Udeme Clement-Ogbaunu
4 July 2008
Lagos — National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has declared that 6,000 megawatts of electricity generation by 2009 is realisable in Nigeria .
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Ransome Owan, made this declaration in an exclusive interview with THISDAY in Abuja, giving the assurance that the Federal Government is totally committed to making the 6,000mw target achievable.
According to him, the report submitted recently by the Power Committee, which President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, set up and mandated to achieve the said target would be thoroughly analysed and measures would be put in place to maximise outputs in the sector very soon.
The NERC boss explained that what ought to be the normal electricity generating capacity required for the entire country is 7,000 megawatts, all things being equal. He added that the current electricity generation capacity at the moment is between 3,000mw and 3,500mw.
"We need about 7,000mw of electricity generation to meet domestic demand and boost industrial growth and development in the country. At the moment, we are generating between 3,000mw and 3,500mw, which would be increased to 4,000mw by ending of this economic year."
"Also, by 2009, Nigeria would realise 6,000mw capacity, because this is the target set by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and finally we would achieve the maximum capacity of 7,000mw, because government is working tirelessly to ensure stable supply of electricity for both domestic and industrial consumption."
Responding to question on the position of NERC about massive disconnection of electricity, he stated clearly that the Commission last year abolished the practice of wrongful disconnection of electricity. He stated emphatically that only defaulting customers could be disconnected when a situation arises, and that this could only be done after enough time as a period of grace must have been given .
Owan maintained that NERC is strongly against the practice of arbitrary disconnection of consumers without adequate notice.
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The power supply in the country is shrouded in mystery by both the administration and the law makers. No body comes out with facts and figures giving the impression that THERE IS A LOT OF COVER UP. According to Mr Owan 3000MW - 3500MW is being generated and would increase to 4000MW at the end of the year. Does this mean that additional power plant would be built between now and year end to add 500MW? In a paper presened by Dr. Lukman few montha ago, he pointed out that the existing installed capacity by end of 2007 was about 6000MW and provided gas supply to all the stations are not interrupted, 6000MW could be generated. Furthermore, it was pointed out by Gov.Imoke that some of the power projects from the previous adminisration were scheduled as per contract to be completed by 2009 and these could still add few GW to the grid. All these details from Dr. Lukman and Gov. Imoke are left out of Mr. Owan's interview. Could this be outright ineptitude or the usual TRIBALISM controlled polity?