Power Sector News And Other Related Stories For Monday 29th August 2022
AEDC Disconnects Niger Govt House, Others Over Indebtedness
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has disconnected the Niger State Government House and other MDAs over an indebtedness of over N1.3Billion.
This was revealed by the AEDC Public Relations Officer in the state, Adamu Dantani in Minna, who said the decision to disconnect the Government House, General Hospital and other MDAs was to recover all outstanding debts owed the company by the state government running into several billions of naira.
Dantani said the disconnection would have been carried out months ago but was shelved the idea as a result of the intervention of the House of Assembly, adding that four months after the intervention between the company and the executive arm of the government, the agreement reached had been breached by government.
He added that in the agreement reached, the state government was to settle at least 80 per cent of the debt which they failed to do.
“From the day the agreement was reached till date, there is no commitment from the state government,” he said.
https://punchng.com/aedc-disconnect-niger-govt-house-others-over-indebtedness/
Niger Flays AEDC for Disconnecting Govt House, Others
The Nigerian State Government has said the disconnecting electricity supply to Government House, State Secretariat, the Minna General Hospital and the office of the Secretary to State Government’s (SSG) by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over alleged N1.3b debt was just a ploy to embarrass everyone.
The state government’s reaction was coming against the backdrop of last Saturday’s disconnection of electricity supply to the Government House, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the Minna General Hospital over accumulated bills.
Giving reasons for the disconnection, AEDC regional Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, said the Niger State Government defaulted after initial agreement to offset outstanding sum running into several billions of naira.
But Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, in an interview, said the AEDC was merely trying to embarrass everyone, explaining that the state government had not defaulted in paying monthly N57 million as agreed.
https://independent.ng/electricity-niger-flays-aedc-for-disconnecting-govt-house-others/
Man Dies Attempting to Steal Electric Cables
A middle-aged man has died while trying to steal electric cables from a transformer at Lakeview Homes Estate Phase II, Mabushi area of Abuja, in the FCT.
Residents told City & Crime that around 4 am, a tenant observed that the power supply was not restored in his apartment though neighbouring residences had light.
He, therefore, asked a doorkeeper to check the transformer, who saw a person lying close to the transformer on getting there. The person was later found to be dead.
“So, the tenants were informed about the situation and they informed the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) officials who sent their men to the place.”
He said when the AEDC team came to the site, they discovered that the man was electrocuted while attempting to steal transformer cables.
https://dailytrust.com/man-dies-attempting-to-steal-electric-cables
FG, Private Sector to Produce 3,595MW
Two ministries of the Federal Government are in partnership with the private sector to add 3,595 megawatts of electricity to the country’s power grid, it was learnt on Sunday.
Documents obtained from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources showed that the ministry was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Power and private sector operators through the Public Private Partnership arrangement to generate 3,595MW of electricity from dams.
The latest report on Dams and Reservoir Operations of the FMPR indicated that the Federal Government had entered into partnership with private sector players to develop nine dams that would produce the stipulated quantum of electricity.
Nigeria’s power generation currently hovers between 3,500MW to 4,500MW. Figures obtained by our correspondent from the FMP on Sunday showed that off-peak and peak power generation on the grid the preceding day were 3,317.3MW and 4,600.5MW respectively, while at 6am on Sunday it was 3,883MW.
“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Power for the development under Public Private Arrangement, of (nine) hydropower plants,” the FMWR stated in its report.
https://punchng.com/electricity-crisis-fg-private-sector-to-produce-3595mw/
CBN’s N2.9trn Intervention Saves Banks, Power Sector from Collapse
Some industry observers insisted that the backing of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) by the CBN in the takeover of some Distribution Companies(Discos) and the roles being played by the apex bank to ensure their shares are successful transferred to new investors remained a leeway for the financial and power sectors.
Without the action, most of the stakeholders submitted that collapse of some banks as well as massive job losses would have remained inevitable.
The experts, who also noted that the apex bank’s backing of the takeover saved the country from economic catastrophe, noting that recovering government loans as well as that of commercial banks remained critical for the nation’s financial sector even as government intervention in the sector now stands at N2.9 trillion.
A power sector analyst, Adetayo Adegbemle, noted that the CBN role in protecting the collapse of the bank from power sector loan remained sacrosanct, adding that the indebtedness of the power sector to the bank would have led to the collapse of banks.
“I love the fact that CBN came into the power sector, not just to save the power sector. Don’t forget that, even though they have roles to play in the sector but they came in to save their own banking sector.
NBET, Turkish Agency Seal Deal to Boost Commercial Transactions, Investments In Nigeria’s Power Sector
The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and Energy Exchange Instabul (EXIST), a Turkish agency, have signed an agreement on cooperation to help Nigeria improve commercial transactions and revenue collections in the country’s power sector through cutting edge technologies with attendant investment inflows into the sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies at EXIST’s campus in Maslak, Turkey to boost cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two countries was designed to explore mutually beneficial opportunities for growth between NBET and EXIST.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Nigerian Minister of Finance and Chairman of NBET Board of Directors, Zainab Ahmed; Chief Executive Officer of NBET, Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, and EXIST’s Chief Executive Officer, Ahmet Türkoglu.
While Nigeria’s power generation has been stagnating at below 5000 megawatts (MW) due to multiplicity of challenges, Turkey boasts of generation capacity of 100,000MW, ranking as Europe’s sixth largest electricity market and the 14th largest in the world.
FG, Turkey to Design Electricity Trading Structure
The Federal Government, on Sunday, said it had entered into partnership with the Turkish energy firm, EXIST (Energy Exchange Istanbul), to design a functional trading structure for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, among others.
It said the partnership came on the heels of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc with EXIST to boost cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two countries.
The government said the cooperation agreement, signed between NBET and EXIST at the latter’s campus in Maslak, Turkey, was designed to explore mutually beneficial opportunities for growth between both agencies.
“The cooperation also ties in neatly with NBET’s long-term plan of leading Nigeria’s renewable energy push in line with its mandate,” the government stated in a statement issued in Abuja by the Nigerian electricity trading firm.
It added, “The cooperation agreement covers the transfer of experience and business knowledge, and the design of a functional trading structure for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.”
https://punchng.com/fg-turkey-to-design-electricity-trading-structure/
Nigeria Inches Closer to Stable Electricity Supply As FG Launches Energy Transition Plan
Electricity supply in Nigeria has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. With a mere 4,000MW for a population of over 200million, it is no brainer that electricity supply in the country is erratic. The deplorable electricity situation has resulted in the cost of doing business hitting the roof as manufacturing companies have to resort to electricity generators to power their factories. With the price of diesel nearing N1,000 per litre, industrialists are moaning and groaning.
The good news, however, is that the government has been working round the clock to change the trend and make electricity available to all Nigerians. Part of the efforts of the government is the Energy Transition Plan (ETP) launched in Abuja last Wednesday.
The plan supports the country’s objectives of achieving universal access to energy by 2030 and a carbon-neutral energy system by 2060, while also providing enough energy to power industries and other productive uses. The plan is supported by Sustainable Energy for All and the COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC).
At the launch, global leaders and stakeholders from different parts of Africa gave a clear indication that if the plan was able to attract the required funding, Nigerians’ days of groping in the dark would soon be over. They also stated that achieving the objective of the plan would make universal access to energy by 2030 and a carbon-neutral energy system by 2060 achievable. This, in the long run, would accelerate economic growth and development.
Nigeria Power Sector Award to Showcase Achievements, Progress
To this end, the organizers of the Nigeria Power Sector Awards 2022 have announced plans to to recognize some industry players who are toiling day and night to ensure that the sector doesn’t collapse.
A statement by the Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Nigeria Power Sector Awards Limited, Racheal Salehu, said the Awards aims to achieve three broad objectives; to reward and incentivize organizations and individuals who have contributed in measurable ways to the improvements, growth and progress in the sector.
Others are; catalyze further improvements, growth, innovation and progress in the power sector and to transparently highlight the improvements and growth achieved within the power sector in order to change the negative public opinion about the power sector, which has become a hindrance and constraint to attracting much needed long term investments in the power sector.
According to her, the maiden edition of the awards will hold at the prestigious Sheraton Hotels in Abuja on November 23, 2022.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nigeria-power-sector-award-to-showcase-achievements-progress/
Why Electricity System Collapse Will Persist in Nigeria, By Expert
Nigerians may have to further endure more blackout as a result of frequent system collapse due to the integrity of the electricity transmission grid.
An industry expert and former General Manager, Corporate Communications, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Yakubu Lawal, has revealed that the power outages associated with system collapse from the national grid will not end soon, going by the capacity and poor integrity of the system.
Lawal, who disclosed this during a conversation on the critical issue on World stage, said the power outages are forcing industries to rely on alternative power while increasing the cost of production.
This situation, according to him, has led to the high cost of products and services in the domestic market.
This year, the electricity grid has collapsed more than seven times, causing blackouts and leaving businesses and homes counting their losses.
Lawal enjoined the government and the stakeholders to endeavour to inject more transmission facilities and distribution transformers for the nation to enjoy a reliable power supply.
