Power Sector News and Other Related News Stories For Friday September 9th 2022
DisCos, GenCos Target 5000MW
Power Distribution Companies (Discos) and their Generation Companies (GenCos) counterparts say they are making efforts to achieve the 5,000MW target the Federal Government promised Nigerians.
Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had declared August 1 as the date from when the power sector would generate and deliver at least 5000MW of electricity to the estimated over 200 million Nigerians.
Findings on Tuesday by The Tide’s source showed that power generation increased to 5,043 megawatts a few days ago, as some Nigerian homes have begun to gradually experience improved power supply.
Though 5000MW is far less than the at least 30, 000MW experts recommended for Nigeria to reach sufficiency, statistics from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealed that the benchmark was achieved on September 1, 2022.
There was an 8.1 per cent increase when compared to 4,664MW recorded a day earlier.
Recent check has however seen generation drop below 5000MW afterwards, with a peak of 4,265.30 MW attained on September 4.
https://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2022/09/09/discos-gencos-target-5000mw/
YEDC Disconnects Taraba Govt House, Mdas Over Unpaid Electricity Bills
The Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has disconnected the electricity supply to the Taraba State Government House.
Apart from the government house that was observed to have been disconnected, ministries, departments, and agencies were not spared.
The alleged inability of the state government to offset its electricity bills of over N500 million was said to have necessitated the distribution company’s action.
Some officials of the company, who confided in DAILY POST, said the action became necessary because of the state government’s alleged lukewarm attitude towards settling its electricity bills.
The staff who craved anonymity said, “the truth is that we have been pushed to the wall by the state government. If we continue like this, our dreams of ensuring stable power will turn out to be a mirage.”
Government activities at the state secretariat, at the time of filing this report, were observed to have been grounded as most of their jobs that have to do with typing, and photocopying among others, are now carried out in business centers.
NUEE Condemns Full Power Sector Privatisation
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has called for a total reversal of the privatisation of Nigeria’s power sector. Mr Modupeoluwa Akinola, the Assistant General Secretary of the union in the Western zone, said the union was convinced that the country was not ready for the privatisation of the sector.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ibadan, he said that the union was also opposed to the planned privatisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria. According to him, the NUEE is demanding full renationalisation of the power sector under the democratic control of a board that includes representatives of workers and consumers.
“Our understanding and conviction informed our opposition to the privatisation policy that privatisation will always seek to protect and defend the profit interest of the business owners against the general interest of the people for affordable and regular electricity.”
https://theelectricityhub.com/nuee-condemns-full-power-sector-privatisation/
KenGen Signs Deal with Toshiba over Geothermal Partnership
Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen) has partnered with Japan’s Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS). The deal is to collaborate on exploring geothermal energy in several countries.
The agreement signed on the sidelines of the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad-8) provides for an operation and maintenance (O&M) services partnership for geothermal power plants in developing countries, including East African countries, “through the combination of KenGen’s and Toshiba ESS’s expertise and networks,” the two companies said in a joint statement.
With 799 MWe in operation, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is Africa’s leading producer of geothermal energy. Although its geothermal plants are located solely in Kenya, the company is already beginning to export its expertise in developing geothermal projects in East Africa, including Djibouti and Ethiopia.
https://theelectricityhub.com/kengen-signs-deal-with-toshiba-over-geothermal-partnership/
Sudan Electricity Employees Commence Strike
Employees working in Sudan’s electricity sector have commenced a two-day strike across several states after the Ministry of Energy and Oil failed to meet their demands for implementing the 2022 new salary structure.
The states affected by the strikes include Khartoum, Red Sea, North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Northern State. In a statement that followed the encounter, the Committee for the Electricity Workers Salary Structure said the minister eventually agreed to look at their demands and submit them to the appropriate authorities but did not guarantee their implementation.
The statement also described the minister’s words and efforts as “procrastination” and “without intent” to fulfil any of their demands. “The formation of any other committee by the ministry filled by people from outside the sector will be refused,” the statement added.
https://theelectricityhub.com/sudan-electricity-employees-commence-strike/
ECG Recovers US$299K Debt from Electricity Customers
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has retrieved GH¢3 million owed by customers in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in the Western Region.
In an interview with the Ghanaian Times, the Western Regional Communication Officer of the ECG, Mr Benjamin Quarcoo, said John Bittar, a wood processing company, presented a cheque for GH¢1.3 million to defray its GH¢1.4 million debt. Mr Quarcoo noted that other customers, who could not agree on any repayment plan, had electricity to their facilities disconnected.
He said, “the team will go to all defaulting customers to recover their debts and check the integrity of their service meters to determine whether they are paying for the right amount of energy used.”
Mr Quarcoo explained that defaulting customers would either be required to pay on the spot, agree on a repayment debt schedule or have electricity to their facilities disconnected.
https://theelectricityhub.com/ghana-ecg-recovers-us299k-debt-from-electricity-customers/
EDPR Installs 44MW Wind Farm in Italy
Renewable energy producer EDP Renovaveis SA announced that it had installed a 44MW wind farm in Sicily, Italy.
According to a report by Renewables Now, the plant is located in Fulgatore, in the municipality of Trapani. It comprises nine turbines capable of producing 83GWh per year. The volume is enough to power over 27,000 homes.
The report noted that the facility was built within 18 months from the project award in an Italian auction in January 2021. With the new addition, the renewable energy company now has an installed wind capacity of 463 MW in Italy.
https://theelectricityhub.com/edpr-installs-44mw-wind-farm-in-italy/
