Sabinews Daily Energy News Update for July 29, 2014
TCN to Raise $8bn for Infrastructure Upgrade
If things work according to calculations, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) would soon be stepping out to shop for about $8billion which it plans to spend in upgrading its operations to achieve 20,000 megawatts electricity supply in the country.
Executive Director of TCN, Mohammed Shaike who disclosed this while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Privatization, led by its Chairman, Senator Olugbenga Obadara who visited the company’s regional office in Osogbo said the corporation would work jointly with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to achieve the target. Read more
Germany backs Nigeria’s power sector
The Federal Republic of Germany has expressed readiness to transfer technology needed to boost power supply to key players in the Nigerian power sector as part of measures to solve the country’s energy crisis.
The Head of Energy and Environment Desk, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Mrs. Barbel Freyer, said her government was ready to partner with Nigeria on the various alternative sources of power generation. Read more.
TCN Plans 20,000mw Evacuation Capacity by 2020
As part of the measures to strengthen the transmission infrastructure to withstand increase in power generation, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) plans to boost its infrastructure to have the capacity to evacuate 20,000 megawatts of electricity by 2020.
The country’s weak transmission network has led to frequent collapse of the power infrastructure as soon as generation exceeds 4,000 megawatts because the network cannot evacuate huge electricity capacity to the distribution companies. Read more.
NEMSA Bill and its Implications on the Power Sector
As Nigerians eagerly await the full benefits of electricity sector reform, the House of Representatives through one of its members, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale has made a proposal for enactment of a new law, the National Electricity Management Services Authority (NEMSA). Already, the NEMSA bill has gone past its second reading at the National Assembly.
At a public hearing on the proposed legislation in Abuja, tempers were high, as various stakeholders in the power sector freely expressed their thoughts on the proposed bill. Read more
Eko Disco Decries Attack on Staff Members
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has decried the spate of harassments and violent attacks of its staff on official duties in some communities, particularly a recent attempt by a retired army Lieutenant Colonel to shoot one of its staff in Iba area of Lagos.
The company’s Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Godwin Idemudia said in a statement at the weekend that the company would no longer tolerate any act of molestation, harassment or violent attacks perpetrated by anybody or group of people against its staff while performing their legitimate duties. Read more.
Anambra Gets $2.5bn 1500mw Power Plant under Power Africa Initiative
Nigeria’s formal agreement to work with the government of the United States (US) to increase access to and availability of electricity in Nigeria through the US-backed Power Africa initiative will bequeath to Anambra State, a brand new 1500 megawatts (MW) thermal power plant.
The new thermal power project, to be built at the cost of $2.5 billion by international power firm, Global Edison Corporation, which is to be sited in Anambra State will expectedly take gas for its fuel from the gas rich eastern supply axis. Read more.
Towards Effective Metering of Electricity Consumption
Exactly nine months after the assets of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria were handed over to private investors, Ejiofor Alike writes that most of the distribution companies are yet to roll out effective planS to ensure adequate metering of electricity consumption, thus giving room for energy theft by consumers and criminal manipulation of bills through exorbitant estimates carried out by their personnel
As part of series of regulatory measures to stem the tide of growing public discontent against what they call “crazy bills”, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had issued guidelines on estimated billing to protect customers from manipulation by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Read more
Fashola Seeks Legislation for States to Generate, Transmit Electricity
In a bid to ensure that Lagos State attains its minimum electricity supply of 10,000 megawatts, Governor Babatunde Fashola has called for a legislation that will empower each state of the federation to generate and transmit electricity for the benefits of its citizenry.
Speaking at a Community Enterprise Development Conference held in Lagos recently, Fashola decried what he called federal government policies that are not effective, especially in the area of electricity generation. Read more
Power distribution firms blame poor performance on losses
The buyers of the country’s power distribution firms have given reasons why their performance is still below average several months after taking over the companies.
Early this month, the Operator of the Nigerian Electricity Market stated that the performance of the successor companies to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria was below 50 per cent. Read more.
Abandoned 248 projects in Apapa: Power Minister, others violate traffic laws, drive against traffic
In spite of heavy presence of military personnel to clear the traffic along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos for the visiting Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo to Apapa Port, the convoy of the Minister drove against traffic en-route Apapa port at the weekend.
Nebo, in company of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb.Godknows Igali, the Chief Executive Officer, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Mack Kast, and some journalists, was on a scheduled visit to supervise the release of 248 containers abandoned since 2003,at Apapa Port, Lagos by the former management of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Read more.
