French energy giant, Total has opened a $1.5 million environmental-friendly solar powered service station in Lagos, the first of its kind in the West African region, confirming its keenness to offer greener services across Africa.

Total Nigeria said its decision to build a solar-powered service station which is furnished with SunPower solar panels was part of its pledge to provide renewed energy solutions that are environmentally friendly and efficient.

The service station is part of the company’s vow to produce innovative and safe energy that are in line with international health and safety standards, said Momar Nguer, Senior Vice president Total AMO.

“It is not borne out of purely economic reasons but out of Total’s passion to make sustainable and positive impact on the lives of people in developing societies,” he explained.

Total is aiming to expand its green programme reach across Nigeria with an additional solar-powered service station due to be launched in Abuja, the country’s capital city, before the end of the year. It intends to adapt this new identity across its service station in Nigeria by the year 2017.

Meanwhile, Total Nigeria Managing Director Alexis Vovk has noted that while more than 80 million people lack access to electricity in Nigeria, Total has been investing on several creative solutions like the Awango by Total solar lamps, hybrid energy solutions for the telecommunications industry and the newly launched solar-powered service station.

Through the sale of its solar lamps, the company plans to take advantage of the on-going power sector reforms in the country as it seeks to provide access to lighting for 5 per cent “off-the-grid” households in Nigeria in the next three years.