The Documentary
In which Nigerian state is the wind farm project located?
Katsina State
What is a stakeholder?
A person or group affected by, or able to influence, a project.
What is the main purpose of a business strategy?
To set long-term objectives and decide how to achieve them.
What natural resource powers a wind turbine?
Wind
What is project risk?
The possibility that an uncertain event will affect a project's objectives.
What type of energy was the project designed to generate?
Wind energy
Name one important stakeholder in the Katsina wind farm project.
The Nigerian government, local communities, investors, contractors, or electricity consumers.
What is a feasibility study?
An assessment of whether a project is technically, financially, and operationally viable.
Name one environmental advantage of wind energy over fossil-fuel electricity generation.
No fossil fuel burning/natural energy source/green gas emissions.
Name one risk that could delay a large infrastructure project.
Funding shortages, contractor problems, regulatory delays, technical failures, or supply-chain disruptions.
According to the documentary description, approximately how much money has reportedly been spent on the project over 20 years?
Over 4.4 billion Nigerian Naira
What is a sunk cost?
Money already spent that cannot be recovered.
A renewable energy project has received substantial investment but remains unfinished. What should managers examine first?
The reasons for delays, remaining costs, technical issues, governance, and whether completion is still viable.
What is energy security?
The availability of energy at affordable prices.
How can weak project monitoring affect a major investment?
Problems and delays may go undetected, increasing costs and reducing accountability.
What major problem in Nigeria makes the potential of this project particularly important?
Frequent electricity blackouts.
Why should decision-makers evaluate a project's future benefits instead of continuing it just because billions have already been spent?
Past spending cannot be recovered; decisions should consider future costs, benefits, and alternatives.
What is opportunity cost, and how could it apply to the wind farm?
Funds tied up in the project could potentially have supported other energy investments.
Why might international investors be interested in Nigeria's renewable energy sector?
Potential unmet electricity demand, renewable resources, and opportunities to develop energy infrastructure.
Why is completing construction not enough to guarantee that a wind farm will deliver electricity?
It also needs functioning turbines, grid connections, maintenance, operational funding, and effective management.
What does the project represent in terms of regional development?
Lost potential for regional electricity generation and benefits to local communities.
If a company invests in a renewable energy project abroad, what three country-specific factors should it assess?
Political and regulatory stability, infrastructure and grid capacity, and the economic and renewable-energy potential of the location.
You are appointed to lead the project today. What three actions would you take before deciding whether to restart it?
Conduct an independent technical audit, assess financial viability and remaining costs, and consult stakeholders about grid connection and local energy needs.
Why might a renewable energy project succeed in one country but struggle in another?
Differences in policy, financing, infrastructure, grid reliability, local capabilities, resource conditions, and political and economic risks.
The government must choose between completing the wind farm and investing in another energy solution. What criteria should guide its decision?
Compare future costs, expected electricity output, reliability, delivery time, environmental impacts, local needs, and risks for each option.