TheNewsGuru

Tag: Electricity

  • Drama as power outage disrupts Nigerian Senate plenary today

    Drama as power outage disrupts Nigerian Senate plenary today

    Confusion as power outage on Tuesday disrupted the Senate Plenary session.

    Meanwhile, the Senators have reportedly suspended plenary till the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) restored the electricity supply.

    Recall the power problem in Nigeria had been made worse with the removal of fuel subsidy which escalated the pump price of petroleum otherwise known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and AGO known as gas to all time high in the history of the country.

    Also the national grid collapse had become a regular feature in the country in the last nine months.

    While the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Electricity Distribution Companies had recently absolved themselves of the epileptic power supply, it blamed the problem on generation.

    Recall on January 25, that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had said that shortage of power supply across the country was caused by decrease in power generation.

    TCN, explained that the gradual decrease in available generation into the national grid was caused by gas constraints to the thermal generating companies.

    It said the development has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid for onward transmission to the distribution load centres nationwide.

    In a statement titled: “TCN clarifies on low generation into the grid reduced allocation to distribution companies,” signed by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said appealed to Nigerians for understanding it continue to work with the stakeholders in the value chain to improve supply through distribution companies to electricity consumers nationwide.

    The statement partly read: “The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN hereby announces that there has been a gradual decrease in available generation into the grid due to gas constraints to the thermal generating companies, which has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid for onward transmission to the distribution load centers nationwide.

    “TCN is doing everything possible in collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector to ensure that it continues to keep the grid intact inspite of the current low power generated into the system.

    “Consequent upon the current load on the grid, load distributed to the distribution load centres have also reduced, as TCN can only transmit what is generated.

    “TCN is committed to ensuring a gradual increase in electricity supply to load centers as gas improves to power available thermal plants.

    Please bear with us as we continue to work with the stakeholders in the value chain to ensure that supply through distribution companies to electricity consumers nationwide improves,” its statement partly read.

  • After power cut by DisCos over N42bn debt, corpses in army barracks mortuaries rot away

    After power cut by DisCos over N42bn debt, corpses in army barracks mortuaries rot away

    Corpses in mortuaries within some barracks of the Nigerian Army are rotting away over N42billion debt after power was disconnected.

    Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, disclosed this when he visited Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to seek intervention.

    Recall that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had given 83 MDAs in its franchise area a 10-day notice to pay the N47.1bn debt they owed the company or risk or risk disconnection.

    Aso Rock was listed among the debtors, but President Bola Tinubu waded in immediately after the notice was issued.

    The president had ordered that the debt be cleared.

    During his visit to the minister, Lagbaja regretted that some barracks and cantonments have been in darkness since January.

    “Debt owed is loaded on the meter, so no matter the amount of credit we put, the meters pick it automatically… Corpses in the Army mortuaries are decomposing and the owners of the corpses are protesting,” he said.

    He further stated that it was impossible for the Army to raise funds to pay the entire debt and solicited for liquidation as was done in 2005 by the then President.

    He assured the Minister of the army’s unflinching support towards developing intelligence strategies in curbing the menace of electricity infrastructure vandalism.

    Adelabu assured the Nigerian Army of his readiness to dialogue with DisCos to find a way out of the problem.

    According to the Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the minister, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu reiterated the importance of liquidity and funding in the sector, adding if the debts could not be written off, he would intervene in order to restructure the debt payment if there was assurance of regular payment by the Nigerian Army.

    He further revealed that debt owed by distribution and Generating Companies (GENCOs) is not the only challenge bedevilling the Power sector, adding that vandalization of power infrastructure which often lead to National grid collapse, theft, inefficiency in billing and collection process, poor metering gap, liquidity, shortage in gas supply, transmission stations being blown up with explosives in volatile areas are all part of the issues being experienced in the Power sector.

    “The fundamental issues in the power sector value chain could be traced back to the last 50 years and a government which is barely eight months cannot use a magic wand to proffer solution. There is a saying that you won’t know what is happening in Rome until you get to Rome,” he said.

    The Minister who acknowledged that Power outages is not peculiar to army barracks but a national issue said the DISCOs and GENCOs are profit-oriented organizations.

    “We can only plead with them to adopt a repayment plan on a monthly basis instead of embedding the whole debt in their meter,” he said.

    While encouraging the Army to continue assisting the Ministry in safeguarding power facilities across the nation, the Minister pledged to seek collaboration for the Army through any of the development partners for installation of Solar PVs and Battery Energy Storage System(BESS) as alternative power supply in Army barracks and cantonments.

    Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff disclosed that the main reason for the visit was to discuss the consequences of the power outage in army formations and the way forward.

  • Tinubu forced to pay light bill of State House

    Tinubu forced to pay light bill of State House

    President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate payment of outstanding State House electricity bill due to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

    The AEDC had advertised the names of its debtors, which included the State House, MDAs, State Governments and local councils within its franchise areas.

    The order is contained in a statement by Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said  the President’s directive followed the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.

    Onanuga said that contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923 million debt in a paid advertorial in newspapers, the State House outstanding bill is N342,352,217.46.

    The presidential aide added that the clarification is contained in a letter by the management of AEDC to the State House Permanent Secretary,  dated Feb. 14.

    ”Having reconciled the position to the satisfaction of both parties, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr  Femi Gbajabiamila, has given assurance that the debt will be paid to AEDC before the end of this week.

    ”Following the example of the Presidency, chief of staff also urged other Ministries Departments and  Agencies (MDAs)  to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and pay their electricity bills,” he said.

  • AEDC apologises over epileptic power supply

    AEDC apologises over epileptic power supply

    The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC),  has apologised to it’s consumers over the power interruption being experienced in its franchise areas.

    The  management of the company made the apology in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    “We understand the inconvenience this may cause and sincerely apologise for this disruption.

    “We would like to inform you that we are aware of the unstable power supply experienced in recent times essentially caused by insufficient power allocation to us.

    ”This has constrained us to implement load curtailment directives across our franchise to manage the situation for grid stability, ”it said.

    The company said that the insufficient power allocation would  involve occasional temporary interruption of power supply to certain areas for a limited period.

    The company said that it was working diligently to minimise the impact of these outages.

    ”We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.

    ”Please be assured that we will continue to update you on the situation and provide any necessary information as it becomes available,” it said.

  • Electricity: Nigerians can’t afford removal of another subsidy – Accord Party

    Electricity: Nigerians can’t afford removal of another subsidy – Accord Party

    The Accord Party has urged the Federal Government not to remove subsidy on electricity to avoid more hardship on the citizens.

    The Lagos State Chairman of the party, Mr Dele Oladeji on Thursday disclosed the removal of another subsidy would be much burden  on the masses.

    Oladeji said: “Nigerians cannot afford removal of another subsidy.

    “Nigerians are already hard-pressed, and should no longer be impoverished by taking electricity beyond their affordability.

    “The debt overhead can effectively be cleared if the Federal Government can block leakages and corruption.”

    The politician said that most Nigerians would not be able to cope with the cost of electricity without subsidy.

    “The planned removal will take electricity access and usage out of the reach and homes of 80 per cent Nigerians,” Oladeji said.

    The Federal Government, on Wednesday, said that it had become difficult to sustain subsidy on electricity due to increased debts.

    Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu said at a press conference in Abuja that Nigeria must begin to move toward a cost-effective tariff model.

    He  said that the country was  indebted to the tune of N1.3 trillion to electricity generating companies, while its debt to gas companies stood at $1.3 billion.

    Adelabu said that the proposed energy removal was aimed at effective energy administration.

  • Power: FG to settle N3 trillion inherited debt

    Power: FG to settle N3 trillion inherited debt

    The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, says the Federal Government is committed to settling more than three trillion Naira debt it inherited in the power sector.

    Adelabu said this in Abuja on Wednesday when he briefed newsmen.

    “Today, we owe the Power Generating Companies (GenCos) a total of N1.3 trillion, out of which 60 per-cent of it is being owed to gas suppliers.

    ”We have a legacy debt of 1.3 billion dollars prior to 2014 to gas suppliers companies at today’s rate that is close to two trillion Naira.

    “If you add the two trillion Naira legacy debt to N1.3 trillion owed the GenCos, we have an inherited debt of more than three trillion naira in the power sector.

    “How will the sector move forward? Nigerians deserve the right to know and we are working underground to resolve these issues,” he said.

    According to him,  the Federal Government plans to settle the existing sectoral outstanding debt obligations to the gas supply and power generation companies, using partly cash payment and guaranteed debt instruments.

    Adelabu said that the Ministry of Power was liaising with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and office of the Special Adviser on Energy to the president to settle the outstanding debt.

    “We are also working  with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), to have a working arrangement for firm gas supply contracts for the Gencos.

    ”And possibly agree on gas to power domestic supply pricing in local currency to reduce price fluctuations,” he said.

    According to the Minister, said the issues with the electricity supply value chain are multiple simple technical operational problems across all segments in the value chain.

    According to him,  these issues are made complicated by lack of sustaining liquidity and infrastructure funding as well as structural misalignment.

    He listed the simple technical issues to include inadequate shortage of gas supplies and aging dilapidated generation machineries.

    “Causing below optimal capacity utilisation leading to short supply by the GenCos,” he said.

    Others he said include inadequate power evacuation capacity at Genco locations, coupled with unstable and fragile transmission lines devoid of automated frequency controls.

    ”Lacking in fail-over or back-up capacity with frequent human disturbances through vandalism and theft.

    ”Aging weak distribution infrastructure (lines and transformer) coupled with huge meter gap causing unbearably large technical and collection losses.

    “These are issues that look so simple on the surface and should ordinarily require little efforts to fix over time, ”he said.

    The minister said that it had been difficult to get these problems fixed over the years due to the complications wrapping the entire value chain end to end.

    Adelabu said that the road map to stabilising the sector in preparation for turn around and transformation was the

    settlement of existing sectoral outstanding debt.

    He said that there was also the need for

    a national discourse on the nation’s perspective to electricity supply, commercial product or social service.

    “There must be an agreement across divides on how we define electricity.

    “Depending on the outcome of the above, either implementation  of a cost reflective tariff or a cashed backed Federal Government guaranteed subsidy funding regime to inject liquidity into the sector.

    ”Increased investments across the value chain for infrastructure improvements, capacity expansion and transmission automation.”

    The minister said that diversification of power generation to absorb renewables and facilitate the nation’s journey to energy transition target was key.

    He said that the roadmap would encourage distributed power strategy in conjunction with sub- national government focussing on embedded power model.

    This he said would  reduce pressure on the national grid, and  ensure alternative electricity supply to Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).

    The minister said that the development of a rural electrification plan from a bottom up and a top down approach to identify the unserved and the underserved rural and sub urban communities was required.

    According to him, this will enable the government to direct targeted subsidy through rural electrification agencies at a national and sub national leve.

    ”Using renewables (small hydro, solar micro grid, solar home systems and wind technology.

    ”Develop and expand capacity for sectoral regulation, technical inspection and sectoral expertise.

    Adelabu also said that there were ongoing activities in the ministry of power and its agencies to improve power supply.

    He said that these activities include the

    augmentation of the hydro plants: operational capacity. and thermal power

    ”The recent completion of the 700 Megawatts (MW)0 Zungeru Hydro Electricity Power Plant in Niger State.

    ”Financing the required infrastructure to enable complete evacuation of the 40MW Kashimbila Hydro Power Plant in Taraba using Promissory Note facility at the Debt Management Office (DMO).

    ”Resuscitation of abandoned 26 small and medium size hydro plants across the country with solar hybridization.

    “This will adopt embedded power model with connectivity to the regional Discos distribution network.

    Others he said are completion of the 20 MW Wind/Solar hybrid power plant in Katsina.

    “Completion of infrastructure require for complete evaluation of the 30 million Gurara Dam Power Plant.

    “Re-visitation of the abandoned 15 IPP Solar plants in the Northern part of the country, and developing an IPP solar auction with the support of the World Bank,” he said.

  • Poor power supply beyond our powers – Electricity company

    Poor power supply beyond our powers – Electricity company

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), says the poor power supply currently experienced across the South-East is beyond its powers.

    The company attributed the situation to low energy generation, which has resulted in a drop in power supply availability generally.

    The Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, made this known on Monday to newsmen in Enugu.

    Ezeh, however, appealed to residents of the zone to bear with the company.

    According to him, the development has resulted in low generation, leading to a reduction in the quantum of daily megawatt hour (MWH) of energy allocated to distribution companies nationwide, thereby impacting the quality of service to its customers.

    “We understand the inconveniences this situation has caused our esteemed customers and appeal for their understanding as it is beyond us.

    “We can only distribute what is allocated to us,” he said.

    Ezeh said that efforts are being made by the various stakeholders in the power sector to address this issue, and “we hope this yields positive result so that normal distribution will return”.

    He said that EEDC remained committed to providing improved services to its  esteemed customers.

  • Real reasons there is no enough gas to generate electricity in Nigeria

    Real reasons there is no enough gas to generate electricity in Nigeria

    Three reasons have been identified for the low supply of gas to thermal power plants nationwide with which to generate electricity in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the reasons were identified at a meeting between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) and the Ministry of Power.

    In a statement on Thursday by Mr Chris Ugwuegbulam, Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), the three reasons were identified as decade of gas legacy debts, vandalisation of gas resources infrastructure in the Niger Delta Region and domestic pricing of gas in dollars.

    At the end of the meeting, an inter-ministerial committee to suggest ways of achieving a sustainable gas supply to gas generating plants in the country was constituted.

    The inter-ministerial committee was in Abuja by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo and the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

    “The committee will suggest means of achieving a steady gas supply  to meet domestic and industrial needs of Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” Ekpo said.

    He  expressed willingness to work harmoniously with any individual, organisation and agency to solve these challenges.

    Meanwhile, on his part, Adelabu stated the need for the two ministries to work collaboratively to solve the problem of low gas supply to Thermal Power Plants across the country.

    This, Adelabu said, would achieve an uninterrupted power supply in the country, adding that nothing could be done in Nigeria without stable power.

    Members of the  committee were drawn from the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power, Regulatory Agencies, Operators and Critical Stakeholders in the Gas and Power Sectors.

    The meeting was witnessed by some directors in the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power.

  • CARTOON OF THE DAY: How is electricity in your area?

    CARTOON OF THE DAY: How is electricity in your area?

  • Gas not enough to generate electricity in Nigeria – Power Minister

    Gas not enough to generate electricity in Nigeria – Power Minister

    Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has disclosed that low supply of gas to electricity generating companies (GenCos) is adversely affecting supply in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports Adelabu made the disclosure in a statement posted on his official X account after a meeting with GenCos and electricity distribution companies on Friday in Abuja.

    The Minister stressed resolving the issue of gas supply was top priority in the agenda of the ministry of power, adding that the federal government will set up a committee to resolve the issue.

    “I have decided to form a committee involving all stakeholders. Together, we will work on recommendations to resolve these issues and ensure a more reliable and consistent power supply for our citizens.

    “Yesterday, I had crucial discussions with power Generating Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) to address the ongoing issue of blackouts in parts of our country.

    “Power supply during the yuletide improved, but unfortunately we have experienced setbacks in the New Year. After investigations, it is clear that the main cause of poor power supply is the low supply of gas to GenCos.

    “I visited facilities in Olorunshogo, Ogun State, and Omotosho, Ondo State to understand the challenges firsthand,“ he said.

    Adelabu said that a plan had also been established to initiate discussions with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, regarding collaboration and to emphasise the importance of prioritising gas to power.

    He said that during the meeting indebtedness to GenCos by Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) was also addressed.

    “While acknowledging the sector’s liquidity challenge, we are working on validating the debt and determining a fair resolution.

    “I emphasised the importance of GenCos establishing contractual arrangements with gas suppliers to ensure a steady gas supply.

    “Recognising concessions may be needed, I assure you that we are committed to working on this to stabilise the power sector. To tackle the gas supply and liquidity challenges, ‘’he said.

    Adelabu said that the commitment of the ministry of power in addressing challenges affecting power supply was unwavering.

    “We understand the impact on citizens and our goal is to swiftly resolve the issues of gas supply, indebtedness, and overall sector stability.

    “Your patience is appreciated as we work, collaboratively towards a brighter, more reliable energy future for Nigeria, ‘’he said.