Nigeria's power sector loses N108 billion in first quarter of 2018

At least, the sum of N108 billion has been lost to several constraints by Nigeria's power sector in the first three months of 2018.

Data from the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) confirmed that Nigeria’s power sector lost the sum due to several constraints inhibiting the regular supply of electricity in the country.

January's Loss was valued at over N1.5billion

In January alone, the average power generated and distributed was 3,971mw while 2,302.8mw was not generated due to unavailability of gas.

In the same vein, as a result of the unavailability of transmission infrastructure, about 417mw was not generated high frequency resulting from unavailability of distribution infrastructure disturbed the generation of while 290mw.

As a result of all these constraints, the power sector lost an estimated N1.584 billion on January 25, 2018, due to insufficient gas supply, distribution infrastructure, and transmission challenges.

The constraints

The Nigerian power sector has been plagued with structural issues in all key areas that include generation, gas supply, transmission, and distribution.

Sadly, the operational capacity of the country’s power plants is less than a third of their installed capacity.

As it has been mostly reported, chronic vandalism has crippled oil and gas pipelines, creating gas shortages at power plants.

In the same vein, underinvestment in maintenance and infrastructure has constrained the transmission grid.

Government is committed to providing regular and efficient supply - power minister

Babatunde Fashola, Nigeria's Minister of Power, who also doubles as the Works and Housing Minister, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to providing regular and efficient power supply in the country.

The minister said: “While it is no longer news that we have reached a 7,000MW) Generation Capacity and have a 5000MW Distribution Capacity; what is newsworthy is that last month we met with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), DisCos, and GenCos on how to implement the Eligible Customer Policy and increase connectivity to the 2000MW that is available.

World Bank approves $486 million Transmission Company of Nigeria

The power minister has also disclosed that the Federal Government had secured the World Bank’s approval for $486 million Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) transmission expansion funding.

He also said progress is being made with the same bank for the Rural Electrification and Distribution Expansion Funding.

He said: “In many parts of the country connected to the grid, citizens’ feedback is positive, even though all the problems are not solved. Citizens acknowledge more power in dry weather, reduced hours of running their generators and reduction in fuel (diesel and petrol) purchase to power generators.”

The minister said that the country was moving away from theorising about power to the actual provision of efficient power to support trade and businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who are the drivers of our economy.

He also described solar energy as a cleaner and more efficient source of power, stressing that in many states, solar power is being accepted and used, while consumers are already embracing the solar power generation plan.