Power Sector News And Other Related Stories For Tuesday 16th August 2022
Blackout Looms in Nigeria as Electricity Workers Begin Strike on Wednesday
igerians may be thrown into total blackout from Wednesday as the organised labour had directed electricity workers to shut down the power sector in commencement of an indefinite strike over pending labour issues with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Ahead of Wednesday, the power sector workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have been scheduled to picket the Abuja National Headquarters of the TCN on Tuesday.
Vanguard reports that according to a circular by the General Secretary of NUEE, Joe Ajaero, titled “Call for Action”, to the Senior Assistant General Secretaries and Zonal Organising Secretaries dated August 15, 2022, the union directed that the electricity workers should ensure total compliance with the directive.
This is coming amid erratic power supply being experienced across the nation and at least five National Power Grid failures already recorded this year.
Darkness Looms as Electricity Workers Embark on Strike Tomorrow
The nation’s electricity supply crisis could worsen from tomorrow as the organised labour has directed workers in the power sector to down tools and commence an indefinite strike over pending labour issues with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The aggrieved workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, are scheduled to picket the Abuja national headquarters of TCN today as a prelude to the strike,
In a circular entitled “Call to Action” and addressed to senior assistant general secretaries and zonal organising secretaries, dated August 15, 2022, the general secretary of NUEE, Joe Ajaero, directed them to ensure total compliance, vowing to paralyse operations of TCN nationwide over anti-masses activities.
“You are hereby enjoined to mobilise immediately for a serious picketing of TCN Headquarters and stations nationwide over the directive by the TCN Board that all PMs in acting capacity going to AGM must appear for promotion interview.
https://leadership.ng/darkness-looms-as-electricity-workers-embark-on-strike-tomorrow/
Should Nigeria Reverse Nine-Year Power Privatisation?
While the year 2023 will see new presidential and governorship candidates elected into offices with grand promises to fix the power sector woes, a flashback into what almost nine years of privatisation have fetched the country, will, perhaps, not only assist in shaping minds towards 2023, but also provide an overall assessment of the sector.
In November 2013, the Federal Government unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and sold 18 utility firms to private investors.
A breakdown of the transaction showed that the Federal Government earned a whopping $2.5 billion – involving six generation companies, GenCos, and 11 distribution companies, Discos.
The Bureau of Public Enterprises’ data revealed that the government sold stakes and concessioned the six GenCos for $1.269bn (N460.7bn).
The 10 DisCos (the sale of Kaduna Electric held later) were sold at $1.256bn (about N455.9bn). The government sold 60 per cent shares and retained 40 per cent.
https://punchng.com/should-nigeria-reverse-nine-year-power-privatisation/
Nigeria Lost Over $1.9m Due to Disruption Of Gas Supply to Ossiomo Power, Says Obaseki
EDO State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said weekend that over $1.9million has been lost in the last five days as a result of the disruption of gas supply to Ossiomo Power Plant at Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.
The Ossiomo Power project is a brainchild of his government to make the state self-sustaining in power supply.
The 95MW facility was birthed through a Power Purchase Agreement, PPA, with Ossiomo Power Company and powers government offices and hospitals, as well as streetlights in Benin metropolis.
Emotan Gardens Estate, Edo Tech Park, Edo Creative Hub, among others, all enjoy 22-24 hours of stable electricity supply daily, with the power being extended to Edo Enterprise and Industrial Park to spur industrialization.
Power Intervention Fund Jumps to N2.9trn
The Federal Government’s intervention fund to the electricity distribution companies has risen to N2.9trn, from N2trn recorded as of May this year.
This indicates a 45 per cent increase over the period.
By estimation, the N2.9trn is the total funding extended to the sector since privatisation in 2013.
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprise, Alex Okoh, in an interview, said there was an approval of a fresh 2.3 billion Euro loan for the transmission and distribution arms of the sector.
Prior to the 2.3 billion Euros, the last one was the $500m by the World Bank to improve its electricity distribution sector in May.
“There are a lot of interventions going in that regard. There is 2.3 billion Euros for the transmission and distribution so that we can wheel more power for consumers,” Okoh said during the interview.
In November 2013, the Federal Government unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN and sold 18 utility firms to private investors.
https://punchng.com/power-intervention-fund-jumps-to-n2-9trn/
How Mojec Is Building a World of Possibilities in Nigeria’s Power Sector
Globally, thriving enterprises sprout on the identification of problems and flourish by proffering solutions to the problems for commensurate remuneration. This is where the win-win philosophy appeals to mankind the most.
This ideology might have inspired a frontline Nigerian corporate citizen, Mojec International Limited, a wholly indigenous company to approach its business operations with an eye toward solving problems within the energy sector. The company has a strong footprint in Nigeria, Africa, and the Middle East, where it is delivering on smart meter manufacturing, clean energy, and other business areas. This is just one of the firsts, as Mojec is the only player in the energy sector to have such footprints across the world.
Chantelle Abdul, the group managing director/chief executive officer, MOJEC International, pinned the company’s history of firsts on its innovative drive, which has seen it deliver consistently on its corporate mantra of “Building a world of possibilities in the midst of impossibilities”.
Bart Nnaji and The Electricity Question
On the eve of his 66thbirthday on July 13, I quickly scribbled a tribute to Bart Nnaji, the internationally engaging engineering professor who has been, among other things, the Minister of Science & Technology as well as the Minister of Power. The article was well received by the traditional and social media but also the Nigerian public, including those in the Diaspora. I still get calls regularly based on contents in the piece, especially as regards electric power development. Even a couple of global media have reached out to me in the last few days.
Two related questions have stood out from their inquiries: if over 90% of the Geometric Power 188-megawatt project in Aba is already completed, why hasn’t electricity supply in Abia State not improved dramatically since last February when Nnaji’s Geometric Power took over the Aba franchised area and what can be done urgently to remedy the current electric power crisis in the country?
The first question is much easier to deal with. The Aba Power project supplying electricity to nine out of the 17 local government areas in Abia State, is in its transition phase. The legal transfer of ownership of the Aba ringed fence area from both the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Interstate Electrics to Geometric Power Ltd has taken place, but some issues are still being resolved.
https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/311143/bart-nnaji-and-the-electricity-question.html
Regional Power Pool Plans Liquidity Fund to Enhance Electricity Supply
The West African Power Pool (WAPP), is planning to create a Liquidity Enhancement Revolving Fund (LERF) for the region’s electricity market, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said.
Chairman, Executive Board of WAPP, Dr. Sule Abdulaziz, stated this during the 54th meeting of the executive board meeting of WAPP held in Cotonou, Benin Republic, according to a statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the organisation, Ndidi Mbah.
“The creation of this fund will provide the ECOWAS regional electricity market with a very important tool for electricity trading by reducing the level of outstanding bills, thereby providing stakeholders in the trade with a high degree of robustness and sustainability,” Abdulaziz stated.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of WAPP Executive Board, Siengui Ki Apollinaire, emphasised that the latest financial statements complied with international standards.
Lagos Govt Urges Use of LED Lights to Reduce Energy Consumption
Lagos State Government has implored households, industries and commercial buildings to take up the retrofitting initiative of transiting their mercury-based fluorescent lamps and bulbs to Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs for economic and health benefits.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, who stated this, yesterday, at a briefing on the retrofitting of the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic of Lagos State government by SRADeV Nigeria, under the aegis of the Clean Lighting Support for Building Retrofit Pilot of Clean Lighting Coalition (CLiC), said that using LED lights would lead to saving electricity tariff by 50 per cent in lighting usage. He said that it would also enhance illumination quality in all rooms, improve employee productivity and reduce maintenance costs due to longevity and durability of LEDs.
Ogboye, represented by the Director Medical Administration and Training, Dr. Olufunmilayo Sokunbi, said: “This campaign to eliminate use of mercury based bulbs (CFLs) is important to our healthy living condition as it prevents chronic diseases and effects of exposure to mercury, such as neurological and behavioural disorders, kidney damage, reproduction defects and others.”
https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-govt-urges-use-of-led-lights-to-reduce-energy-consumption/
Jitters Over Continuous Rainfall in Lokoja
Many residents of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital are in panic over the volume of rainfall the area has experienced in the last two days.
The city has been having intermittent, but significant rainfall since Saturday afternoon.
This is even as power supply in the city have been most erratic.
The cloud was relatively clear on Saturday night to Sunday morning. In spite of the relief, a heavy downpour around 12 on Sunday and continued till dusk.
The rain continued to drizzle and keep the ground wet at intervals on Monday, raising fears that it might result in flooding in the ancient city where two of Africa’s large water bodies, Rivers Niger and Benue have their Confluence.
Some of the people who live in houses built on the flood plains of the Rivers, have started making preparations to vacate their houses, before the waters will sack them.
https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2022/08/15/jitters-over-continuous-rainfall-in-lokoja/
Energy Minister Calls on Private Sector to Participate in Provision of Electricity Services
The Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called for an increased participation of the private sector in the provision of modern electricity services.
This, he said would improve the social and economic wellbeing of the people as well as bridge the developmental gap.
He said this yesterday in Accra in a speech read on his behalf at the Umoja renewable energy incubator roadshow.
The roadshow brought together energy developers from across the country in order to influence to apply and submit projects by September 4 this year.
The Umoja incubator is a collaboration between Serengeti Energy and Private Financing Advisory Network(PFAN) aimed at giving aspiring renewable energy developers in Sub-Sahara tools needed to access commercial and technical knowledge as well as funding to succeed in their projects
According to the Minister for Energy, about 600 million of the continent’s population have no access to electricity adding that “Umoja Incubator has come at such an opportune time to help derisk the preparatory costs of renewable energy projects on the continent.”
