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Most Citizens to Enjoy Electricity By 2020 - Minister

This Day
Patrick Ugeh
29 Nov. 2007

The Minister of State for Energy in charge of Power, Mrs Fatima Ibrahim, yesterday stated that electricity supply would get to 75 percent of the population by the year 2020. The minister, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the National Solar Energy conference in Abuja, however lamented that access to electricity is available to only about 40 per cent of Nigerians at the moment.

"On electricity," she said, "the (National Energy) Policy articulates that the nation shall continue to engage intensively in the development of electric power with a view to making reliable electricity available to 75% of the population by 2020. It is however disheartening to note that access to electricity is hovering at about 40 percent of the population." Consequently, Ibrahim stated that a lot still needs to be done in order to meet the country's aspiration of socio-economic development for the people and the attainment of the goals of Vision 2020 and President

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's seven-point agenda.

Noting that the largest proportion of the deiciency was in the rural areas where about 70 percent of the citizenry live, the minister said stressed the place of renewable energy in serving their needs. "Unfortunately, the largest proportion of the deficiency is in the rural areas where about 70 percent of our population resides," she said. "In order to fill this wide gap in a sustainable manner, renewable energy, which now contributes to more than 16 percent in meeting the nation's demand demand for electricity needs to progressively play a greater role within the short, medium and long term planning n horizon.

"While the federal government will continue to improve on the enabling environment for investment in renewables, may I seize the opportunity of this forum to call on the private sector to actively partner with the federal, state and local governments in meeting the emerging challenge in resolving the prevailing energy crisis." She noted that Nigeria is abundantly blessed with solar energy with radiation intensity ranging frrom 3.5kWh/sq.m/day in the south to 7kWh/sqm/day in the north.

"It is imperative for all stakeholders to work towards harnessing this renewable resource forr the benefit of the nation and the global environment," Ibrahim said. "This provides a great opportunity for states and local governments to provide appropriate access to electricity for isolated communities in an off-grid manner." She announced in relation to this that the Federal Government would soon embark on studies towards implementing large-scale megawatt class solar farms for integration into the national grid.

Earlier, Prof. T.A. Kuku, president of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, organisers of the awareness programme, expressed the hope that solar energy with all of its multiferious benefits would become more acceptable in the country. In his keynote address, Prof. A.S. Sambo, the Director-General of Energy Commission of Nigeria, explained that the theme of the conference, "Harnessing Solar Energy for Rural Development" was motivated by the need to improve accessibility and affordability of energy for all.

The Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Halima Alao, said using more energy-efficient means will reduce global warming, gas emissions and their contribution to climate change incidence.

Copyright © 2007 This Day

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Cabinet to Discuss Proposal for Improving Power Supply

Nigeria Today
31st March '08

Against a background of worsening power situation in Nigeria, the federal cabinet will this week consider proposals aimed at adding 16,000 megawatts of electricity to the country's national grid, according to a statement issued Sunday by presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi. The statement said the recommendations were contained in the interim report of the Presidential Committee on the Accelerated Expansion of Nigeria's Electricity Infrastructure, set up by President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Adeniyi said the President would present the interim report to the Federal Executive Council ''for critical analysis, review and adoption in furtherance of ongoing efforts to resolve the problems in Nigeria's power sector''. ''After working on its assignment for one month, the joint government/private sector committee has reported to President Umaru Musa Ya'Adua that the target of 6,000 additional megawatts within 18 months can be exceeded with the investment of $2.7 billion and the Federal Government's direct intervention in critical areas.

''The committee said in its interim report to the President that 1,450 additional megawatts can be realised from existing PHCN (state-run Power Holding Company of Nigeria) plants, 3,368 megawatts from ongoing NIPP projects, 640 megawatts from the Shell Petroleum Development Company's Afam/Okoloma Joint Venture and 805 megawatts from Legacy Independent Power Projects,'' the statement said. It said the committee also submitted that the medium term goal of 10,000 additional megawatts by 2011 could be jointly met by the PHCN, Joint Ventures, the NIPP and newly licensed Independent Power Producers.

President Yar'Adua inaugurated the committee on 15 February 2008 and charged it with the responsibility of formulating plans and strategies to boost Nigeria's power supply capacity by 6,000 megawatts within 18 months, with an additional 10,000 Megawatts by 2011. Nigeria currently generates about 3,000 megawatts of electricity, which is widely inadequate for the country, thus resulting in massive load shedding (power cut).Yar'Adua, who assumed office 29 May 2008, said recently that his predecessor spent US$10 billion on the power sector without a commensurate improvement in the sector.

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm