Power Sector News And Other Related Stories For Friday 5th August 2022
AEDC Attributes Power Outage in Parts of FCT to Explosion
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has attributed the current power outage in parts of FCT to explosion at the Transmission Company of Nigeria station serving the area.
A statement by AEDC Management in Abuja on Thursday listed areas affected to include Central Area, Gwagwalada, Mpape, Suleja, Katampe and its environs. ”Intense efforts are ongoing to restore supply in earnest,” it said.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/aedc-attributes-power-outage-in-parts-of-fct-to-explosion/
TCN Restores Power Supply to Affected FCT Areas
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Friday says it has restored power supply to all areas affected by the 33 Kilo Volt feeders shattered at the Katampe Substation, FCT.
TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, in statement in Abuja on Friday, said that the restoration of power to the areas occurred at about 8:38 pm. on Thursday ”About 6:16 p.m. Thursday, one of the 33 Kilo Volt (KV) feeders Current Transformer (CT) in Katampe Substation, supplying the Life Camp axis shattered.
”In the process, it tripped one of the 60 Mega Volt Amperes (MVA) 13233kV transformers at the Katampe 132kV Substation.
”The two faulty equipment were promptly isolated to enable TCN supply bulk electricity through the other transformers in the substation,” she said.
Mbah said that TCN’s maintenance crew had already been mobilised to repair the affected equipment.
https://nnn.ng/tcn-restores-power-supply-to-affected-fct-areas/
TCN Restores Power Supply to Affected FCT Areas
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Friday says it has restored power supply to all areas affected by the 33 Kilo Volt feeders shattered at the Katampe Substation, FCT.
TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said that the restoration of power to the areas occurred at about 8:38 p.m. on Thursday.
”About 6:16 p.m. Thursday, one of the 33 Kilo Volt (KV) feeders Current Transformer (CT) in Katampe Substation, supplying the Life Camp axis shattered.
”In the process, it tripped one of the 60 Mega Volt Amperes (MVA) 132/33kV transformers at the Katampe 132kV Substation.
”The two faulty equipment were promptly isolated to enable TCN to supply bulk electricity through the other transformers in the substation,” she said.
Mbah said that TCN’s maintenance crew had already been mobilised to repair the affected equipment.
https://guardian.ng/news/tcn-restores-power-supply-to-affected-fct-areas/
FG, Siemens Plan 2000mw Under PPI Scheme
The Federal Government and Siemens Energy are in talks over the realisation of 2000 MW under Phase 1 of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI). The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, had engaged Siemens’ Executive Management and Chief Executive Officer, FGN Power Company, Christian Bruche, to expedite actions on the mobile equipment production, given the global constraints on component parts and the Ukraine war.
The Minister of Finance and Board Chair, FGN Power Company, Dr Zainab Shamsuna. Ahmed and Minister of Power Abubakar Aliyu had also presented a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), requesting approval for the procurement of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations under the Presidential Power Initiative, which was approved.
Further checks showed that the first two energy transformers have been manufactured and will be delivered in September 2022 under a strategy for quick wins following the successful completion of the Factory Acceptance Tests, FAT.
https://theelectricityhub.com/fg-siemens-plan-2000mw-under-ppi-scheme/
Nigeria-Us to Utilise Solar for Electricity Generation
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the rapid integration of solar power into the country’s energy mix will lead to an increase in electricity access to underserved and unserved communities.
Receiving a delegation of SUN Africa LLC, USA, on Thursday, the President said this administration has embarked on several reforms aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s energy sector aimed at improving energy access to communities across the country.
He commended the interest of the US developer to invest in Nigeria’s power sector, pledging that the Nigerian Government would remain committed to collaborating with the private sector in improving energy access, creating jobs and industrial development.
Highlighting some of the reforms embarked upon by the current administration to address Nigeria’s energy needs, the President listed the recent signing of the Nigeria Climate Change Bill in November 2021, the implementation of the Power Sector Recovery Programme with the World Bank and the Nigeria Electrification Program aimed at enhancing energy access to remote communities.
https://von.gov.ng/nigeria-us-to-utilize-solar-for-electricity-generation/
Solar Power Will Contribute to Solving Nigeria’s Electricity Problem – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja declared that the rapid integration of solar power into the country’s energy mix will lead to an increase in electricity access to underserved and unserved communities.
Receiving a delegation of SUN Africa LLC, USA, the president said this administration has embarked on several reforms aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s energy sector aimed at improving energy access to communities across the country.
He commended the interest of the US developer to invest in Nigeria’s power sector, pledging that the federal government would remain committed to collaborating with the private sector in improving energy access, creating jobs and industrial development.
Highlighting some of the reforms embarked upon by this administration to address Nigeria’s energy needs, the president listed the recent signing of the Nigeria Climate Change Bill in November 2021, the implementation of the Power Sector Recovery Programme with the World Bank and the Nigeria Electrification Programme aimed at enhancing energy access to remote communities.
Group Wants Consumer Rights’ Inclusion in Electricity Bill
Mr Princewill Okorie, National Coordinator, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Electricity Consumers Protection Advocacy Group, has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to include electricity consumers’ right in bill.
He made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) version of the FCT Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Electricity Consumers Protection Advocacy programme.
Okorie, who is also the National President, Association for Public Policy Analysis (APPA), appealed to NASS to include electricity consumer’s right in the new Electricity Bill it is about to pass.
“I call on the National Assembly that is about to approve a new Electricity Bill, 2022, to look into the matter seriously because it bothers on economic and safety of Nigerians.
“It will be contradictory for us to prosecute, try and punish those who individually steal from other citizens and use bureaucracy or law to protect corporate organisations,” he said.
According to him, the overall objective of the national MSME electricity consumer protection advocacy programme is to intervene through advocacy and capacity building programmes for business membership organisations.
https://nnn.ng/group-wants-consumer-rights-inclusion-in-electricity-bill/
Nigeria Acquires $1.5bn Loan for Solar Projects
The Federal Government has announced a USD 1.5 billion loan facility from the US-EXIM Bank to develop solar power infrastructure in the country. Chief Executive Officer, SUN Africa LLC, USA, Adam Cortese, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a company delegation meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
Cortese noted that the government-to-government loan facility would cover a concession period of 20 years. He said, “This is government-to-government financing. It’s built upon the success that we’ve had in Angola recently, where we’ve delivered roughly $2.6bn of solar PV storage and transmission capacity.
“What’s unique about this model is that NDPHC will own its assets. So, it’s going to own its own generation base, and our project will deliver a low-levelised cost of electricity, which will not only allow them to pay back the loan from EXIM Bank but generate a profit on top of it.”
https://theelectricityhub.com/nigeria-acquires-1-5bn-loan-for-solar-projects/
The National Grid: Beyond The Headlines
One problem that Nigerians expect the nation to overcome – and to overcome urgently – is electricity supply. With a population projected to be over 200 million, stable and accessible electricity is key to economic growth and social prosperity. Nigerians are still hoping that one day electricity will be a settled question; one day there will be uninterruptible light.
In the past, hope was raised and dashed, especially when it was reported that under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the sum of $16 billion was spent (or was it wasted?) on power between 1999 and 2014.
Recent media reports of “collapse of the national grid” appear to be raising the old concerns about lack of progress towards resolving the electricity challenge. The search for answer always begins with asking the right question. So, what is really going on in Nigeria’s power sector? What is happening to the national grid? Is there any hope for the power sector? What is really going on?.
https://dailytrust.com/the-national-grid-beyond-the-headlines
Beacon Power Services Raises $2.7M to Improve Electricity Access for Sub-Saharan African Cities
Sub-Saharan Africa’s share of the global population without access to electricity stood at 77% in 2020, according to reports. Also, the average daily electricity supply in some of Africa’s largest cities is less than 12 hours. As a result, individuals and businesses find other options and substitutes, such as generators, to deal with their power issues; however, these solutions can either be costly to use or affect the climate.
While solar grids and panels are another viable option and have compelling use cases for end consumers, there’s still an opportunity to launch products targeted at power distribution companies, and that’s where Beacon Power Services (BPS) plays. The energy tech company, which provides data and grid management solutions to help Africa’s power sector distribute electricity more efficiently, is announcing today that it has closed a seed round of $2.7 million.
Founder and chief executive officer Bimbola Adisa, an aerospace engineer, started the company in 2014 after working several years for a power turbine manufacturer and as an investment banker covering the power sector in the U.S.
Ramaphosa Negotiates with Botswana for Eskom to Import Electricity
As South Africa faces another bout of load shedding by the dark lords of Megawatt Park, President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that negotiations for Eskom to import surplus electricity from Botswana are underway.
Ramaphosa was speaking during a media briefing at the conclusion of the South Africa – Botswana Business Roundtable in Gaborone on Thursday.
Ramaphosa and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi and business leaders from the two sister countries participated in identifying measures to address trade and investment barriers as well as strengthening cooperation between government and private sector in maximising localisation, export promotion efforts and industrialisation.
Ramaphosa said the trade and investment ties between South Africa and Botswana have grown stronger over the years and have laid a firm basis for even greater economic cooperation and integration into the future.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/3167209/ramaphosa-negotiates-with-botswana-for-eskom/
Jordan Launches 4th Phase of Solar Project for Underserved Households
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has announced the launch of the fourth phase of solar electrification efforts. According to a statement from the ministry, this phase will include some 800 underprivileged families who are beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund (NAF) in Irbid, Jerash and Ajloun.
Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Al Kharabsheh noted that he expects the new phase to be completed during the second half of next year. He stated that installing solar panels linked to the electricity network using the Fils Al Reef fee will alleviate the burden of a monthly electricity bill on citizens, in addition to encouraging the use of renewable energy sources across the Kingdom.
The ministry’s implementation of solar panels connected to the energy grid for underprivileged families using the Fils Al Reef fee began in 2019.
https://theelectricityhub.com/jordan-launches-4th-phase-of-solar-project-for-underserved-households/
City of Cape Town Plans Paying Individuals Who Feed Electricity Into The Grid
The City of Cape Town has announced plans to commence paying consumers who feed electricity back into the grid. The initiative is aimed at freeing residents from Eskom’s rolling blackouts.
Formerly, compensation had been restricted to credit on municipal accounts, but now the City will start paying cash once a customer’s municipal account has been cleared.
This initiative will initially be aimed at commercial and industrial (C&I) customers, as these customers tend to have more surface area available for installing solar power panels. However, the policy will be expanded to all electricity-generating customers over time, even residents with small-scale rooftop solar PV installations.
Small-scale electricity generation (SSEG) is an underutilised source of energy that can quickly be brought online to help ease the electricity crisis. This starkly contrasts with National Government’s over-regulated process through which commercial Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are registered and approved before being allowed to produce and deliver power to the grid.
