Fashola: 2,000mw idle as electricity generation hits 7,000mw

Nigeria’s electricity generation has hit 7,000 megawatts, the highest in the history of Nigeria, but a large proportion of the generation remain idle.

Reports say that only 5,000 megawatts had been utilised, leaving 2,000 megawatts idle.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, complained that only a part of the generation had been put on the grid.

“On Friday December 8, we reached an all-time power production of 7,000 and a great peak supply of 5,155 Megawatts, which Nigeria has never produced or generated.

TCN will complete over 200 electricity projects,” Mr Fashola said.

“The last supply was 5074 MW in January 2016, after which we went into a season of disruption of gas supply by militants.

“It means that our policies and programs are working, and we are also so now able to evacuate substantially all of that power by transmission,” he said.

According to him, the ministry in collaboration with all the stakeholders, has created a safe and more conducive environment to gain the confidence of investors in the power sector

Mr Fashola unveiled the success story during the 22nd Power Sector Monthly Meeting with power stakeholders and other participants held at the Geregu Power Plc in Ajaokuta on Monday.

He thanked the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello for hosting the meeting and expressed his gratitude for paying the compensation that was mitigating against the development of the Kabba Transmission Sub-station.

Managing Director, Generation, Geregu Power Plant, Adeyemi Adenuga, said the plant was handed over to private company on October 1, 2013, saying the new owners have invested about 94 million dollars into the plant to make it what it is today.

“Right now, we can successfully run three units (turbines) comfortably, effectively and efficiently. So, we hope that from this meeting we will get the needed loads for our machine”, Mr Adenuga.

Special Adviser on Energy and Power to the Governor, Otayitie Eminefo, applauded the minister and stakeholders for their visit to the State, saying it was timely, as Government had invested so much in distribution of power assets across the state

He added that it was important for the industry to further prioritize the State in electrification projects so as to deliver on Gov. Bello’s new direction blueprint promises.

Governor Bello had earlier applauded the effort of the ministry for making it possible for the people of the state to start enjoying improved electricity supply.

“Today, we are glad that there is a relative improvement in the power generation and transmission across Nigeria especially in Kogi,’’ the governor said.

“The Federal Government has virtually solved all the power problems, but we need a little patient for all the various communities who do not have electricity in Kogi to be identified and install the required transformers in those areas.

“I want to encourage investors to make enough investment in power distribution so that various communities at the grassroots in Kogi and across the country can begin to enjoy the benefits.

“When we assumed office, we met a dispute regarding Kabba Power Transmission sub-station, but we immediately waded in and resolved the issues for the work to be completed,” Mr Bello said.

 

NAN