Power Sector News And Other Related Stories For Friday 19th August 2022
TCN Deploys New Technology to Improve National Grid Operation
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has deployed a high technology scheme as a stop-gap solution called Internet of Thing (IoT) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) to improve the national grid.
Malam Yusuf Bako, Lead, Advocacy Team, Nigerian Power Consumers Forum, in a statement on Thursday , in Abuja said that TCN made this known in a forum with the group.
Bako said that the technology was for real time grid operations and management to National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo, Osun.
According to him, the technology will improve real-time operations of the national grid, pending the deployment of a long-term network automation system.
He quoted the Managing Director of TCN, Mr Sule Abdulaziz, as describing the feat as a quantum leap.
Abdulaziz said that this was coming at a time when the Minister of Power, M Abubakar Aliyu, has tasked agencies on innovative ways to improve electricity supply to Nigerians.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/tcn-deploys-new-technology-to-improve-national-grid-operation/
Power Supply Restored in South-East – EEDC
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) says power supply has been restored within the South-East.
The Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Enugu.
“In view of the decision reached yesterday evening (Aug. 17), at a meeting between the striking electricity employees and the Ministers of Labour and Power, the strike by electricity workers has been suspended.
“Restoration of power supply commenced since 00.34a.m. (on Aug. 18) in parts of the South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
“Though this has been gradual, it is hoped that before noon today (Aug. 18) all EEDC outgoing feeders would have fully been restored,” he said.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/power-supply-restored-in-south-east-eedc-2/
Electricity Workers Express Hope On FG’s Promises
The National Union of Electricity Employee (NUEE) has expressed hope that the Federal Government would fulfil its promises to avert resuming its suspended strike.
Mr Modupeoluwa Akinola, the Assistant General Secretary of the union, Western Zone, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ibadan.
Akinola said if the Federal Government could do the needful, electricity workers won’t resume the suspended strike.
“They have given us hope that they will do all we are asking for.
“If all our demands are met, that would be the end of the industrial action, but if not, we will continue,” Akinola said.
Recounting what led to the suspended strike, he said: “Some members of staff were laid off in 2013 and some of those things promised them, up till now, they are yet to be paid, such as severances.
https://guardian.ng/news/electricity-workers-express-hope-on-fgs-promises/
Nigeria Electricity Workers Suspend Strike
Nigeria’s power plant workers have suspended a nationwide strike that has left Africa’s most populous country partly in darkness for 24 hours, a union official said Thursday (August 18).
The strike was suspended after an emergency meeting with the government, which promised to consider the strikers’ demands within two weeks, said Joe Ajaero of the National Union of Power Workers.
“We have suspended the strike. Operations are returning to normal with immediate effect,” he said, adding, “if in two weeks nothing is done, we will resume the strike.”
The UEEE launched a nationwide strike on Wednesday to force the government to honor the terms of a 2019 agreement that provided for the payment of salaries to retired workers of a former state-owned power company.
“We have shut down all power plants and factories in the country. Our members are currently on strike in the power plants and facilities operated by TCN,” the state-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria, Joe Ajaero had told AFP.
https://www.africanews.com/2022/08/18/nigeria-electricity-workers-suspend-strike/
Nigeria’s Electricity Workers Pause Nationwide Strike for Two Weeks
Electricity workers in Nigeria on Thursday said they have suspended a nationwide strike that began Wednesday, causing blackouts and worsening power supply in parts of the most populous African country.
Joe Ajaero, secretary-general of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), said at a press conference in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, that the strike was suspended for two weeks after a meeting with government negotiators led by Minister of Labor Chris Ngige late Wednesday.
“The government has promised to resolve the issues raised by the union within two weeks. If our demands are not met, the strike will resume,” said Ajaero.
According to him, the union and the government had agreed to set up a bipartite committee to analyze the issues raised by the electricity workers.
The NUEE said in a statement Wednesday that it had withdrawn its services at the headquarters of the Transmission Company of Nigeria in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, calling for payment of outstanding arrears owed to workers, reversal of promotion interviews for acting principal managers, among other long-pending issues.
https://english.news.cn/20220819/8062b17566af4ab19a20250f61c258f4/c.html
Nuclear Energy Will Address Electricity Challenges in Nigeria – NCRA
Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NCRA) has said that nuclear energy can provide secure electricity at a relatively stable and low price for Nigerians ,if properly explored.
The Authority said despite its difficulty, nuclear power has specific attractions for Nigeria, adding that it will lead to a decline in the domestic demand for petroleum use in powering generators and increase foreign exchange earnings from the oil industry.
The general manager, NNRA, Dr Mbet Akpanowo, who represented the director general in his presentation added that nuclear power would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on fossil fuels and water resources emanating from neighbouring countries.
Also, in his welcome address,the Executive Director,
Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative,
IADI, Christopher Ofomhi stated that the roundtable engagement was to promote national development objectives through the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, NNRA, as a key facilitator of economic growth not just in nuclear power but by extension in areas like security, housing, and employment.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nuclear-energy-will-address-electricity-challenges-in-nigeria-ncra/
How Shutdown of National Grid Threatened Nigeria’s Security — Experts
THERE were indications, yesterday, that the shutdown of Nigeria’s national grid by workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, put the nation’s security at great risk, according to experts.
Recall that the nation is currently experiencing its worst form of insecurity, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Reviewing the situation yesterday, the experts said the shutdown amounted to sabotage and serious threat to the nation’s security.
They listed security facilities that could have been been compromised to include the Vigiscope App, Police Situation room App, all Police Commands control rooms, tracking devices that need power, telephone lines which could have made it impossible for the public to reach the police to report incidents and response to distress calls.
A senior Police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the action of the union to shut down the national grid as laughable.
Aftermath of Incessant Attacks: Zungeru Hydro Power Dam on 7-Month Lockdown
A serious setback is frustrating the completion of work on the multimillion Naira Zungeru Hydro Electricity Power Dam in Niger State. The trouble with the ongoing works in the dam project, which is the fourth of its kind in the state, is due to the incessant attacks by bandits and terrorists who have turned Niger State into a battleground and driven away workers, farmers and individuals from their work places, farms and natural habitats.
Niger State also hosts Jebba, Kaini and Shiroro dams, which are the mainstay of power supply to the country.
It was in a deliberate design by the Federal Government to increase power generation that it planned and awarded contract for the construction of the Zunguru power generation dam, whose work began in earnest but has seen repeated attacks by bandits and terrorists within a short interval.
Twice, the bandits stormed the construction site and kidnapped and killed many, including some Chinese contractors, who are handling the construction of the dam and some Nigerians, who were working at the time of the invasion by the terrorists.
Eden Power to Launch Climate Change Mobile App
Eden Power, purveyors of clean, sustainable energy, is to launch Eden Zero, a mobile application platform developed to tackle climate change in October, its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Olumuyiwa Abiodun, has announced.
Abiodun, in a statement on Thursday in Lagos, said that the app would focus on educating individuals on how they could take effective steps to actively reverse climate change effects.
“The platform will also connect them to long-term carbon-offset initiatives, which will reduce Sub-Saharan Africa’ reliance on hazardous energy generation,” the statement added.
It said that Eden Zero was a global platform that would offer individuals a carbon calculator to calculate their carbon footprint and choose from tailormade, sustainable and real-life recommendations to reduce and neutralise their carbon emissions through offsets and behavioural changes.
“These recommendations will cover daily lifestyle areas like energy use, transportation, shopping, among others.
“It highlights the direct connection between daily activities and individual carbon emissions, encouraging users to consciously join the climate change fight by offsetting carbon footprints with a personalised monthly subscription.
https://www.nannews.ng/2022/08/18/eden-power-to-launch-climate-change-mobile-app/
