FG, stakeholders intensifying efforts to address power challenges – NERC

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, March 21, 2022 (NAN) Mr Sanusi Garba, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), says the Federal Government and stakeholders in the power industry have intensified efforts to address the current challenges facing the sector.

Garba made this known during an interactive session with journalists after the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) meeting on Monday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by top officials of NERC, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Generation Companies (GenCos) and electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).

He said the meeting was in line with the directive of the Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, for stakeholders to work together not only to restore normal supply of electricity but to improve on supply nationwide.

Garba said the issue of shortage gas supply to power plants, collapse of the national grid, illiquidity of the industry, huge metering gap and infrastructure deficit were some of the challenges confronting the sector.

He said the plan of the government was to ensure that the thermal power plants were working optimally and to ensure that there was stability in the grid.

Garba said NERC had approved a special gas pricing for emergency contracting of gas from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd., for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NPDHC), to optimise utilisation of its power plants.

According to him, it is expected that about 800MW will be generated from the NDPHC plants.

Garba said the gas pipeline affected by acts of vandalism had been restored and the Okpai Power Plant had resumed power generation and currently contributing an average of 300MW.

He added that the “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani Power Plant was scheduled for completion on March 21 thus ramping up generation by about 400MW.

On metering, Garba said about 900,000 prepaid meters were installed for customers under the Phase Zero of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) of the Federal Government.

He said engagement was already ongoing with local meter manufacturers for the implementation of the phase one of the programme which had a target of four million meters.

Garba said the World Bank was also providing finance for another four million meters which would help the nation close the metering gap with about eight million meters in the next three years.

He added thatvNERC had approved a five-year Performance Improvement Plans for the DisCos which would lead to more investments in electricity distribution to end-users.

Garba explained that the minor tariff review approved for the DisCos was in line with the tariff methodology adopted by NERC for periodic adjustments of tariffs based on inflation, exchange rates and gas pricing.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, TCN, Mr Sule Abdulaziz, said the current administration had spent over N1 trillion on strengthening the transmission network.

Abdulaziz said the TCN had the capacity to wheel 8,000MW but was currently receiving 3,500MW from the GenCos.

While apologising for the recent system collapse of the national grid, he noted that grid collapse could be caused by a myriad of factors but the most important thing was the restoration period.

He noted that contrary to public perception, the collapse of the grid had reduced in the past few years.

The TCN boss recalled that the grid collapsed 12 times in 2018, nine times in 2019, four times in 2020, twice in 2021 and so far three times in 2022. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

NUPRC to deploy modern technology to curb oil theft

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive, NUPRC

By Solomon Asowata

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says it is upgrading and deploying the National Production Monitoring System (NPMS) facility toward curbing crude oil theft in Nigeria.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive, NUPRC, spoke recently in Abuja on efforts by the commission to address the menace of crude oil theft.

Komolafe said the deployment of  NPMS, which is an electronic system used in monitoring oil and gas production in Nigeria, was being carried out in collaboration with other relevant agencies.

According to him, this ensures accurate and reliable reporting of crude oil production.

He noted that the National Data Repository (NDR) within the NUPRC serves as the data warehouse for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Komolafe said, “The Value of Information (VOI) is for purpose of oil and gas investment decision.

“For example, NDR facilitates data for bid rounds in line with the statutory mandates of the NUPRC under the PIA to prospective investors, thus enabling informed investment decision and shortening upstream business lifecycles.”

He also said that NUPRC had taken technological advancements into consideration in its work processes.

Komolafe said that currently, the Technological Adaptation Unit within Engineering and Standards Department engages service providers on new technologies that could be implemented in the petroleum industry.

“In addition, we have established more data related initiatives in the NDR such as National Improved Oil Recovery Centre (NIORC).

“This focuses on utilising big data to drive reduction in cost per barrel.

“Also, the Integrated Data Mining and Analytics Centre (IDMAC) was setup to assess and analyse data for informed business decisions,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Expert urges NASS to expedite legislation on decentralised national grid

Mr Kola Balogun,  Chairman, Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL)

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, March 16, 2022 (NAN) A power expert, Mr Kola Balogun, has urged the National Assembly to expedite action on its move to decentralise the National Grid due to incessant system collapse.

Balogun, who is the Chairman, Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL), made the urge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, in Lagos.

NAN reports that the national grid had suffered two system collapses within the last three days, resulting in blackouts in some parts of the country.

Balogun commended the efforts by the national assembly to move electricity generation and distribution from Exclusive to the Concurrent List in the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Honestly, they have taken the right step. This has been my advocacy ever since, but it took them a long time to listen to us.

“We have over 30 years experience in the power sector downstream and we made recommendations that the grid should be decentralised as a matter of urgency.

“We have seen that the grid system has failed us. Everytime we have system collapse because of decayed infrastructure. We need a lot of replacement.

“We need substation enhancement, distribution substations, injection substations, transmission substations and network expansion of the transmission substations.

“So, it is good that we are now moving to separate the grid to allow state and local governments interested in the sector to come in.” he said.

Balogun, however, warned that it was not enough to clamour for the decentralisation of the national grid, stressing that past mistakes recorded in the power sector privatisation must be avoided.

He said, “We must ensure that only people with pedigree, right technical skills and financial competence will be allowed to manage the cascaded separation of grid.

“They are to manage the sub-sector of the network and this means we have to sit down and do a proper restructuring of decentralisation to ensure that the right people are given the task.”

According to him, even some personnel who have retired from the power sector but are still technically sound can be consulted in this regard.

Balogun said there should also be a time frame and deliverables to appraise the players from time to time.

“We can do an appraisal that will show that a particular local government or state has become a success story in managing its grid with the area having uninterrupted power supply.

“That will serve as a learning curve to others and will lead to adopting their methods.

“So, the national assembly has put in a remarkable effort to decentralise the grid and they should license people on kilowatt hour.

“Those businesses that are surviving in Nigeria today are licensed.

“Banks are licensed businesses,  so also are telecoms. We can have same in the power sector but they must be thoroughly scrutinised.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Marketers, airlines dialogue over aviation fuel price hike – MOMAN

Lagos, March 16, 2022 (NAN) The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) says it is holding talks with domestic airlines for steady supply of aviation fuel for their operations.

Mr Clement Isong, Executive Secretary, MOMAN, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

He said the engagement followed the intervention by the House of Representatives and supervision by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The executive secretary empathised with all stakeholders, including ordinary Nigerians who are struggling with the consequences of the increment in the price of crude oil at the international market.

Isong blamed the hike in the price of crude oil and its derivatives such as aviation fuel, petrol, diesel and kerosene on the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.

“We understand their pains even the Federal Government that is paying a higher cost to subsidise petrol.

“The rise and fall of oil prices is cyclical. We have been here before and we are hoping that within a short period that international supply of crude will adjust to meet demand and prices will come down to more acceptable levels,” he said.

According to him, the situation can also abate if marketers are able to get foreign exchange at decent rates instead of sourcing from the parallel market.

Isong, however, advised the domestic airlines to change the way they do business to enable them get steady supply of aviation fuel to run their operations.

He urged the airline operators to clear their debts and adopt a pricing formula for procurement of aviation fuel in line with international best practices.

Isong said: “There is aviation fuel in the country. However, the product is expensive. Many of us who have contracts with international airlines have to keep stocks for them.

“Now, international airlines pay for their products based on a pricing formula, so it is predictable. There is no quarrel on the price. It is Platts plus Premium.

“The Premium is fixed. The Platts, which is a price benchmark service for the oil industry, goes up and down depending on the international market price.”

The executive secretary said the pricing template is transparent and predictable.

“I should also add that we buy the product in forex and the foreign airlines pay in forex. So there is no forex risk.

“For the local airlines, there are two challenges. First of all they don’t like signing binding contracts based on pricing formula. They prefer running from one marketer to another trying to get products at cheaper rates.

“Secondly, many of them are owing. They are owing millions of naira to the industry not just marketers alone. When they finish from one marketer, they run to another one.”

According to him, the marketers are demanding that the airlines  pay up their debts because the burden on the industry is becoming too much.

Explaining further, he said adopting a pricing formula meant that the marketer must commit to a volume of products that would be supplied to the the airline within a specific period.

“The pricing formula means that you buy over a period of one month a certain quantity of products and the airline must pick that product.

“So when they have agreed, you go and buy that volume and you keep for them but if they don’t agree, you can’t keep that volume for them,” he said.

He explained that the domestic airlines had to change the way they did business.

“This is what the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., Mele Kyari has asked them to do.

“There are international best practices that they need to adhere to in running their businesses.

“This include a pricing based formula committing to volumes and also clearing their outstanding debts to ensure smooth operations in the sector.

“If they adopt this method, marketers can take the risk of buying products and keeping for them in our tank farms but they need to commit to volume because that is how the business is done,” said Isong.

The executive secretary said he had nothing but respect for the domestic airlines who had over time invested in leasing more modern aircraft to improve the quality of their service to their passengers.

He added that he equally understood the challenges in charging airfares that were reasonable but allowed them to meet their obligations to their vendors. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

CSR: Ikeja Electric upgrades electrical workshop at Ikorodu Technical College

Mrs Folake Soetan, Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric Plc, flanked by other dignitaries unveiling the upgraded electrical workshop at Government Technical College, Ikorodu on Tuesday in Lagos.

By Solomon Asowata 

Ikeja Electric (IE) has renovated and upgraded the electrical workshop at Government Technical College, Ikorodu, as part of efforts to support the improvement of technical capacity building in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was inaugurated by Mrs Folake Soetan, the Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric, on Tuesday in Lagos.

Soetan noted that the gesture was aimed at boosting technical education in the state, while complementing the efforts of government through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

She emphasised that the electricity distribution company remains passionate about giving back to communities where it operates.

Soetan said: “We care about our customers and we look for every opportunity to support them, through our CSR platform, which has touched thousands of lives positively.

“We acknowledge the efforts of the federal, state and local governments in providing quality education for our children and raising the future leaders of tomorrow.

“No doubt, the responsibility being handled by government is huge and demand is enormous. Government cannot do it all alone.

“That is why private organisations like Ikeja Electric throw their weight behind initiatives that support government and drive development. At IE we give back to the societies where we operate.

“Therefore, in line with our commitment toward education, we decided to rehabilitate the electrical workshop at Government Technical College, Ikorodu.”

According to her, the upgraded workshop will enhance technical capacity building and create a conducive learning environment for the students.

Speaking further, Soetan noted that education was the bedrock of development for any nation.

“Clearly, when technical skills are encouraged among young people, it helps a nation to develop in terms of technology, economy, manpower, self-sustenance, creation of job and reduction of unemployment,” Soetan said.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, commended Ikeja Electric for the initiative which would add value to the college.

Adefisayo, represented by Dr Olufunke Oyetola, Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics, Lagos State Ministry of Education, called for more partnership between the DisCo and the state.

She said the impact would definitely be meaningful to the students because the quality of learning would improve thereby enhancing their capabilities and potential.

On her part, Ms Moronke Azeez, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), said the board’s mission was to provide industry response and gender inclusive technical and vocational education.

Azeez said the board was not only interested in the training of the students but was also engaging technical partners to help create start-ups and employment opportunities for them.

She said the state currently had about 400 partners involved in the exercise, adding that there was a need for more private sector support of technical and vocational education in the state.

Earlier, Mrs Adegboyin Kenku, Principal, Government Technical College, Ikorodu, lauded Ikeja Electric for expending resources and time in order to impact on the lives of students and teachers.

Kenku said: “The students feel very comfortable in the workshop, they are excited to learn because of the conducive environment.

“Therefore, we want to express our gratitude to Ikeja Electric for being our partner in progress in nurturing and supporting the talents that will graduate from this college.

“We want to reassure them that we will maintain it. And we believe you hear positive news about our students,” she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Eko DisCo appoints Sanda Deputy CEO

Dr Tinuade Sanda, Deputy Managing Director, EKEDC.

By Solomon Asowata

The Board of Directors of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has approved the appointment of Dr Tinuade Sanda, as the Deputy Managing Director of the company.

The company made the announcement in a statement issued by its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Godwin Idemudia, on Monday in Lagos.

The statement said prior to her appointment, Sanda was the Chief Accounting Officer, a position she had occupied since 2013.

According to the statement, Sanda’s appointment is in line with the company’s strategies and procedures.

It said the board and the management were confident in her proficiency and capacity to assist in leading the company toward its vision of becoming the leading and customer-centric electricity distribution company in Africa.

The statement quoted the Board Chairman, EKEDC, Mr Oritsedere Otubu, as saying the DisCo was proud to appoint Sanda as its first female Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

“Her appointment has proven the resilience of our succession planning mechanisms and the value we place on our corporate governance practices, which underpin our philosophy of building and recognising home-grown talents,” the statement also quoted Otubu as saying.

It said Sanda was a senior executive with vast experience in financial reporting, treasury management, taxation, mergers and acquisitions, finance regulation, risk management and financial modeling.

The statement said: “Prior to joining EKEDC in 2013, she was the Head, Finance and Administration at Vanguard Energy Resources, a leading oil and gas trading services company.

“In 2001, she joined the banking sector at the Chartered Bank of Nigeria where she rose through the ranks before joining Access Bank, as the Head of Retail Risk Management till 2012 when she left the sector.

“She earned her bachelor’s degree in Financial Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

“She also attended Strategic Financial Analysis for Business Evaluation Programme at the Harvard Business School in 2015.

“She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Nigeria; Institute of Management Consultants, United States; and Institute of Professional Financial Managers, London.”

It said she was also an Associate Member of Risk Management Association of Nigeria; Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria; and the Institute of Directors, Nigeria.

The statement added that in 2020, Sanda was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Management and Entrepreneurship from the ICON University of Management Science and Technology, Benin Republic.

Reacting to her appointment, Sanda expressed her gratitude toward her new responsibility in the company.

She said: “I appreciate the board’s belief in my ability as I look forward to supporting the CEO in developing Eko DisCo further with the formidable workforce.

“We know our role in the electricity industry; hence, I am going to give my best to ensure EKEDC continues to deliver on its promise to our customers.

“We will enhance collaboration with stakeholders to bring about further growth and development in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

IWD: EKEDC boss calls for end to gender-based violence

Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi, Managing Director, Eko Electricity Distribution Company in a group photograph with staffers of the DisCo during the International Women’s Day celebration on Tuesday in Lagos.

By Solomon Asowata

Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi, Managing Director, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), has called for an end to gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination against women.

Fadeyibi made the call during the review of a book titled: “She Triumphs: A Story of Faith, Hope and Restoration,” authored by Mrs Rita Akpata on Tuesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the review was part of activities by EKEDC to mark the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD).

Fadeyibi said the IWD was a special day to celebrate women and their outstanding contributions to the society and humanity.

He said there should be concerted efforts to abolish gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination against women.

Fadeyibi noted that there was still work to do in achieving this despite some significant progress made to close the gender gap.

On her part, Akpata said the 39-page book was written to encourage women who had gone through bad marriages and divorce not to give up on life and love.

She said divorced women and single mothers often faced stigmatisation from the society, which could force them into depression and having suicidal thoughts.

Akpata said hope in God made her triumph as she was blessed with another husband and had been able to set up a foundation to assist other women facing similar challenges. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)