Oscarline Onwuemenyi
07 October 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said it wheeled out 105,535.8 megawatts (Mw) of electricity in the first four weeks of September against 94,958.7Mw wheeled out in August.
The daily statistics of TCN operations obtained from Nigerian Electricity System Operator (SO), a section of the TCN, indicated that 105,535.8 megawatts was generated in September as against 94,958.7 megawatts generated and wheeled out in August.
The statistics indicated that power generation increased by 10, 577.1 megawatts in September due more gas supply and increase in water level in most hydro plants.
The breakdown showed daily power generated and wheeled to the 11 distribution companies from Sept. 1 to September 15 were 3,799.6 mw, 3,655.6 mw, 2,952.2mw, 3,390.3mw, 3,722.4mw, 3,556.7mw, 3,204.6mw, 3,167.1mw, 3,625.5mw, 3,776.8mw, 2,945mw, 3,740.4mw, 3,375.2mw, 3,826mw and 3,615.9mw respectively.
Daily power generated from September 16 to September 30 were 3,292.3mw, 3,762.8mw, 3,676.5mw, 3,936.8mw, 3,813.3mw, 3,482.8mw, 3,617.9mw, 3,586.7mw, 3,212.2mw, 3,767.8mw, 3,394.1mw, 3,863.6mw, 3,197.9mw, 3,658.1mw and 2,909.7mw respectively.
However, daily power generated from August 1 to August 15 were 2,617.9mw, 3,226.2mw, 3,411.3mw, 2,745.8mw, 2,951mw, 3,393.8mw, 3,292.8mw,3,301.7mw, 3,360.5mw, 3,425.6mw, 3,126.8mw, 3,316.1mw, 2,804.5mw and 3,435.5mw, respectively
Daily power generated from August15 to August 31 were 3,443mw, 3,443mw, 4,068.6mw, 3,450.8mw, 3,737.6mw, 3,136.9mw, 3,912.8mw, 3,361.9mw, 2,895mw, 2,900.1mw, 3,126.8mw, 3,288.4mw, 2,579.2mw, 3,579.2mw and 3,328.3mw respectively.
The TCN said that national peak demand forecast stood at 19,100.00mw, while 11,165.40mw was the installed available capacity, 7,139.60mw was the available capacity, 7,000 MW was the current transmission capacity and network operational capacity was 5,500.00mw.
The peak generation ever attained in Nigeria was 5,074.7mw, while the maximum energy ever attained stood at 109,372.01mwh.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, last week said a new electricity regulation that would boost meter supply for consumers nationwide would become operational in October.
Fashola disclosed this in Lagos at a Policy Dialogue on the Power Sector organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
The minister said that the regulation, which would govern meter service providers, would open up the market to more players in the meter supply chain, strengthen local meter suppliers and bridge the country’s metering gaps.
“It would enable other businesses that are not distribution companies (Discos) to supply meters. The core business of the Discos is not meter supply, their core business is distributing power but it needs meters to do so.
“Those who specialise in manufacturing, supplying and installation of meter would now go into that business subject to licence by NERC (Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission),” Fashola said.
According to him, the Power Payment Assurance Guarantee eased the debt profile of the sector, thereby increasing power production from 2,690 megawatts in 2015 to 6,911 megawatts on December 24, 2016.
“We are trying to develop plans on how to put all of those 6,000 megawatts in the grid because currently, we can only put 4,225 megawatts on the grid,” Fashola said.
The minister enumerated his three-step roadmap for power improvement as Achieving incremental power, steady power and uninterrupted power supply in the country.
Fashola noted that with the right partnerships, the private sector could unleash “unthinkable” opportunities in the economy if the government focuses on policies, regulations and enabling the private sector to perform better.
President of LCCI, Mrs. Nike Akande, said improved power supply was critical to the survival of businesses and economic growth.
“Statistics shows that the country generates about 6,700 megawatts of electricity and out of it, 2,000 is wasted because of the problem associated with phishing and distribution.
“There is urgent need to reduce power losses and this can be achieved with a more robust engagement and regulation of the power sector,” Akande said.
Chairman, LCCI Power Sector Group, Mr. Effiong Edet, emphasised the need to review the privatisation of the power sector, refinance of debts and government’s 40 percent equity in Discos in order to attract more investors.
According to him, other issues are: Enforcement of prepaid meters, need for a cost-effective tariff, need to decentralise the transmission system and more engagement between the government and private sector.
The Managing Director of Egbin Power Station, Mr. Kola Adeshina, said the fundamental problems of the power sector stemmed from its pricing.
We are talking of industrialisation but we cannot be industrialised if the cost of electricity is high,” he said.
Adeshina urged the stakeholders to use the country’s vast gas endowment towards reducing the pricing of electricity, emphasising the need for a holistic review of the power reforms.