*As DisCos increase load taking to 5000MW
OpeOluwani Akintayo
18 February 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos — In a bid to quell fears that the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN lacks the capacity to transmit an extra 2000 Megawatts being generated by electricity generating companies, GenCos, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says TCN is now putting measures in place to meet demand.
In a statement at the 1st Stakeholders Workshop on- Taking 2000MW Unutilized Power to Eligible Customers, which was held with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the minister said TCN is able to transport the 5000MW and extra 2000MW as it is currently expanding its capacity daily.
The meeting with MAN was geared towards how the additional 2000MW generated by the GenCos can be delivered to industries and homes, as well as the smooth implementation of the eligible customers regulation released in 2017 by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The regulation gives eligible customers the opportunity to buy stranded power directly from GenCos, just like the Distribution Companies (DisCos) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.
He added that the electricity distribution companies, DisCos have also increased their load taking capacity to 5,000MW.
Before now, the DisCos have been criticised for rejecting power/load apportioned to them by TCN.
However, the DisCos have equally blamed TCN’s weak lines for their inability to transfer their portions to customers.
“What we gather to do today is to open the window for sales to the Eligible Customers. There can be no better time to explore this option than when there is the inventory of unsold power with the clear promise of more to come,” the Minister said.
Fashola added that the electricity market must be open to all willing buyers, adding that the manufacturing and production sector is the bridge to Nigeria achieving its diversification aim.
