Why Nigeria Will Miss 6,000MW Power Target By Dec
By Godfrey Okpugie
Though the government has repeatedly assure that it would achieve the 6,000MW of national power supply by December, The Guardian investigation has revealed that except miracle happens, the contrary may be the case.
This conclusion is based on the realities on ground in some of the electricity generating stations in the country.
It was reliably gathered that Jebba Hydro Station,which has capacity to generate 578.4MW is currently producing 270MW. Shiroro Hydro, Niger State, with an installed capacity for 600MW is producing only 300MW, and Kainji Hydro Station (760MW) produces 390.
Geregu Power station with a 414 capacity, generates about 90MW because of gas shortage., Afam Thermal, Rivers State (969 MW) has only one of the four turbines working and is only producing 200MW.
The power station in Okpai which was built near the NAOC oil and gas production and treatment plant at Kwale is now temporary out of production.
In a widespred report in the media recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Eni, ConocoPhillips Joint Venture, operated by Agip were said to be fine-tuning arrangements to embark on the second phase of the Okpai Independent Power Plant which will increase installed capacity by one gigawatts.
The second phase of the Okpai IPP, which is scheduled for completion 20 months after the signing of the Final Investment Decision (FID), would bring the plants' total output to a record one gigawatts of electricity.
The Okpai project consists of an integrated combined circle electric power generation plant for the production of 480 MW made up of two gas turbines and one steam turbine.
The project includes an overhead 130kv transmission line 54km in length that crosses the River Niger to connect the plant to the national grid at Obosi/Onitsha in Anambra State.
Meanwhile, experts, last week in Lagos, while expressing pessimism on the realization of the 6,000MW by December, said the major problem in Nigeria's power supply is the wasteful use of electricity in the country and that current problems cannot be solved only by merely increasing or decreasing the megavolts required.
Abiodun Ogunleye, an energy management expert with Powercap Limited, an energy consultancy firm based in Lagos, said there is need to introduce energy efficiency plans for all classes of users, have well thought out and properly publicise load shedding arrangements, which fit well into end users requirement.
He also said there is need to increase the use of prepaid meters and in areas where the old meters are used, there should be penalty for wasteful users through appropriate end user tariff, reduce or eliminate system losses and clean up the system and reduce none system losses.
And on why there is general wastage of electricity in the country by the citizenry, Ogunleye replied:
"We are probably not wasteful by choice but we have found ourselves in an environment that does not encourage us to do otherwise.
"The commodity is cheaply priced on account of systemic subsidy, irrespective of it being scarce. The wasteful habit is exhibited in the efficiency of appliances and equipments we use and wastage in use. Even when they are not required, we leave our equipments and bulbs on, unmindful of its running cost."
He continued: "Irregular supply, lack of information and education on energy efficiency, lack of energy efficient equipment in the market and inappropriate pricing are responsible," adding that, "We would be more cautious with how we use electricity as our cost goes up."
Cautioning on the need to conserve energy through efficient electricity management, Ogunleye said:
Warredi Enisuoh, a Nigerian based in Australia, noted that: "The major problem in Nigeria's power supply is lack of harmonization of the country's institutions and enforceable laws. These institutions, such as the City Council, Town Planning Department, Power Supplier, etc. more or less operate like commonwealth states under an empire that couldn't care less.
"Nigeria's electricity problems cannot only be solved by merely increasing the megavolts required.
"In Nigeria, the major problem is lack of harmonization of the country's institution. You cannot just turn your home to a business and start installing all kind of machines with high electric current demand in you home without approval.
"You have to go to an area designated as industrial, where the electricity supplied takes care of industrial needs.
"However, if you decide to act smart by installing a mini-factory in your home, your circuit breakers will trip. The only way to keep your machines running will be to raise the amperage of your circuit breakers or fuses in the electricity supply box (which is a very common practice in Nigeria).
"And when you do so, coupled with the inability of the power supplier to cope with even normal demands, you will end up creating flickering and a whole lot of other problems in your residential area.
This is where the National Electricity Laws/Rules that, I believe Nigeria lacks or incapable of enforcing, comes in as it is against the law to modify any equipment installed by your provider without prior approval.
"In Nigeria, houses operate without electric meters; streets are not properly numbered as neither the City Council nor the Town Planners exercise a duty of care. So where do you send a bill to? Nowhere!
"The electricity provider lacks the willingness to accept the fact that their work can be made much easier if they work hand-in-hand with the town planning authorities and the city council. The town planning department has been left unmonitored for so long that I believe by now they lack the technical know-how on the need to keep up-to-date information on developments in their domain in order to improve on the services they are employed to provide."
__ On the solution, Enisuoh has this to say: __
"People should be educated to some extent on how these things work and how they can manage the system to their own advantage. They can be informed how to buy energy efficient appliances that are of low running cost, instead of second hand items that have been rewired out of specifications. Even developed countries are having energy crisis and they are looking seriously to appliances with standby power capabilities.
"Standby power is the energy used by an appliance while plugged in but not actually carrying out its central function. Standby power is a relatively new design feature that in many cases delivers a service that consumers value. Many products are designed to draw standby power 24 hours when consumers want the product to operate.
"The city councils, town planners and other related terrestrial institutions such as the PHCN should be educated and have a fair knowledge of the unquestionable relationship and cooperation they so badly need.
"Areas opened up for industrial purpose should very well documented and other relevant organisations advised. They should be responsible for naming and numbering the streets instead of allowing the individual plot owners to do so.
"Structures should only be wired by a responsible person or contractor that has obtained an approved/recognized level of training from an approved institution of learning and not just because you have been carrying wire reels behind an electrician.
"The government should have energy laws and penalties for failing to comply, repaired factory or household items should be inspected and vetted for safe use by experts, etc."
