THE Federal Government has announced plans to commence electronic monitoring of pipelines and other facilities channeling gas to power plants across the country.

Government, which has endlessly blamed vandals for its inability to generate previously targeted generation capabilities, also pledged to multiply electricity generation in the next four years.

Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, said in Abuja yesterday that: “Most of our power supply in Nigeria is based on gas with about 70% gas-fired turbine and 30% hydro. When we have a holistic energy mix, things will get much improved. Oil thieves, vandals who break into our pipelines make it difficult for Nigerians to even benefit from what this government has done.

“We have far larger capacity installed than the power we are giving out because of gas supply. That is being taken care of. More forces are being deployed.

“Electronic gadgets are being installed to ensure that at any point of disruption our security forces will know and know how to forestall it.”

On government’s ability to transform the sector, Nebo said: “Within the next four years, we want to multiply power generation and make sure that every community experience this. Renewable is the key to access inclusive power supply that go round within the communities. The government of President Goodluck Jonathan has done a lot in ensuring improved power supply.”

A statement from Technical Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Sunny Igboanugo, further quoted Nebo as saying that Nigerians would have enjoyed much more stable power supply, if the activities of vandals blowing up pipelines had not increased in recent times

He said: “A few days ago shortly after most parts of the country celebrated the yuletide with stable power, which drew a lot of praises for the government, vandals struck again by bursting many points the main pipelines supplying gas to power stations, this resulted in a steep drop in generation capacity and by extension available on the national grid.”

He said the introduction of renewable energy especially solar power system had provided electricity in some rural communities with a calculated plan to connect the rest soon.

According to Nebo: “Continuity is very essential and critical because we don’t want policy summersault. We are now on a trajectory and we hope to consolidate that trajectory. We need the media to spread the information on why our people should make use of energy saving bulbs to conserve voltage.

“I see a Nigeria where hospitals, schools, households in far villages that never thought electricity because national grid cannot get to them, are connected to power via renewable energy and lighted up.

“Most Nigerians who live in rural area don’t have access to electricity because they were marginalized. And so, could not make use of electricity to cook and do other things. The fumes from various cooking materials cause lots of damages to their respiratory system and even their eyes are damaged just because they have no access to electricity.

“The cost of electricity is huge. But with renewable energy mix which is sustainable and durable with incredible potential for rural communities, the health and living standard of the people will greatly improve coupled with provision of substantial power for industries.”

He blamed inadequate education and cost factor for delays in embracing renewable energy in the country. “Initially the cost and lack of knowledge, it is part of the psyche of our people that renewable energy is too expensive, but that is not true.”

On renewable energy, the minister noted: “Currently, there has been a drop in the price of solar. So, it is beginning to get more attractive. We don’t have a policy for renewable energy, we are trying to develop one now.”

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/national-news/193695-ovt-plans-electronic-monitoring-of-gas-pipelines-to-curb-vandals