) policy formulation and analysis, (iv) monitoring and evaluating, and (v) impact assessments
Organize roundtables, workshops, site visits, and other forms of training for technical and policy staff to support engagement objectives, and established information and professional networks and partnerships among these parties
Provide recommendations to improve government access to individuals with technical skills in the sector, and advised government staff to improve access to training and educational opportunities.
Identify capacity constraints and staff needs of relevant units
Promote effective public participation and stakeholder engagement
Strengthen the governance capacity and capability of key government organizations to plan, integrate, and to sustainably provide services
Qualifications
Bachelors or Masters (preferred) in a related topic
At least 10 years’ experience–including in developing countries–in origination, structuring/execution and post-deal maintenance of various renewable energy power sector transactions
Extensive experience in power sector reform issues in the developing world
Experience in the renewable energy power sector in Nigeria or West Africa is a plus
Salary and Benefits (U.S.)
Nexant offers competitive salaries based on candidate’s qualifications. Nexant also offers three weeks paid vacation per year, eleven paid holidays per year, a 401(k) plan with employee matching funds and an overall comprehensive benefits package.
Nexant, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
How to Apply
Click here to Apply Online
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