₦airaland Forum

A full system collapse occurred yesterday evening at 6.00 pm when the country power generation recorded zero MW power supply which resulted in total blackout, with average power generation crashing to 1, 618 megawatts hour (MWH), down from 2, 904 MWh generated just before the system collapsed dropping generation to zero megawatts.

This has been one of the worse performing week for the power sector as multiple system collapse were recorded this week, information obtained by Energywatchng from System Operators a branch of Transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) shows that generation level collapse to 10MW on the Sunday, 15th January. Moreover, another system collapse occurred on Monday, 16th were generation dropped to 108MW, same system collapse occurred on Wednesday when generation dropped to 42MW. However, the daily operational report from the Nigeria Electricity System Operator, an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), showed that nine electricity generation companies, GENCOs, sent out zero electricity to the grid.

The nine GENCOs are Gbarain, Rivers Independent Power Project, IPP, Trans Amadi, ASCO, and A.E.S. Others are Olorunsogo IPP, Ibom, Gerugu NIPP and Afam IV- V. In 2016, a similar incidence of total systems collapse happened 16 times.


“The huge debts owed for gas, and recent attacks of gas facilities are limiting supply to the power plants. For instance, an oil/gas pipeline facility blew up this week in Ughelli, Delta State and it connects critical Generation Companies (GenCos) like Ughelli, Sapele, Benin GenCos,” the official said.

http://www.energywatchng.com/total-blackout-power-generation-falls-0-mw/

President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to review the privatisation of the power sector so that the country could leverage on a vibrant real sector to exit recession and drive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria immediate past president, Comrade Oladele Hunsu, gave the advice in Lagos at the weekend.
He argued that only a transparent review of the exercise to unmask those who bought the unbundled assets of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2013 and their capacities would resolve the crisis in the sector that has remained a pain in the neck of real sector operators and stunted the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.
Hunsu, who described the privatisation as “shoddy and fraudulent,” said more than three years after PHCN’s assets were handed over to private investors, there had not been any significant improvement in electricity supply.
He lamented that rather than improve, electricity supply has continued to drop.

“Nigeria was generating more than 4,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity before privatisation in 2013. Today, electricity generation capacity is wobbling between 2,000Mw and 3,500 Mw in a country with a population of over 170 million. It’s high time we reviewed the privatisation.
“We need to investigate how those electricity distribution and generating companies (DisCos) and (GenCos) were sold and who bought them,” he said.
He noted that several electricity consumers were yet to be metered years after the privatisation, adding that this underscored the abysmal performance of the sector.

While describing the private investors’ failure to meter all consumers as illegal, Hunsu accused the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of failing to properly regulate the industry.
Besides, he said it is only in Nigeria that the government will hand over public funds to private investors as soft loans or bailouts to enable them run supposedly privatised entities.

http://www.energywatchng.com/buhari-urged-review-privatisation-power-sector/

Investors in the power sector are cutting costs to stay afloat as the sector groans under huge debts of over N100billion and liquidity gap of N950billion, The Nation has learnt.
It was gathered that management of the electricity firms, especially the power distribution companies (DisCos), have adopted cost -saving measures to spur growth.
It was learnt that many of the firms were using ad-hoc workers as technicians to reduce their wage bills.
Other strategies include providing meters to their customers to recover their debts.
Ikeja Electric (IE) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Anthony Youdeowei, said during a forum organised by the company that the aim of any business enterprise is to reduce losses and make gains.
He said to realise this goal, the firm has promised to be customer-centric.
He added that customers are key to the growth of the company, and that IE would always include its workers in its plans.
Youdeowei said: ‘’The firm is customer-centric, and would try as much as possible to protect its customers in order to achieve the much needed growth. To achieve this, we are working to ensure that only workers that are ‘fit’ are employed. By this, I mean workers that display reasonable level of competence and do not commit crimes.’’
Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Oladele Amoda, said the DisCos, despite their limited income, have recorded some successes.
He said the firm records losses when it charges estimated bills, adding it can only make money when it provides meters to its customers.
‘’We have realised that we do not make money by charging estimated bills. The best way to make money is to provide meters to our customers and that is why we are planning to issue 200,000 meters to our customers soon,” he said.

He said workers, who engage in corrupt practices, had been asked to go to promote integrity in the system.
The investors that bought the assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2013 were yet to record any meaningful growth due to challenges, such as shortage of gas for generation, and metering.
The issue has led to the dwindling revenue and other associated problems.

http://www.energywatchng.com/power-firms-cut-costs-liquidity-shrinks/

Green Energy has said it will utilise gas produced from its Otakikpo Marginal Field in Oil Mining Lease 11, Rivers State, for electricity supply, power generation and domestic gas production.

According to GEIL, the marginal field, which is gradually moving towards production, will provide the required fuel for six megawatts generators that will supply uninterrupted electricity to indigenes of Ikuru town and adjoining communities of Ayama Ekede, Ugama Ekede, Asuk Ama and Asuk Oyet.

It stated that the project was expected to boost the economy of the fishing communities and was being carried out in the state together with GEIL’s technical partner, Lekoil.



The gas producer said the project would encourage the communities to establish an industrial park where companies could leverage the uninterrupted electricity in the area, adding that the total initial cost of the scheme was in excess of N2bn.

The Director of Sustainable Development at GEIL, Mr. Ayo Olojede, said the company had started processing application with the industry regulator for the installation of gas processing facility to extract the Liquefied Petroleum Gas and condensate from wet associated gas in the Otakikpo wells.

He noted that GEIL and its partner had designed a scheme with the communities that would involve local entrepreneurs to distribute the LPG within and outside the communities.

He explained that the Otakikpo marginal field was designed as a pilot scheme to demonstrate the applicability of the small-scale gas utilisation programme of the Federal Government.

Olojede said the programme would eliminate gas flaring and promote the utilisation of gas derived from the field to energise the economic potential of the oil producing communities.

He said it was hoped that the successful pilot phase of the project would lead more marginal fields to embrace the concept, as this would decrease gas flaring for small and medium-sized exploration and production companies.

The Technical Director, GEIL, Dr. Bunu Alibe, said the company had commenced a production test in order to meet its objective of producing the field.

According to him, the field, which has the capacity of adding about 10,000bpd to national production output within a short period of time, has its six-kilometre pipeline nearing completion.

http://www.energywatchng.com/rivers-state-communities-get-uninterrupted-electricity-supply/

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (Abuja Disco) has stated that it delivers more electricity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja because it is the current federal capital of Nigeria and hosts about 70 per cent of its entire customers.

The Disco in a statement refuted allegations by a group that it was biased against Niger State and its people in the distribution of the electricity allocated to it from the national grid. It also explained reasons why it has to give more power to Abuja.

According to the statement signed by its head of media and public affairs, Ahmed Shakarau, despite the recent drop in nationwide electricity generation and transmission, it has remained fair to all its customers in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger States.

“Notwithstanding the drop in generation, however, we have always shared the proportion of power allocated to us equitably amongst our customers in the coverage area.

“But it is instructive at this point to call public attention to the fact that in sharing whatever amount of power allocated to us daily, we concentrate the largest proportion of it in the FCT. This is justifiably so for very obvious reasons. One, the Federal Capital City-Abuja, is Nigeria’s seat of government, serving as host to many strategic national and international institutions, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the National Hospital, various military formations as well as several diplomatic missions,” said the Disco.

It further said: “It bears emphasis here, therefore, that while we accord the highest regard to all our customers across the entire coverage area, including Niger State, we cannot turn a blind eye to the very strategic power requirements of the nation’s capital city.

“Secondly, it is equally important to let the public know that 70 per cent of our customers are located in the FCT. Hence, we have no choice but to domesticate the largest proportion of our allocation in the territory.”
The Disco equally noted that its daily allocation has dropped from what it used to be due to the drop in generation.

“Besides, it is also pertinent to explain that as one of the 11 distribution companies, AEDC is only entitled to 11.5 per cent of whatever quantum of electricity that is available for distribution at the national pool.

“This comprises electricity generated from all the functional plants from amongst the 26 power generating plants, including the three hydropower stations in Niger State. It is also very important to point out that the 11.5 per cent of power available for national distribution has in recent times hovered in the region of 300 megawatts (MW) daily due to the low national generation occasioned by acts of vandalism. This is 150MW below AEDC’s baseline allocation where the generation atmosphere is peaceful,” it added.

http://www.energywatchng.com/give-abuja-electricity-supply-abuja-disco/

Abuja Disco has been announced the best performing Disco in the third quarter of 2016 by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The score according to the regulator was based on rates of collections, metering progress, health and safety, amongst other indicators.
Meanwhile, Okpai Power Plant was announced as the best performing thermal plant in the third quarter of 2016 while Shiroro was announced as the best performing hydroelectric plant.
The score for generating plants according to NERC, was based on availability and general compliance with industry standards.
Those were the fallout of the 11th monthly meeting of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola with Operators in the Power Sector, held at the Ikeja West Transmission Station, Ayobo, Lagos.
The Meeting, which was chaired by the Minister, was jointly hosted by Ikeja Electric and Egbin Power and, as usual, focused on identifying, discussing, and finding practical solutions to critical issues facing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Fashola had stressed the need for Operators, especially in the distribution areas of the power sector, to endeavour to improve the quality of their service to consumers pointing out that the consumers being the ones paying the bills, must be treated with all care and respect.
The Minister urged the Operators to continue to train and retrain their personnel to recognize that the customer is king adding that even if they could not provide all that the customers required, they owed the customers a duty to explain what they were doing at any point in time.
He declared, “We owe a duty to fish out a few staff that are not dedicated and retrain or discard them. I know that they are not many but a few because we get constant reports and we know we have got staffs that are very dedicated. Our staff must know that without customers they don’t have a job”.
“Without the customer, we have no business and I think all those in the private sector understand that. If you don’t have the zeal and dedication to serve, please leave, it is a thankless task but it is a noble task to serve”, the Minister said.
On the frequent complaints of consumers, Fashola listed them to include issues around metering and billing urging, “We must build that trust and that confidence that is needed in service delivery. I have heard complaints of people being charged for things they shouldn’t be charged for. So all of us that are owners of this business must look inside and do whatever is possible to improve service.
Expressing confidence that there would be improved service in the New Year “if we work together and have understanding of each other”, the Minister thanked the Operators for their perseverance thus far. He also advised them, “We have spoken of Undercover Boss here before. Go round; ask the consumers what their experiences have been. It will inform your management decision about what to do”.
On the liquidity issue, Fashola, who acknowledged its challenges to the service providers, recalled his statements concerning the issue both before the meeting and in the past as well as to the Press in which he had explained government’s efforts, working with its development partners, both international and local, who, according to him, “have shown commitment and very inspiring appetite to play in this sector”.
“We are trying to see what we can do together in order to bring the liquidity issue under some control and from there solve the problem”, he said just as he also announced that the members of Parliament have also shown inspiring understanding of what the challenges are.
According to the Minister, “Quick decisions will be made now with collaboration and we will be fair but firm and we expect that people will respect the decisions. These, of course, are matters which the regulator, NERC, will deal with, Bulk Trader, NBET, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Petroleum in terms of gas and, in fact, all the players, will dovetail into one another”.

http://www.energywatchng.com/abuja-disco-wins-best-performing-disco-q3-2016/

TWENTY days after ordering Eko Electricity Distribution and Afam Power Plant to pay fines of N48 million and N18. 51 million respectively for some power sector infractions, the companies are yet to comply with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, order.

The fine was imposed on Eko DISCO for violation of its licensing terms and other operating conditions over its late submission of 2013 and non-submission of 2014 audited financial reports.

For Afam, the sanction was as a result of its breach of its licensing terms and other operating conditions when it failed to file audited financial report for 2014 both summing up N66 million.

At present, the fines imposed on both firms have attracted an additional N66.6 million, being the cumulative for five per cent interest daily for 20 days following the expiration of the two weeks grace granted by NERC, which expired on the December 22, 20I6.

Meanwhile, NERC, said it would sanction distribution companies (DISCOs) that failed to meter electricity customers in their networks after February 28, 2017.

http://www.energywatchng.com/afam-eko-disco-default-nerc-fine/

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has unveiled plans to commission some electricity projects this year.

Fashola, who made this revelation in Lagos during the 11th Monthly Stakeholders meeting, said some of the projects to be commissioned in the course of the year include the completion of the Kaduna 215 megawatt power plant; the Gurara project and the Gardin Kowa plant. Others are switching of the Gudenda substation, as well as the conclusion of the Katsina wind and the Abuja solar farms.

The second phase of the Abuja solar project, he noted would run-up from 800watts to 1.2 megawatt and possibility of partnerships in the area of development of hydro dams.

He also disclosed that there are 14 projects for transmission in Lagos State and Ikeja West, which is the largest in terms of transformer capacity, is currently undergoing expansion to respond to the growing needs of population. “This tells you clearly that the transmission system is not static, it is dynamic and expanding.”

According to him, the evacuation of power at the Ikot Ekpene switching station is what has kept the grid to almost 4,000 megawatts. “We still have 3,000 megawatt out from the damage of the excado and vocado, so if that comes back, we are almost at 7,000 megawatts, so the target is incremental power.”

Fashola, who acknowledged the challenges operators are facing, expressed worries over consumer service as the focus of the power sector, saying “it remains the top burner issue because our staff must understand that without the customers, they do not have jobs and if they lack the skill and patients to serve, then they should leave.”

“Various distribution areas should improve the quality of service and recognize the customer as king, if we cannot solve the problem, we owe them some explanation. The issues around metering and billing should be addressed with trust,” he added.

On behalf of the operator, the Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric, Mr Anthony Youdeiwoe stated that though the expectations of the Nigerian public have not been fully met, operators are working hard in the midst of the volatility of the operating grounds to meet up.

http://www.energywatchng.com/power-projects-commissioned-year-fg/

Nigeria lost an estimate of 3287MW as at January 7, 2017 due to gas and water constraints, daily operational report of the Nigerian Electricity System Operation obtained by Energywatchng stated.

The reported gas constraint was 3137MW, while the water management constraint was 150MW.

This resulted in the power sector lost an estimated N1.578 billion.

7 gas-powered stations produced 0 MW, they include Afam IV-VI, Ibom, Olorunsogo NIPP, AES, Asco, Trans-Amadi and Rivers IPP.

The report further stated that power generation dropped by 83 mega watts, MW, yesterday, as average power sent out was 3,632MW as against 3,714MW sent out a day before.

Of the three hydro-powered stations, Kainji received 287MW as against 319MW it was given previously. Jebba got 410MW as against 408MW while Shiroro was allocated 287MW as against 273MW it previously got.

For gas-powered stations, Egbin got 169MW as against 173MW it was previously allocated, while Sapele was allocated 59MW as against 58MW previously allocated to it. Geregu, Omotosho 1, Olorunsogo 1 and Geregu NIPP got 124 MW, 89MW, 73MW and 106MW, as against 107MW, 88MW, 83MW and 114MW respectively.

http://www.energywatchng.com/nigeria-loses-3137mw-electricity-due-gas/

he Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has said illegal connection and meter bypassing attracts a penalty of N52,000 for three-phase meter electricity customers, just as it urges the public to cultivate electricity safety culture.

The Service Manager of Dutse Business Unit, Mr. Gomina Mutalib who disclosed this at a safety tour of the AEDC headquarters staff to the Dutse service area in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) lamented the spate of illegal connections and unethical practices by non-electricity staff in the area.

He said, “There is a penalty attached to bypassing of meters and other criminal acts. If it is a single phase meter, then they will pay N21,000 reconnection fee inclusive as a penal payment while N52,000 is paid for three-phase meter lines. The N2,000 is for reconnection fee while the N50,000 is the penal charge.”

Mutalib, who decried the high-level sharp practices in the area, said, “The illegal electrical connection practices is so much here that have been trying to educate them on the dangers of quackery as practised by non-electricity staff.”

He gave an instance where some customers were disconnected by the company during an inspection because they had bypassed the installed meters, adding that until such customers come to the unit to clear their fines, they will not be reconnected to the electricity lines.

http://www.energywatchng.com/aedc-impose-n52000-fine-illegal-electricity-connections/

The blame game in the power sector has come to the fore again as Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) claimed that Distribution Companies, DISCOs 30 percent remittances on monthly invoices is responsible for the current poor state of the country’s electricity services.

According to the General Manager in charge of Transmission at TCN, Bede Opara, DISCOs have not been able to pay their debts due to energy theft and other issues. “The low revenue collection affects transmissions as well as gas plants. All these are parts of the issues affecting the sector at one point or the other.”

Opara explained that most of the equipment TCN planned to utilize for construction work have been stranded at the ports for between five to eight years.

It would be recalled that the GENCOs have threatened to shut down their turbines as a result of huge market debts. Some have even gone to court to get relief.

Opara said that the DISCOs have to improve on their monthly remittances otherwise their accounts would be escrowed and their security deposits would be called up in the event of default.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Electricity System Operator, NESO, a section of TCN responsible for operating the transmission system, has indicated that due to these shortfalls there is constant collapse of the system.

According to their report in May 2016, the national grid collapsed five times. In June, it collapsed four times. July, September and October, each witnessed one collapse, while November and December witnessed three collapses each.

The transmission network was said to have recorded over 26 system collapses in 2016. These were largely blamed on weak transmission network, regarded as the weakest link in the electricity value chain.

Before now generation and distribution companies have asked for more time and patience from Nigerians to improve electricity supply.

Their plea came as they identified weak transmission network as a major hindrance in the attainment of the 10,000 megawatts target set by President Muhammadu Buhari to be achieved in 2019.

Last week, data obtained, showed that Kaduna, Eko, Jos, Yola, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ibadan and Benin DISCOs rejected the 1,336.75MWH of power from TCN in the third quarter of this year, despite instability in the supply of electricity across the country.

Specifically, in the month of July, a total of 318.83MWH, which was three per cent of the total energy delivered to the DISCOs, was rejected by four of the firms.

In July, the Kaduna DISCO’s rejection of 132.99MWH made it the highest in the month. The Eko DISCO rejected 67.46MWH; Jos, 63.05MWH; while the Yola DISCO rejected 55.33MWH. In the same month, the Port Harcourt DISCO took in the highest quantum of power at 441.43MWH; Kano accepted 397MWH; while the Enugu DISCO collected 302.49MWH. In August, there was an increase in load rejection by the distribution companies to the tune of 541.56MWH, which was four per cent of the total energy delivered to them as against the 318.83MWH delivered in the previous month.

http://www.energywatchng.com/blame-discos-gencos-poor-supply-tcn/

29/12/2016

Highest Frequency 51.46 Hz

Lowest Frequency 49.03 Hz

Peak Generation 4,040.40 MW

Lowest Generation 3,384.70 MW


Total Energy Sent Out 89,220.88 MWH

http://www.energywatchng.com/daily-generation/

She said: “The GENCOs have over 12, 000 mega watts (MWs) and can generate over 7, 000MWs of electricity, but have not enough funds to meet up due to lack of payment by the DISCOs for power sold to them.

“Recently, we gave 100 per cent power to the DISCOs, and they only ended up paying us 23 per cent of the money. That has been the trend for a while now. So we are helpless; we can’t buy gas. The gas companies who have adopted a ‘pay-before-service rule are shutting down the power plants.

‘‘And if we don’t have the gas, there is no way we can generate electricity. It is like wanting your generator to work without putting petrol in it. We can’t even maintain our turbines adequately for optimal generation. As I speak to you today, we are being owed N460 billion.”

While it appears that some stakeholders in the industry may have been angling the option of government subsidy as a way out of the crisis, Dr Ogaji rejected the call outrightly.

She said: “ I think our experience with subsidy in the petroleum sector should be a lesson to us. We all saw how the system was hijacked by cabals to exploit Nigerians.”

According to her, instead of thinking subsidy, we should be talking about incentives for the operators.

“Take the issue of the unstable exchange rate for instance. Government could come up with policies that will ensure that the effect of rise in dollar value is reduced to the barest minimum in the system by ensuring that the prevailing value is not brought to bear, as the case may be, in what is paid for gas for instance.

She however said the GENCOs will continue to do their best with the limited resources at their disposal to ensure that there is power for Nigerians, calling on operators in the industry who might be constituting the weakest link to improve on their productions.

However, the Chief Consulting partner,Transmission Company of Nigeria [url](TCN)[/www.google.com/url]www.energywatchng.com, Engr Akin Bada, disagreed with those who see the solution to power problem in the country in privatisation of TCN.[url][/www.google.com]

http://www.energywatchng.com/power-sector-liquidity-crisis-worsens-debt-owed-gencos-hits-n460bn/

28/12/2016

Highest Frequency 51.50 Hz


Lowest Frequency 48.98 Hz

Peak Generation 4,033.80 MW


Lowest Generation 3,394.60 MW


Total Energy Sent Out 86,981.97 MWH


http://www.energywatchng.com/daily-generation/

Eight power distribution companies rejected 1,336.75 megawatts-hour of electricity, representing 19 per cent of the total quantum of power supplied to them by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

Industry data obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday showed that Kaduna, Eko, Jos, Yola, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ibadan and Benin Discos rejected the 1,336.75MWH of power in the third quarter of this year, despite the instability in the supply of electricity across the country.

Specifically, in the month of July, a total of 318.83MWH, which was three per cent of the total energy delivered to the Discos, was rejected by four of the firms.

In July, the Kaduna Disco’s rejection of 132.99MWH made it the highest in the month. The Eko Disco rejected 67.46MWH; Jos, 63.05MWH; while the Yola Disco rejected 55.33MWH.

In the same month, the Port Harcourt Disco took in the highest quantum of power at 441.43MWH; Kano accepted 397MWH; while the Enugu Disco collected 302.49MWH.

In August, there was an increase in load rejection by the distribution companies to the tune of 541.56MWH, which was four per cent of the total energy delivered to them as against the 318.83MWH delivered in the previous month.

The Port Harcourt Disco rejected the most quantum of power with a total of 239.88MWH, followed by the Eko Disco with 134.8MWH.

In the month under review, five Discos took excess load beyond their Multi-Year Tariff Order allocation to the tune of 187.21MWH. The Abuja Disco took the most, with 132.81MWH; followed by the Kaduna Disco, with 23.21MWH; Ibadan, 16.24MWH; and Enugu, 12.42MWH.

Further analysis showed that September saw the rejection of 476.36MW, representing 12 per cent of the total energy delivered to the Discos. It was, therefore, the highest load rejection in the quarter.

The Abuja Disco rejected 94.72MWH, followed closely by Port Harcourt, with 92.35MWH; Ibadan was next with 67.14MWH; and the Benin Disco turned down 46.40MWH.

Among all the Discos, only Kaduna accepted power beyond its MYTO allocation, taking in 65.96MWH in excess of its MYTO allocation.

Earlier this year, the Managing Director, TCN, Abubarkar Atiku, told journalists in Abuja that consumers were not able to benefit optimally from the supply of electricity because the distribution companies were rejecting the loads allocated to them to avoid paying for the power.


http://www.energywatchng.com/eight-power-firms-reject-1337mwh-despite-poor-supply/

27/12/2016

Highest Frequency 51.43 Hz

Lowest Frequency 49.08 Hz

Peak Generation 4,080.20 MW

Lowest Generation 3,511.30 MW

Total Energy Sent Out 87,974.31 MWH

http://www.energywatchng.com/daily-generation/

Magboro community on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, popularly referred to as “Second Lagos’’, unexpectedly had electricity restored to the area Monday as “Christmas present’’ after a decade.

Magboro, including Ibafo and Asese on the axis had been without power supply for many years.

The communities had at various times protested the protracted power outage in their communities.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, responsible for the power supply to the affected communities, however, blamed the protracted darkness on the contractors engaged by the Federal Government to build its power project.

John Ayodele, the Deputy Managing Director, IBEDC, said that the areas were not totally cut off but had been getting power supply intermittently from Abeokuta.

He blamed the poor power supply on the uncompleted National Independent Power Project, NIPP, in the area.

“The areas are to get supply from Akute through the NIPP but last year when it was scheduled for commissioning, we noticed that the contractors used sub-standard materials.

“We decided that the contractors handling the project should reconstruct or address the defects in the project, but as we speak they have not done anything.

“When the plant was to be connected to distribute power, it could not carry the loads in the areas,” he said.

The company, however, promised to restore power to the affected communities latest by December.

Reprieve came to the way of the communities as the House of Representatives at a plenary on November 18, urged the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to urgently complete the power project in the area.

The House decried the long neglect by the distribution company handling power in the affected area.

On December 26, Magboro community got what they did not expect as power was restored.

To the surprise of many residents, electricity which was restored at about 10 a.m. was sustained beyond 4 p.m.

A resident, Olayinka Eyiwuawi, who could not hide his feeling, said it was great having power restored to the community.

“Obviously, it is an ecstatic reaction that having stayed in darkness for 15 or more years in an environment, power is restored.

“This is the first day and we cannot really ascertain how effective or good the light will be.

“If it is going to be darkness for longer and light for few hours, definitely it’s going to be a slight improvement.

“My own house has yet to be lit up, but looking at the progress of the work, it will be gradual before they finish the whole area,’’ he said.

Mr. Eyiwuawi urged IBEDC to give some concession to the community over contributions made to augment the speedy completion of the power project.

http://www.energywatchng.com/magboro-community-gets-electricity-10-years-darkness/

CONGRATULATIONS WE ARE ABOVE 4 000MW... NEXT HIT SHOULD BE 5,000 MW hopefully by March Next year.


Generation as @ Monday 26/12/2016

Peak Generation 4,173.50 MW

Lowest Generation 3,447.20 MW

Total Energy Sent Out 88,449.58 MWH

http://www.energywatchng.com/daily-generation/

We never hit 6, 000 MW in our Nationaal Grid... check your records well

odogwubiafra:
Down from 6,000MW from 29th May 2015. Buhari as a name is associated with failure.

The combined performance of all the privatised thermal power generating stations in the country was less than 30 per cent in the third quarter of 2016 despite being managed by private investors.


Industry operators blamed the poor performance of the power generating stations on the recurrent vandalism of pipelines that supply gas to the facilities.

An analysis of the performances of the privatised thermal power plants in the months of July, August and September showed that the Delta, Geregu 1, Sapele 1, Egbin and Olorunsogo 1 performed poorly in the period under review, as none of them could supply up to 50 per cent of their electricity generation capacities to the national grid.

Industry data obtained by our correspondent in Abuja revealed that the contributions of the privatised thermal plants to the national electricity grid in July, August and September were 27.42 per cent, 28.25 per cent and 29.22 per cent, respectively.

Their combined average electricity delivery to the grid in the third quarter of this year was 28.29 per cent, regardless of the fact that they were being managed by private entities since their official handing over to investors in November 2013.

A further analysis of the industry showed that the hydro power generating stations contributed more to the country’s electricity grid in the period under review, as they supplied 34.25 per cent of the electricity.

The National Integrated Power Plants contributed 13.42 per cent of electricity to the grid during the three-month period, while the independent power producers supplied 24.05 per cent of electricity in the third quarter.

On their monthly performances, industry data showed that in July, the three hydro power stations, Shiroro, Jebba and Kainji, contributed 33.15 per cent to the national electricity grid.

In the same month, the seven IPPs namely: Omoshoto 1 & 2; Afam VI, which is operated by Shell; Okpai; Ibom Power; Rivers and Paras contributed 28.09 per cent, while the privatised thermal power stations in Delta, Geregu 1, Sapele 1, Egbin and Olorunsogo 1 provided 27.42 per cent.

Also, the NIPPs, which include Sapele 2, Geregu 2, Odukpani, Ihovbor and Gbarain contributed 11.35 per cent in July.

In August, the three hydro power stations made a combined contribution of 36.64 per cent to the national grid, which was a marginal rise from the 33.15 per cent recorded in July.

In the same month, the privatised thermal plants contributed 28.25 per cent of the power in the national electricity system, as against the 27.42 per cent in July, while the NIPP plants upped their contribution to 13.31 per cent in August from 11.35 per cent recorded in the preceding month.

A reduced contribution came from the independent power producers as their contribution was 21.8 per cent in August compared to 28.09 per cent in July.

For September, the contribution of the hydro power stations dropped to 32.95 per cent, while there was a slight increase in the contribution of the privatised thermal power stations as they provided 29.22 per cent of electricity to the grid.

Also, there was an increase in the contribution of the NIPPs and the IPPs as they supplied 15.59 per cent and 22.24 per cent electricity respectively to the national grid in September.

The Managing Director, Frontier Oil Limited, one of the major suppliers of gas to the gas-fired power plants, Mr. Dada Thomas, told our correspondent that the vandalism of gas pipelines had drastically impacted the supply of the product to the power plants.

This, he said, had contributed immensely to the poor performance of the privatised thermal power plants across the country.

http://www.energywatchng.com/power-generating-firms-perform-30/

For those interested in knowing the daily generation level this thread is for you.


Generation as @ 25/12/2016
Peak Generation 3,939.90 MW

Lowest Generation 3,420.90 MW

Total Energy Sent Out 86,446.99 MWH

With the look at the trend we shall HIT 4, 000MW Before the year runs out

For daily and previous generation records check out

http://www.energywatchng.com/daily-generation/

The world’s first solar highway has been opened in France, in the not-very-sunny village of Tourouvre au Perche in Normandy. The roadway is just one kilometre (0.6mi) long, but that still works out at 2,800 square metres of photovoltaic cells—enough, hopefully, to power the village’s street lights.

The road was built by Colas, a large Anglo-French construction company. Colas has apparently been working on its own solar road tech, called Wattway, for at least five years. Wattway has been tested in car parks, but this is the first time it has been used on an active road. There will now be a two-year test period, to see if Wattway can withstand the rigour of being pounded by thousands of cars and trucks per day, and whether it can actually provide a useful amount of electricity.

Usefulness aside, the main problem with constructing solar roads is their crippling cost. One of the main selling points of Wattway, according to Colas, is that each panel is just a few millimetres thick, and can thus be installed on top of an existing road, which in turn massively reduces construction costs. Having said that, the 1km road in Normandy cost €5 million (£4.3m) to build. And that’s for a single lane of a two-lane highway!


http://www.energywatchng.com/worlds-first-solar-road-opens-france-ridiculously-expensive/

GE is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. Through our people, leadership development, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for global customers by speaking the language of industry.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: GE Power Intern

Job Number: 2806120
Location: Lagos
Business: GE Power
Business Segment: Power Water & Distributed Power

Role Summary/Purpose

This internship has been designed to give graduates one year challenging work assignments, developmental feedback, and exposure to leadership.
The duration of this internship program spans a period of 12 months, and combines hands-on experience with formal performance feedback to help participants transition from a school environment to the workplace.

Essential Responsibilities
As a valuable member of our team, GE Africa interns will receive many benefits including:

Challenging work assignments
Exposure to a multinational company
Developmental feedback
Opportunities to network with Leaders and other interns

Qualifications/Requirements

Degree / B in Electrical Engineering or B Tech in Clinical Engineering
Basic understanding of engineering and/or manufacturing fundamentals. Prior internship or co-op experiences in engineering and/or manufacturing.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
High self-confidence
Possession of valid driver’s license under
Authorized to work in Nigeria full-time and without restriction
Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment
Demonstrated team player
Confident self-starter who has demonstrated drive
Excellent organization skills, ability to independently prioritize multiple tasks and work to deadlines

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:

http://www.energywatchng.com/ge-power-graduate-internship-programme-2016-lagos/

The 2017 budget is capable of revamping the country’s ailing power sector if it is adequately implemented, according to the operators in the sector.


According to them, the Federal Government’s decision to include the outstanding debts owed the power firms in the 2017 budget is a step in the right direction, considering the over N800bn liquidity gap in the sector.

This is coming as the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company on Thursday inaugurated its N45.75bn free mass metering project that will see to the distribution of 300,000 meters to power consumers in its catchment areas.

As part of the Federal Government’s plan to expand infrastructure, it allocated N529bn to the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for capital projects for next year, up from the N433.4bn total allocation to the ministry in 2016.

Commenting on the development during the inauguration of the mass metering project, the Board Chairman, AEDC, Ambassador Shehu Malami, said the approval for defrayal of the outstanding debts by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari while presenting the 2017 budget proposal to the National Assembly last week.

He said, “This is a bold and lifesaving move and we commend Mr. President for that budgetary provision, and also call on the National Assembly to expedite action on the budget, as its content is a livewire for the power sector in Nigeria.

“We are also optimistic that once the budget is passed into law, funds will be released by the appropriate agency of government on a deduction from source basis. It should be a first line charge. We have had substantial interaction with the appropriate agencies of government on this matter, including the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.”

Buhari had explained that in the course of this year, the government conducted a critical assessment of the power sector value chain, which is experiencing major funding issues.

The President had said, “Although the government, through the CBN and other development finance institutions had intervened, it is clear that more capital is needed. We must also resolve the problems of liquidity in the sector.

“On its part, government has made provisions in its 2017 budget to clear its outstanding electricity bills. This we hope, will provide the much needed liquidity injection to support the investors.”

Also speaking on the issue, the Chief Executive Officer, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, an umbrella body of the Discos, Mr. Azu Obiaya, said it was a welcome development for the government to come up with ways of addressing the financial shortfall in the sector.

“For us, it is progress and a step in the right direction. As you know, we have continued to be concerned about the significant industry shortfall that we’ve been experiencing. So, since the government has recognised that part of ways of addressing this shortfall is by clearing the MDAs’ debts, then it is very welcoming,” he stated.

http://www.energywatchng.com/2017-budget-essesntial-power-sector-operators/

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) yesterday began its mass installation of meters for 300,000 customers at a value of $150 million (about N47.1billion) in Abuja.

In his address, chairman of the AEDC board, Ambassador Shehu Malami said: “This project will cost us $150 million and it will span three years, covering a customer population of over 300,000.”

Malami said it was expected that on completion, the Aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses would have been reduced by 17 per cent. The losses have been reduced to 40 per cent from the over 50 per cent when the company took over the PHCN utility on November 1, 2013, he noted.

He lauded the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello, for paying N500 million in September to settle a huge part of its MDAs debt.

He said local meter firms, especially Mojec Meters, were patronised for the project to boost economic growth.

The managing director, Ernest Mupwaya said the DisCo had standardised the vending platform ahead of the mass metering programme adding that customers could buy electricity tokens from 150 points and do that virtually through five websites.

FCT Minister Malam Bello said they pushed for the replacement of estimated billing with accurate metering, noting that a committee cleared parts of the MDAs’ electricity debt with N500 million and ensured they were captured in the ongoing Large Power Users (LPU) metering of AEDC.

http://www.energywatchng.com/abuja-disco-invests-n47-1bn-installs-meters-300000-customers/

The Management of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc, EKEDP, has announced that there will be an interruption in power supply to some areas within its network on December 29 for routine maintenance.

The company’s General Manager, Communication, Godwin Idemudia, made this announcement in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr. Idemudia said that the power outage would occur between the hours of 10 a.m. in the morning and 2 p.m. in the afternoon.

He said that the planned power outage was occasioned by routine maintenance work to be carried out on Ijora-Alagbon 132kv line.

According to him, areas to be affected by the outage are Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Obalende, Banana Island and Lagos Island.

The EKEDC spokesman said that the routine maintenance to be carried out was for better efficiency of power facilities so as to enhance improved service delivery to the company’s customers.

http://www.energywatchng.com/ikoyi-victoria-island-others-experience-power-outage-eko-disco/

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, has set up a task force to check vandalisation of its property after a loss of over N108 million in August and September to the menace.

Speaking at the inauguration of the team, the acting spokesperson of the company, Bala Sani, said the company was alarmed by the frequency of vandalism.

He said the task force, which has representatives from the police, State Security Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the local hisbah and vigilante groups, is headed by Yusuf Aminu, a retired lieutenant-colonel of the Nigerian Army.

The group was charged with stopping the rampant vandalisation of electricity transformers and other property of KEDCO.

Mr. Sani explained that the task force would routinely go on security patrols, including to market places and other locations of suspected buyers of vandalised public electricity equipment.

He said the team would also try to check energy theft and the activities of touts and quacks who parade themselves as KEDCO staff to collect unauthorised fees from consumers.

“Right now we have 100 vandalised transformers undergoing repairs”, Mr. Sani said. “This is because the vandals steal transformer oil and cables in them, rendering them ineffective and useless”.

He said the most notorious areas for the activities of vandals were Sabon Gari, Shahada, Bompai and some Government Reserved Areas of the sprawling Kano city.

http://www.energywatchng.com/kano-electricity-firm-loses-n108-million-vandals-2-months/

The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) has said that only N8.9billion (23.06%) of energy invoice for 22 power Generation Companies (GenCos) was paid in September 2016, leaving a shortfall of N29.9billion.
In a published report yesterday, the public firm which intermediates between the GenCos and the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) and other Off-takers indicated that the payment for energy by DisCos slightly dropped to 24.64 per cent from the 26.84 per cent published for August.

The DisCos consumed 92.49 per cent of the total energy (1.9Giga Watt hour-GWh) sent out in September. Rather than pay the N36.49billion invoice raised for them, they paid only N8.99billion, the record shows.
NBET said it was only able to pay the GenCos N8.99billion from an invoice of N36.4billion, leaving a shortfall of N27.5billion for the month. Other Off-takers owed the GenCos N2.9billion without any payment made.
NBET said the market invoices and payments in the electricity market had a total shortfall ofN29.9billion representing 23 per cent market performance. While the invoice value was N38.9billion, the payment from DisCos and other Off-takers was only N8.9billion.

The agency rated Eko, Abuja, and Ikeja DisCos as the top three performers of the month with 40%, 35%, and 34% payment figure. Kano, Yola and Enugu DisCos were at the bottom with nine and 10 per cent figures respectively.
In an interview with Daily Trust, spokesman for the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Mr. Sunday Olurotimi Oduntan had challenged the August publication of NBET saying the agency ought to publicly explain the rise in the cost of energy generation caused by the foreign exchange issues, and an unchanged electricity tariff based on the N197/US dollar rate obtainable in 2015.

http://www.energywatchng.com/discos-owe-gencos-n29-9bn-energy-bill-sept-nbet/

Following his inability to convince the Abuja Electricity Development Company (AEDC) to improve its services, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has taken the case before President Muhammad Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the National Assembly.

The governor’s petition was the last resort after the state had been thrown into blackout for more than three weeks leading to a near total collapse of commercial and social activities.

Bello personally disclosed that he had taken the step when he received the Korean Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr Non Kyu-Duk, in office after the inauguration of a rice processing plant in Bida town.

The governor condemned the over one week power blackout being experienced in the state and said the development was no longer acceptable.
The governor demanded immediate power restoration by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to the cities and towns in the state.

He expressed this concern at the weekend while inaugurating a multi-million dollar integrated rice milling plant in Bida, in Bida Local Government Area of the state.
The governor who said the state could no longer tolerate the poor service of the AEDC, declared that “Niger State alone contributes about 1,500 megawatts of power to the national grid, but we are the worst hit state in terms of power supply.
“During raining season, we suffer a lot of flooding. Our people living in the riverine areas suffer every year. This year alone, over 100 communities were submerged and yet we don’t have light.

“Minna, the state capital and many towns in the state have been without light for over three weeks. This is not acceptable. I have discussed with the president and the vice president. I have complained to Minister of Power and people who care to listen and I don’t want to continue to complain.”


http://www.energywatchng.com/niger-governor-reports-abuja-disco-to-buhari/

still on

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has been a part of the lives of Nigerians job at home and abroad. Our global vision is to be a leading foods company in Africa providing high quality and affordable products in the most convenient ways to consumers through world class brands like Golden Penny Flour, Golden Penny Semovita, Goldenvita, Golden Pasta and Golden Noodles. The Company’s flagship brand, Golden Penny, remains one of the best known and the preferred brands amongst bakers, confectioneries and consumers in Nigeria.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Shift Manager – Power Distribution

Location: Nigeria
Subscribe to Free Latest Jobs E-mail Alert: Click here to subscribe

The Job

Effectively lead operations of the systems used to deliver electricity from power plants to all load centers within the distribution network to ensure constant availability of power to the plant.

The person must:

Posses communication and problem-solving abilities, involving the ability to work cross- functionally to understand power requirements, present alternatives, and recommendations.
Have knowledge of IEEE, IET, NEC, NERC and other applicable standards,
Have good knowledge of medium voltage switchgear operations concepts and power system protection.
Have ability to work nights, weekend and holidays
Be able to take direction and delegate responsibilities
Have ability to work in a fast paced environment
Be team oriented, adaptable and dependable
Demonstrate knowledge of installation, maintenance and operation of power distribution of switch gears/ equipment

Qualification and Experience

Five (5) O’ Level credits including Mathematics and English/WAEC job at not more than two sittings
First degree in Electrical Engineering
5 years experience in 11kv distribution network

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should


http://www.energywatchng.com/shift-manager-power-distribution-at-flour-mills-of-nigeria-plc/

The 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry have said that they are currently losing an average of N10 on every kilowatt hour (kwh) of electricity they distribute to homes and offices in their networks.

The Discos also claimed that they have been unable to borrow funds to invest in their networks because of the deficit status of their respective balance sheets.

Speaking in Abuja through their association – the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), the Discos equally stated they would want the government to legally recognise the current electricity market shortfall as a deferred income which could help them re-engineer their balance sheets to be bankable.

The Executive Director, Advocacy for ANED, Mr. Sunday Oduntan explained that the current shortfall had reached N809.8 billion, and that the Discos have been operating on deficit for a long time now.
“No Disco is making any profit in this sector now. No Disco has less than N10 loss today on power supplied to consumers. We are struggling with cost recovery,” said Oduntan.

He further said the pegging of capital expenditure in the tariff at N20 billion was a challenge to the Discos because they would not be allowed to spend more than that annually on capital projects.

Oduntan explained that with such capital expenditure peg, the Discos would be unable to conclude their metering plans in the sector, as well as expand their network reach.

“Our capital expenditure is capped at N20 billion per annum. What that means is that whatever we spend outside of this in a year, it is our business and not recognised in the tariff for that period.

“Tell me how we will provide meters and transformers and expand our networks. Meter cost money, how can we get money when we cannot borrow because our businesses are not bankable and we are carrying deficits,” he noted.
He further explained: “If you look at the difference as regards tariff, the same quantum of energy which may sell for N10 had by June increased to N18 from December 2015 to June 2016. What that means is that the invoices to us for quantities supplied have increased, and that is why publications by NBET without explanation can be factual but misleading as they have not told Nigerians that costs have increased while the Discos have not increased tariff.”
“We are not clamouring for an increase in tariff but government needs to come in and do something because the shortfall is now N809.8 billion. If the Discos die, the sector will die as well.

“We are all in this together, and we are all in a desperate situation and need help. We will either swim or sink together. We are allowed to sell electricity based on N197/$ which is what is in the tariff. This cannot work,” added Oduntan.


http://www.energywatchng.com/discos-allege-n10-loss-on-every-kilowatt-hour-of-power-sold/