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Firm makes first off-grid energy investment in Nigeria

By: Bhodemarz on November 20, 2017 / comment : 0 , , ,

An independent impact investing company, All On, said it had made its first set of transactions aimed at facilitating increased access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy sources for low-income households, the Small and Medium Enterprises and communities.
According to a statement, seeded with funding from Royal Dutch Shell, the company is working with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for under-served and un-served off-grid energy markets in Nigeria, with a special focus on the Niger Delta.
The Chief Executive Officer, All On, Dr. Wiebe Boer, said, “This initial set of transactions demonstrates our commitment to utilising a market-based approach to making a sustainable impact on the off-grid energy sector in partnership with global and local market leaders.
“It is just the beginning of our investments towards improving access to energy in Nigeria for the tens of millions of off-grid households and the SMEs across the country,” he added.
According to the statement, the initial investments include an equity investment in Lumos Global BV, the fastest growing “distributed utility” in West Africa, and a grant to Nigerian tech ideation incubator, Co-Creation Hub, to launch a challenge to engage Nigeria’s technology innovation ecosystem in the access to energy space.
It said All On had also entered into a grant agreement with Solar Nigeria, a UK Aid-funded project implemented by Adam Smith International, for the receipt of grant funding to further de-risk investments made by All On in the Solar Home System space.
The firm said it was also currently in the latter stages of negotiations for an equity and debt investment in Green Village Enterprises, the award-winning indigenous mini-grid operator in Nigeria, headquartered in Port Harcourt.
Commenting on the proposed investment, the Managing Director, GVE, Ifeanyi Orajaka, said, “We at the GVE are excited about this relationship with All On. An investment from a world-class organisation such as All On further validates our position as one of the leading and most innovative indigenous clean energy solutions providers in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We are very optimistic and look forward to achieving our medium-term target of impacting two per cent of Nigeria’s 180 million population through this partnership.”
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, CCHub, Bosun Tijani, said, “The organisation is proud to partner All On to support Nigeria’s early stage clean energy entrepreneurs. Matching our expertise identifying and supporting innovative startups with All On’s seed capital, we hope we can unearth amazing enterprises to meet the energy needs and aspirations of Nigerians.”


Source: PunchNG


FG Comes up With Action Plan for Takeover of Distressed Discos

By: Bhodemarz on November 18, 2017 / comment : 0 , ,

The Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) recently developed by the federal government and the World Bank to revive Nigeria’s ailing power sector, has come up with an action plan for the sweeping restructuring of the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) that would enable government to take over any Disco found to be insolvent.
Details of the action plan, which THISDAY got from a workshop organised by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to educate the media on the expected workings of the PSRP, indicated that the government is planning to restructure the Discos to meet their responsibilities in the country’s privatised electricity market after a thorough forensic review of their operations.
The workshop was held on Wednesday evening in the ministry in Abuja. It had in attendance the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the two ministers of state – Mr. Mustapha Shehuri and Mr. Suleiman Hassan – as well as heads of parastatals in the ministry, all of whom took time to explain the government’s plan in the PSRP.
The report further made recommendations for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to engage the Discos on revised business plans, which will be negotiated, finalised and implemented.
It also requires the government to “start the process of restructuring Discos that are found to require new capital injections”.
“This would involve NERC, BPE (Bureau of Public Enterprises), the Discos and other relevant parties. This may also involve the takeover of Discos with degraded financial positions,” said the PRSP report.
It however explained that before the takeover, technical competence reviews including forensic audits of all the Discos and the adequacy of their technical partners, should be undertaken to ensure that they had not failed in their initial agreements with the government after the privatisation exercise.
The document also revealed that there was an ongoing audit of the performance agreements and all direct agreements the government signed with operators in the sector to ensure that it was in compliance with its obligations.
It explained that there should also be measures to address the operational challenges of the Discos, which should include: “Develop case studies to determine the level of load rejections in the network, develop investment plans with clear impact analyses for increase in load across the network and in metering, and ensure regulatory measures are enforced.”
Also at the workshop, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), Dr. Marilyn Amobi, debunked claims by the Discos through their umbrella association, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), that the electricity they distribute to Nigerians at an average of N31 per kilowatts hour (kWh) is retailed to them at N68/kWh.
Amobi, in her response to a question on how much the NBET really sells the electricity it procures from the generation companies (Gencos) to the Discos, stated that its retail price per kWh of electricity to the Discos had not exceeded N18/kWh.


Source: This Day

OPINION: An encounter with a one-man government, by Ademola Adeoye

By: Bhodemarz on November 08, 2017 / comment : 0 , , ,

Two years ago, I came across a comic story on facebook and it really cracked me up. The tale was about Nigerians being their own government. The man who cracked the joke said and I quote: “at 7pm, I’d wear my “agbada” and cap and switch on my generation, because I am my own minister of power.”  
Nigeria is probably and doubtless the only nation that is so rich in natural resources and money, yet her citizens are daily languishing in the dungeon of power-outage. After 57years of being in existence as a nation, we have spent so much on electric power supply, but we are seeing little or no result. Each administration spends heavily and profoundly on electric power supply, but till now, Nigerians are wrestling power-outage as Hulk Hogan would wrestle Big-Boss Man in a contest. What an infamy!
On the 3rd of November, 2017, a man walked into my office and we got talking about his community that has been swimming in the cesspool and septic tank of power-outage for about a decade. About a decade? Yes, about a decade in 2st century! When he told me that his community is now on power grid, I was happy for him and his community. Now, this is not what I want you to see. This is what I want you to see: It was the people in the community—who contributed money to put an end to the problem of power-outage in the community. They contributed money to buy transformers, electric poles and cables. He told me that the community spent more than eleven (11) million naira to kiss power-outage goodbye! What a country!
In a nation where virtually every citizen is his own government, what exactly is the purpose of local, state and federal governments? Also, how legitimate is it to expect the citizenry to still pay taxes when they are their own government? In my neighborhood, we are paying profoundly to provide our own water, paying a great deal to protect ourselves and burning fuel daily to defeat the bolshie whale of power-outage.
Some years ago, I took the snapshot of a very ugly and an unsightly “Akute-Ishasi” road in Ogun State and tried to create awareness on it, so that his Excellency, the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun could do something about it. While he was campaigning to become the governor of Ogun State, he essentially promised the electorates who are living and working around that area that he would construct a good road for them. Without a gun and bullet, the road I am x-raying has killed many cars and citizens. Roads that are worse than “Akute-Ishasi” road can only be found in hell!
The citizens—who are living around “Akute, Ishasi, Adigboluja, and Oluwakemi” are daily groaning in pains, but no one in the corridors of power seems to care. About two months ago, some citizens living around that axis and bloc contributed some money to work on a very tiny portion of the road that winds through “Adigboluja” and “Bemil.”
And when they could not finish working on it, they came up with a 3rd world idea. What was it? They did barricade it and would not allow anyone drive on the road without parting with some cash. Today, the road is fast recovering from illness, because those citizens took care of it.  Travel round Nigeria today and you would find out that many dreadful and deplorable roads are being constructed by the citizens just by pulling together—their scarce resources. They are their own government.
Our problem in Nigeria is not money, but how to spend money. Our political leaders prefer to waste money on cars, even when the citizens are daily dying as an effect of deplorable roads. In a nation that is still struggling to come out of a very tough time of recession, eleven (11) million naira was recently used to procure and acquire each car for some of our political leaders. It is a sign that those who are leading us really hate us.
Recently, I was speaking somewhere as an effect of the sudden death of the first son of the national leader of the APC. A few days ago, through the medium of social media, I read through the comments of many Nigerians on the tragedy that struck the home of Asiwaju and my heart sank. Nigerians have gotten to a level where no matter who drops dead, they do not care too hoots. Someone asked: “How did we get here?” This was my simple answer: “We got here, because since 1960, our political and military leaders have deliberately, viciously and wickedly raised desensitized citizens.” When you do not care about your citizens, they’d in turn not care about you.
A few days ago, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved that Chief Alex Ekueme should be flown abroad for medical treatment, but when the helpless citizens of Nigeria take ill, they go on radio, television and social media to beg for money to treat themselves. This is the ugly state of affairs of things in our beautiful country.

Source: The Cable




Russia Signs Agreement With Nigeria for Nuclear Power Plant

By: Bhodemarz on October 31, 2017 / comment : 0 , , , , ,

Russia has signed agreements with Nigeria to build and operate a nuclear power plant in the oil-rich West African nation that has a deficit of reliable power and faces security challenges by Islamist militants in the far northeast.
Feasibility studies for the plant and a research center construction will include site screening, capacity, financing, and time frames of the projects, state-owned Russian nuclear company Rosatom said in an emailed statement. Representatives from the firm and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission signed the deal.
The nations in 2009 signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of the peaceful usage of nuclear technologies. Nigeria in 2015 was in talks with Rosatom to build as many as four nuclear power plants costing about $20 billion, the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission said at the time.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, distributes an average of 4,500 megawatts of electricity. Half the output of the Egbin power plant, the nation’s biggest, is lost because of inadequate transmission infrastructure, its chief officer said last month.
Rosatom is seeking to build nuclear power plants in other countries on the continent including South Africa.

Source: Bloomberg



Fashola debunks MDA debts of N90bn claimed by DisCos

By: Bhodemarz on September 22, 2017 / comment : 0 , ,

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatude Fashola has stated that out of the estimated MDA debts of about N90Billion claimed by the DisCos, only about N27Billion has been verified as debts owed by the FGN.
The Minister who stated this while delivering a key note address at the 3rd National Council on Power (NACOP) with the theme: “Complete Power Sector Reforms” in Jos, Plateau State on Thursday said there are invoices which show that other parts of the debt are attributable to service points at States and local governments.
He implored states and local governments to insist that their buildings are metered so that they can budget for and pay for energy they use adding that this will turn out to be cheaper than diesel generated power and also help reduce loss of income by DisCos.
“Furthermore, I urge state Governments to set up small teams with audit capacity to verify debts owed by them and their local governments, ascertain the quantum and develop a payment plan which can then be budgeted for. This will help to reduce the liquidity issues and contribute to the reforms” He advised.
The Minister further pointed out that the  Government has finally approved the award of the 3,050 MW Mambilla hydro power project after over 40 years of starts and stops adding solar foot print is growing but not just because of what the FGN is doing but because of what Nigerians are doing in their states.
Fashola who disagreed with those calling for the cancellation of privatisation of power sector by the federal government stated that money realised from the exercise were used to settled staff of the PHCN adding that if cancelled there must be refund which must be paid in dollars with the current rate.
“As we are all aware, there have been comments about how effective privatization has been in the power sector and some people have called for its cancellation which I disagree with.
“However, I agree that there are problems, I understand that 4 (FOUR) years post privatization is a transition period, and some more work needs to be done before the expected benefits of privatization come to fruition.
”That is why we developed the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) which are a set of policies, programmes and actions aimed at solving Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Liquidity, Metering, Estimated Billing, Energy Theft, Safety and other challenges” he said.
According to him, while the country is beginning to see results of increased generation up to 7001MW on 12th September 2017, Transmission up to 6,700 MW and Distribution 4,600 adding that such result is not yet enough.
Let me state emphatically that everything in the PSRP is based on the 2005 Law and that is why I urge everybody to read it.
In his address, Governor Simon Lalong debunked the insinuation doing the round that Plateau State is in crisis adding that the unfortunate incident that happened in the state capital last week Thursday was nip in the bud and normalcy restore immediately.

According to him, as a result of this, the curfew imposed on the state at wake of the disturbance will be relaxed from Thursday to 12; 00 am to 6:00 am and assured those who want to come to the state not to exercise any fear.

Source: www.tribuneonlineng.com

FG: About 2000mw electricity wasted daily due to distribution lapses

By: Bhodemarz on September 20, 2017 / comment : 0 ,

The Federal Government said yesterday that nearly 2,000 megawatts of electricity is wasted daily due to distribution lapses in the country.
Speaking at the 3rd National Council on Power which opened in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Louis Edozien, said  the generation companies and Transmission Company of Nigeria can deliver well over 6,600mw at these trading points but consumers are enjoying less than 4,600mw.” 
Edozien explained during his welcome address that deficit in power distribution lines and substations are key challenges facing the sector and explains why distribution companies are unable to distribute the entire 6,600mw of electricity generated and transmitted to consumers. 
According to him “today there are about 750 33KV trading points from where electricity available on the national grid is received by the distribution companies for onward delivery to households, businesses, government offices and industries that consume it.”
He urged the participants at the conference themed, ‘Completing Power Sector Reforms’, to brainstorm on critical challenges facing the power sector especially as they relate to optimal use of power generation for consumers. 
The council which comprises of major stakeholders in the power sector who meet and formulate sustainable power policies in the transition and post-privatisation era, is designed for a robust deliberation.

Nigeria announces $5.8 billion deal for record-breaking Mambilla power project

By: Bhodemarz on September 18, 2017 / comment : 0 , , , ,

According to CNN, the government of Nigeria has announced the award of a $5.8 billion contract to build what will be the largest power plant in the country.

The 3,050-megawatt Mambila hydroelectric power project in the state of Taraba will be delivered by a consortium of Chinese state-owned construction firms.
The megaproject will feature four dams between 50 and 150 meters tall, and take six years to complete, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, told reporters in Abuja.
The Chinese Export-Import Bank will finance 85% of the development, with the Nigerian government contributing 15%.
Minister Fashola claimed the project will deliver far-reaching benefits.
"(Mambila) will have a transformational effect on all of Nigeria's socio-economic development," he said through a government spokesman, "It will have considerable positive impact on electricity supply nationwide, productivity, employment, tourism, technology transfer, rural development, irrigation, agriculture and food production."

False starts

The Mambila hydropower plant has been in development for over 30 years, but previous administrations have made little progress.
In 2007, the Nigerian government awarded a $1.4 billion contract to two Chinese construction firms for a 2,600-megawatt plant, but the agreement broke down soon after.
Attempts were made to revive the deal without success. But the deadlock was broken by conversations between the presidents of China and Nigeria in 2016, according to the spokesman of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
"The major breakthrough in the execution of this project was achieved when President Muhammadu Buhari initiated discussions at the level of the President of the Peoples Republic of China in the course of his State Visit (in 2016)," wrote government official Garba Shehu.
The meeting resulted in the creation of a consortium of Chinese companies to deliver the project, according to Shehu, and an agreement that the Chinese government would commit finance to it.

Power shortage

Despite being one of the largest economies in Africa, over 40% of Nigerians live without access to electricity, according to World Bank figures.
Hydropower, one of the cleanest and cheapest forms of power, is a key target for development as Nigeria is currently exploiting just a fraction of its potential resources.
The country is also seeking to shift away from oil dependency, after plummeting oil prices triggered a recession.
The clear need for the Mambila project could make it more likely to succeed, some analysts believe.
"The prospects of project implementation starting are perhaps stronger than in previous decades," says Elizabeth Donnelly, deputy head of the Africa Programme at UK think tank Chatham House. "Nigeria continues, albeit slowly, with its complex power sector reform and badly needs to generate - and more importantly distribute - more power for its 180 million people."
"Hydroelectricity is an important part of this mix, particularly for rural electrification."


Source: cnn.com
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