Power Sector News And Other Related Stories For Wednesday 27th July 2022
AEDC Receives 315 Consumer Complaints In Nasarawa, Resolves 281
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has resolved 281 complaints from consumers out of the 315 received during its four-day Electricity Consumer Complaint Resolution Forum held in Mararaba area of Nasarawa state.
In a resolution report released by the AEDC, the DisCo said it has escalated 32 other complaints for resolution
The forum was organised by the Federal Competitions and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which held from July 6th to 9th, 2022, provided opportunities for electricity consumers to interact with their service providers and have complaints resolved.
The DisCo said customers from the FCT East Region were predominantly in attendance while there were few customers from other regions of the DisCo which covers FCT, Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi states.
https://leadership.ng/aedc-receives-315-consumer-complaints-in-nasarawa-resolves-281/
AEDC Clears 281 Electricity Complaints In Nasarawa
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has resolved 281 complaints from consumers within four days while it escalated 32 others for resolution during a four-day forum in Nasarawa State.
According to a resolution report by AEDC of the Electricity Consumer Complaint Resolution Platform held in Mararaba area of, Nassarawa, the consumers came to submit 315 complaints.
The forum organized by the Federal Competitions and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) was to provide opportunities for power consumers to interact with their service providers and have their complaints resolved.
The DisCo said customers from the FCT East Region were predominantly in attendance while there were few customers from other regions of the DisCo which covers FCT, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi states.
https://dailytrust.com/aedc-clears-281-electricity-complaints-in-nasarawa
Analyzing Roles, Challenges of Discos in Electricity Supply Chain
It is no doubt that the power sector in Nigeria holds the key to the nation’s economic growth as every successive administration has had to face the huge challenges of providing adequate electricity for the nation with various interventions, with little or no success recorded. However, the wind of restructuring exercise blowing across some of the electricity distribution companies over their exposure to bank loans and their attendant lack of capacity to settle their obligations may not augur well for the power sector, which is currently performing below expectations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZh3p9c8DY
NERC, NOA Seal Deal to Enlighten Nigerians on Working of Power Sector
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have signed an agreement to collaborate in the area of sensitisation of Nigerians on the working of the power sector.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, NERC’s Chairman, Sanusi Garba explained that the development had become important for consumers to know their rights and obligations in the sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Garba said, was critical because the commission was mandated by the power sector law to protect consumers in the electricity industry.
Mojec Meter Company Debunks Allegations of Funds Diversion
Mojec Meter Asset Company Ltd. (M3AC) has categorically denied all allegations of diverting funds meant for the procurement of prepaid meters under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
This is coming on the heels of a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi state by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) requesting that commercial banks restrict the account of 10 companies that received power sector intervention funds under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) for 180 days pending the outcome of its investigation.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/mojec-meter-company-debunks-allegations-of-funds-diversion/
Mojec’s Giant Strides Towards Bridging the Nigerian Metering Gap
With the power sector beset by issues spanning from generation to distribution, as well as a difficult operating environment, it has practically become the standard for Nigerian electricity consumers to shoulder the burden of epileptic power supply and anticipated billings. Surprisingly, this drain extends from individuals to corporations and even government institutions, to a degree where over 10 million Nigerian families have yet to experience the feeling of being supplied with electricity through meters.
To address these issues, the Federal government launched the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) in collaboration with the country’s eleven electricity distribution companies (DisCos), MOJECInternational Limited, and other metering manufacturing companies. The program objectives included the reduction of collection losses while increasing financial flow to achieve a 100 percent remittance obligation to the DisCos.
CBN Seeks Order to Freeze 157 Accounts of Companies Over ‘Diversion of Funds for Prepaid Meters’
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked a court for an order to freeze 157 accounts of Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) for allegedly diverting funds meant for the procurement of prepaid meters.
In a suit filed at the federal high court in Lokoja, Kogi state, on July 20, the apex bank requested commercial banks to restrict the account of 10 companies that received power sector intervention funds under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) for 180 days pending the outcome of its investigation.
The companies identified by the CBN include Mojec Meter Asset Management Company Limited, Integrated Power Nigeria Limited, Holley Metering Limited, Protogy Global Services Limited and Turbo Energy Limited.
Electricity Bill to Boost Edo’s Participation in Power Market, Improve Supply, Says NGF Consultant
A Technical Consultant to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Power and the Chief Executive Officer of New Hampshire Capital Limited, Mr. Odion Omonfoman has said the passage of the Edo Electricity Bill would arm the state with the constitutional and legal rights to play active roles in the nation’s power sector.
The Edo State House of Assembly recently passed a bill to make provision for the state to take part in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to improve power supply to the residents and businesses in the state.
In a statement obtained by THISDAY, yesterday, Omonfoman, who commended the Edo State House of Assembly for its timely passage of this very important bill, said the bill was in line with the recently amended provisions of section 14(b) of the concurrent legislative list within the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The new law grants state Houses of Assembly the right to make laws guiding electricity generation, transmission and distribution within a state.
Power Plant Sale: Reps Summon Ministers, BPE
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance has summoned the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and that of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, over the planned sale of five power plants.
Also summoned were the Director-General for the Bureau for Public Enterprise, Alex Okoh; Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Joseph Ugbo; and MD/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, Dr Nnaemeka Ewelukwa.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke, in separate letters to the Federal Government bodies and officials concerned, described the planned sale of the power plants as unconstitutional and a disservice to the nation’s development as the assets jointly belong to the three tiers of the government – federal, states and local governments.
”The House of Representatives has observed with grave concern, the proposed sale of the five National Integrated Power Plants namely Benin Generation Company Limited, Calabar Generation Company Limited, Geregu Generation Company Limited, Olorunsogo Generation Company Limited and Omotoso Generation Company Limited by the Bureau for Public Enterprise without due regard to constitutional principles and economic policy that informed the establishment of those power plants.
https://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2022/07/27/power-plant-sale-reps-summon-ministers-bpe/
Schneider Electric, Ikeja Electric Partner to Improve Electricity Distribution
- Schneider Electric, in an effort to scale up electricity access and pave the way for a sustainable power sector in Nigeria has partnered with Ikeja Electric (IE) to improve electricity distribution in its network.
- The company made this known in a statement posted on its website and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos.
- It said the collaboration would address common problems faced by electricity distribution companies in the country, namely the lack of traceability when faults occur on the network, leading to extended period of outages.
According to Schneider, the partnership is the first step toward setting up a digitised grid, starting with smart transformers
Mr Mojola Ola, Director, Marketing, Business Development & Access to Energy – Anglophone West Africa, Schneider Electric, said it would enable the remote monitoring and control of the grid.
https://nnn.ng/schneider-electric-ikeja-electric-partner-to-improve-electricity-distribution/
C’ River to Roll Out Vibrated Electric Poles – Ayade
1.The Cross River Government has announced the rollout of vibrated electric poles from its factory in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
- Gov. Ben Ayade made the announcement on Tuesday during a tour of the factory.
- The governor said that the factory, Piles and Pylon Factory, would play a pivotal role in the rural electrification of the state.
4.He said that the State Electrification Agency (SEA) was already collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure full commencement of commercial production in the factory.
“This factory will produce all the poles and provide all the solar lighting panels that will support rural electrification programme.
“We also intend to advance it beyond rural lighting and urban lighting to get solar farms where we can generate sufficient power.
“We will use all our monopoles to provide transmission of power from the solar farms to the city,” he said.
https://nnn.ng/c-river-to-roll-out-vibrated-electric-poles-ayade/
Edo Electricity Bill: State Govt’ll Get Legal Rights to Stablish State Electricity Regulatory Commission — Expert
The Managing Director/CEO, New Hampshire Capital Limited and Technical Consultant on Power Sector for the Nigerian Governors Forum Secretariat, Mr. Odion Omonfoman, weekend, said the passage of Edo Electricity Bill would arm the state with the constitutional and legal rights to play active roles in the power sector.
The Edo State House of Assembly recently passed a Bill for a law to make provision for electricity generation, transmission and distribution for the residents of the State.
The bill, submitted to the State House of Assembly as an executive bill by the Edo State Government, also makes provision for the creation of an Edo State electricity market.
Electricity: Miccom Calls for Stakeholders Collaboration to Resolve Tariff Deficit
Chief Operating Officer of MicCom Cables & Wires, Bukola Adubi, has proposed collaboration between stakeholders in the power sector to resolve tariff deficit.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) report, had disclosed that the Aggregate Technical, Commercial & Collection losses in the Nigerian power sector stood at 50.01 percent in the second quarter of 2021, about 30 percent higher than the Expected Industry Average of 22.11 percent,
However, speaking on the sideline of the 2022 Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, in Abuja, with the theme “Funding the Nigerian Energy Mix for Sustainable Economic Growth,” Adubi said that metering requires significant state and Federal Government intervention, adding that the Distribution Companies (DisCos) need to increase capital investment into the distribution network infrastructure.
Sowore Recommends Solutions to Frequent National Grid Collapse
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has listed the solutions to the frequent collapses of the Electricity National Grid.
Naija News understands that the National Power Grid is a government utility focused on wheeling electricity generated by the Generating Companies (GENCOS) through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), while the Distribution Companies (DisCos) distribute the electricity to the consumers.
Nigeria currently has over 23 power-generating plants across the country connected to the national grid.
However, the electricity grid collapsed last week Wednesday making it the seventh time the grid has failed in 2022.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Sowore stated that one of the ways to solve the problems in the power sector is to adopt technology in generating electricity.
The Human Rights activist also added that another way to address the power sector issues is by investing in solar energy to transmit electricity.
https://www.naijanews.com/2022/07/26/sowore-recommends-solutions-to-frequent-national-grid-collapse/
Zambia to Commence Electricity Exports to Zimbabwe Next Month
Zambia will commence electricity exports to Zimbabwe next month following a power export agreement signed recently, a senior government official said Tuesday.
Minister of Energy Peter Kapala said state power utility Zesco Limited will start exporting 100 megawatts of electricity to Zimbabwe next month.
“This was the same deal I referred to last week as the one where power from Kafue Gorge Lower (power plant) would be exported to Zimbabwe and Namibia through deals signed in the last few months,” he said in a statement.
He noted that neighboring Zimbabwe was currently facing a shortage of electricity due to depressed degeneration at its power plants.
The power export deal has a three- to five-year tenure and the negotiations were premised on Zimbabwe making pre-payments for the 100 megawatts of 6.3 million U.S. dollars per month.
https://english.news.cn/20220727/36209b09105345659d2296b550141d9a/c.html
Africa Finance Corp and Partner May Raise $4bn After Takeover of Lekela Power
Africa Finance Corp and Egypt’s Infinity Group plan to raise as much as $4bn to double the size of a recently acquired business that’s already Africa’s biggest renewable power company.
The two firms agreed to buy Lekela Power last week and are seeking between $2.5bn and $4bn from capital markets over the next four years, Samaila Zubairu, AFC’s president and CEO, said in an interview.
“It’s the largest renewable pure play in Africa,” he said. “With this trajectory we are going to sustain that position.”
The duo are looking to take advantage of a drive by governments to increase access to electricity in Africa, the world’s poorest continent, through the provision of renewable energy from abundant solar and wind resources. Infrastructure-investment specialist AFC, based in Nigeria, and Infinity are buying Lekela from a group led by Actis in a transaction valued at $1.5bn.
“The best way for Africa to benefit is to first take ownership of its own strategy,” Zubairu said. “Access to energy is a big challenge in Africa. This platform, this acquisition, gives us an opportunity to pursue these opportunities at scale.”
