Nigeria: $800m to be allocated for energy infrastructure
he Government of Nigeria is looking to bolster its energy infrastructure and will spend $800 million on the construction of substations and distribution lines.
The country’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the money will ensure the construction of substations for Lot 2; and substations and distribution lines for Lot 3 at a cost of $400m each.
He was speaking during a facility tour of TBEA Southern Power Transmission and Distribution Industry in Beijing.
Adelabu is in China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)?which starts today.
The $800m project falls under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
Adelabu said?Lot 2 covers Benin, Port Harcourt, Enugu distribution companies’ franchise areas while Lot 3 covers Abuja, Kaduna, Jos and Kano distribution companies’ franchise areas.
In March, the government started deploying the first of 10 mobile substations across the country to address electricity shortfalls.?
The substations were deployed to key sites to boost capacity by more than 1,300MW.
Energy output peaks in Nigeria
Adelabu also announced through his media aide Bolaji Tunji that Nigeria’s power generation reached a three-year peak of 5,313MW on Monday, 2 September.
However, he said it had to be ramped down by 1,400MW due to the inability of the distribution companies (DisCos) to pick up the supply.
Earlier this year, the government committed to generating 6,000MW of electricity by the end of 2024.?
The Minister said Nigeria’s industrial growth is being hindered by “the fragility of the transmission and distribution of infrastructure which have become old and dilapidated.”
Adelabu said that more than 59% of industries in Nigeria are generating their own electricity.
“They did not see the national grid as reliable and dependable. So a lot of them now operate their own captive, self-generated power,”?he?said.
In terms of renewable energy, the Minister said the mix will be made up of? hydro electric power from small dams, solar energy and onshore and offshore wind farms.
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Nigeria forging partnerships in the energy sector with China
In Beijing on Tuesday, the government signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with a Chinese Company, Mutual Commitment Company (MCC) for renewable energy projects.
The MoUs were facilitated and signed by Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
On Wednesday, Adelabu highlighted the opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector to the Chinese business community and investors at the China-Nigeria Economic Cooperation and Trade Conference in Beijing.
Sadiq Mohammed, COO of Kaduna Electric delves into Nigeria’s energy sector
FAQs about electricity in Nigeria?
Is electricity reliable in Nigeria?
According to Afrobarometer, only?13% of Nigerians enjoy a reliable electricity supply from the national grid.
How many Nigerians live without electricity?
The World Resource Institute says more than 85 million Nigerians do not have access to electricity.
Does Nigeria have loadshedding?
For years, power cuts, outages and blackouts have been a daily reality for many in Nigeria.
How much power does Nigeria have?
Nigeria?generates most of its power through thermal and hydro, with an installed capacity of about 12,522MW, according to the US International Trade Administration.
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