How FG rescued power sector, raised transmission to 8,000MW — Fashola
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said the Federal Government has delivered on raising capacity and infrastructure in the power sector, as transmission wheeling capacity among others has reached 8,000 megawatts (MW).
Mr Fashola disclosed this while marking the third anniversary in office as a minister in Abuja on Monday.
The third year ministerial anniversary came after President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated his Federal Executive Council (FEC) on November 10, 2015, and merged the Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing into a single Ministry.
Fashola assumed office immediately and by December 8, 2015, he called a briefing and promised to clear the over N100 billion debts owed by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), increase transmission capacity, improve liquidity for the Generation Companies (GenCos) to get more gas for power generation, and facilitate incremental to stable power supply.
He insisted yesterday that a significant milestone has been met, Fashola said: “I am proud and happy to report that we have walked that talk and we have delivered visible results and recorded qualitative progress.”
Validating his claims on the sector improvement, he said: “Generation has increased from 4,000MW in to 7,000MW; transmission was 5,000MW, I’m told that the last simulation is around 8,000MW in transmission. Distribution has improved to 5,000MW.”
The minister said more generation capacity will be delivered soon to include 215MW from Kaduna Plant, 240MW from Afam IV in few months; 40MW from Kashimbilla, 30MW from Gurara and 29MW from Dadin Kowa plant.
He noted that power generation projects are ongoing across nine universities, power supply projects across major markets and the execution of two large hydropower projects - the 700MW Zungeru and 3050MW Mambilla projects.
Fashola who spoke on the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a non-privatised public utility said the firm has reached a level where between a 60 day cycle, it delivers more projects within the last one year.
“We are also planning to deliver additional transmission capacity from 90 projects nationwide with Apo, Mayo Belwa, Maiduguri, Odugunyan and Ejigbo being examples of recently completed ones.
Fashola however acknowledged issues in the power sector like access to power, metering among others as he assured that they are being addressed. Citing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Q2 report, the minister said there was 7.5% growth in electricity sector which was better than the -11% rate recorded in the same quarter of 2015.
“The report of our survey and feedback mechanism confirms that many of you now have public power for longer hours compared to 2015 and that you now run generators for shorter period compared to 2015; and also, you now spend less money on diesel to power your generators,” the minister said.
Fielding questions from newsmen, Fashola said there are ongoing interventions to raise distribution capacity especially through the Distribution Expansion Programme.
Permanent Secretary (power), Engr. Louis Edozien urged the Distribution Companies (DisCos) to invest in infrastructures to get the power to the consumers and that the ministry has brought the Mini Grid and Eligible Customer policies to provide choices to consumers who are not satisfied with DisCos’ services.
“We are confident that with the distribution expansion, the implementation of these policies and the cooperation of the DisCos, the constituencies that you mention will be promptly solved and there will be progress on uninterrupted power supply,” Edozien noted.
Expect Providers Meter before Q1 NERC
Addressing questions on metering, the Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh said before the first quarter of 2019, consumers will start seeing the Meter Assets Providers (MAP) in business to install meters nationwide.
Momoh said 108 MAP have been granted no objection by NERC. He said, “Before the first quarter, you will begin to see several providers in business. We are also putting in order, a capping in terms of the maximum for which a customer who has not obtained a meter will pay. The DisCos are also working with us to make sure this is done.”
‘Works may begin at 3,050MW Mambilla hydropower this year’
Mr Fashola who also gave an update on the 3050MW Mambilla hydropower project in Taraba state said preparatory works may begin on site before the year as President Buhari has approved such baring any delay in funding.
He said the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) for the project has been signed for $5.72bn, the first time after 40 years of the project being on the drawing board.
While the Federal Government will provide 15% counterpart funding, China will provide 85% of the loan and the manpower because of their experience in building the Three Gorges Dam in China that generates about 20,000MW.