Indications emerged on Thursday that Nigeria is preparing to sell its “stranded electricity” to Burkina Faso, as the nation’s power industry continues to battle challenges.

The planned energy export is being put in place by the concessionaire of Kainji and Jebba hydro power stations, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, MESL.

The company said it had been approached by the West African nation and it was ready for a deal.

“I am complaining that I have energy that cannot be utilised,” said the managing director of the company, Lamu Audu, on Thursday. “And some of us are actually looking beyond the borders of Nigeria to sell our power if the Nigerian market cannot take it because we have to remain in business—-we have responsibilities to our shareholders.

“Investments have been made, and that is why we are looking into the West African market. Honestly, we are already talking to Burkina Faso. They approached us and we are willing to have deals with them to sell power to them. They are willing to buy.”

Mr Audu said this at the PwC’s Annual Power and Utilities Roundtable in Lagos.

The company acquired Kainji and Jebba power plants through a concession agreement in November 2013, following the privatisation of the power sector.

Speaking during a panel session at the event, Mr Audu said when the firm took over in 2013, it had not a single generating unit in operation although it had an installed capacity of 760 MW.

He explained that Jebba had an installed capacity of 578 .4 MW, with six generating units.

However, he said, the company took over five generating units that had not been overhauled in 30 years.

“As we speak today, we generate 20 to 25 per cent of the energy going into the grid,” Mr Audu said.

“We have ramped up our capacity at Kainji from zero to 440 MW. At Jebba, what we concentrated on is the reliability of the existing units. We utilised the capacity of our staff to recover some of the units.

“Currently, we have a capacity of 922 MW but, on the average, it is only 600 MW to 650 MW that is utilised. So, we have stranded energy, which is seriously impacting on our ability to attract more funding for capacity recovery and capacity expansion.”

Issues of blackout and perennial power failure have impeded on the nation’s growth and development for decades. A number of public officials who promised to deliver when appointed into the power ministry end up failing to actualise their dreams.

The minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has however said at different fora that the nation’s power situation has improved.

On Thursday, Mr Audu said some stakeholders are looking beyond the shores of Nigeria to attract investment and optimise underutilised power.

He also explained that the challenges in the Nigerian power industry are complex, adding that they nation may not experience uninterrupted power supply until the next two decades.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/298292-nigerian-power-firm-to-sell-electricity-to-burkina-faso.html

And my home hasn't had electricity for 2 days now..As long as that conman called Fashola continues to champion the sale of darkness to Nigerians thieving DISCOS will continue to reject 70 percent of electricity wheeled to them from Generation...Nigeria darkness is a business

“Currently, we have a capacity of 922 MW but, on the average, it is only 600 MW to 650 MW that is utilised

The company is naking the right decision for itself. Its up to the Fashola to figure out why the power isnt being utilized. Is the discos fault or TCN. The company would gladly sell power to Nigeria if we're buying it. Why should they leave over 200 MW utilized.

Front page: Lalasticlala

I won't read.

We don't have light in Nigeria.

Same way I see exportation of casava is how I see this.

Treason.

Who sells what is not enough for their family.

Ooh.. Mother Russia. If you know.. You know

hmm

D company is there to make business.. So long as dey are not transmitting d power Nigerians are suppose to use to Burkina Faso den na their business

Now I know why they said Nigeria is close to hell fire..



Mr of darkness , fashola, over to you.

This is insane and absurd to say the least. How can we be in perennial darkness and this people are planning on selling same highly constrained power to a neighbouring country?

He also explained that the challenges in the Nigerian power industry are complex, adding that they nation may not experience uninterrupted power supply until the next two decades.

Lol he's literally saying its going to take annother generation. What's so complicated about Nigeria's power system that investment and good regulation cant fix in a decade max?

We have a very serious problem in this country...

Blue3k:


Lol he's literally saying its going to take annother generation. What's so complicated about Nigeria's power system that investment and good regulation cant fix in a decade max?

Obviously the problems lie with the TCN and the DISCOS. TCN says there is system overload because of low utilization by DISCOS resulting in load shedding. The DISCOS are like a bunch of spendthrifts living off inheritance. They've got no acumen for growing the business. Not until this implants of GEJ/PDP are supplanted, regular power supply will continue to be a mirage

Blue3k:


Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/298292-nigerian-power-firm-to-sell-electricity-to-burkina-faso.html

I hope Nigerians are seeing what they are planning.

They will use oil money to build hydroelectric power stations., then turn around to sell the power to other African countries while southern Nigeria is in pitch darkness without electricity.

Those still doubting if Buhari is actually from Sudan or Niger Republic need not to worry. Just watch how he plots to use Nigeria's resources to develop his native country. While keeping Nigeria undeveloped.

The many ironies of a country

Nigeria is sooooooo cursed on many levels!

OreMI22:


I hope Nigerians are seeing what they are planning.

They will use oil money to build hydroelectric power stations., then turn around to sell the power to other African countries while southern Nigeria is in pitch darkness without electricity.

Lol you conspiracy theorist are something else. Its just business and nothing more. The company already provides 20%-25% of power to grid. Besides I would think Southern Nigeria gets most of its power from Natural gas power plants all over place. What do you suggest the do with stranded power if there's no market in Nigeria. If you were in their position would you let money sit on table?

Btw where do u live thats in pitch darkness.

“I am complaining that I have energy that cannot be utilised,” said the managing director of the company, Lamu Audu, on Thursday. 

“As we speak today, we generate 20 to 25 per cent of the energy going into the grid,” Mr Audu said.

“Currently, we have a capacity of 922 MW but, on the average, it is only 600 MW to 650 MW that is utilised

This is fo.olishness even though the genco is right.

It's a joke right....

Selling electricity to different countries which have 24/7 constant power supply nd yet we don't have light... Isn't this a mystery??

it's in our nature to give what we don't have.

F****k all of dem

Light wen never reach us.

BlindAngel:
Selling electricity to different countries which have 24/7 constant power supply nd yet we don't have light... Isn't this a mystery??

No mystery here. Your discos are not ready to do business yet courtesy of the 2012 paddy-paddy privatisation.
Instead of selling the discos to serious people, they sold them to their political cronies like Abdusalam and Tunde Ayeni (Ibadan and Yola discos) Emeka Offor (Enugu disco). Same Ayeni that donated N2billion to Jonathan's campaign in 2015.
While the gencos and TCN have stepped up their capacities, your discos are not able to distribute the power produced due to lack of capacity. They are supposed to invest money and improve their capacities. Instead they lazily dish out estimated bills to get easy money.
That's what we call Political Privatisation of Nigeria's power sector. Same thing to expect if they "sell" NNPC.

3rd world country

Things like this are normal here.


Shithole!

Blue3k:


The company is naking the right decision for itself. Its up to the Fashola to figure out why the power isnt being utilized. Is the discos fault or TCN. The company would gladly sell power to Nigeria if we're buying it. Why should they leave over 200 MW utilized.

Front page: Lalasticlala

The issue is from the discos. They refuse to take load because they don't ve proper recovery platform.

Blue3k:


The company is naking the right decision for itself. Its up to the Fashola to figure out why the power isnt being utilized. Is the discos fault or TCN. The company would gladly sell power to Nigeria if we're buying it. Why should they leave over 200 MW utilized.

Front page: Lalasticlala

Sorry to answer the question meant for Fashola. It’s the fault of Disco, most of them especially the one in south are so much interested in making profit and not satisfying customer. Secondly inadequate money to fund it, most of them has acquired loan, those who sold NEPA are out greatest enemy

This country stinks of stupidity.

Not surprised, we gave Malaysia palm fruits and now we are importing palm oil from them.
We sell our crude oil and import refine products .
We are going export electricity to Burkina Faso to power their industries and then we import their finishing products

awon oloshi