Indications emerged on Thursday that Nigeria is preparing to sell its “stranded electricity” toBurkina Faso, as the nation’s power industry continues to battle challenges.
The planned energy export is being put in place by the concessionaire of Kainji and Jebba hydro
power stations, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, MESL.
The company said it had been approached by the West African nation and it was ready for a
deal.
“I am complaining that I have energy that cannot be utilised,” said the managing director of the
company, Lamu Audu, on Thursday. “And some of us are actually looking beyond the borders of
Nigeria to sell our power if the Nigerian market cannot take it because we have to remain in
business—-we have responsibilities to our shareholders.
“Investments have been made, and that is why we are looking into the West African market.
Honestly, we are already talking to Burkina Faso. They approached us and we are willing to have
deals with them to sell power to them. They are willing to buy.”
Mr Audu said this at the PwC’s Annual Power and Utilities Roundtable in Lagos.
The company acquired Kainji and Jebba power plants through a concession agreement in
November 2013, following the privatisation of the power sector.
Speaking during a panel session at the event, Mr Audu said when the firm took over in 2013, it
had not a single generating unit in operation although it had an installed capacity of 760 MW.
He explained that Jebba had an installed capacity of 578 .4 MW, with six generating units.
However, he said, the company took over five generating units that had not been overhauled in
30 years.
“As we speak today, we generate 20 to 25 per cent of the energy going into the grid,” Mr Audu
said.
“We have ramped up our capacity at Kainji from zero to 440 MW. At Jebba, what we
concentrated on is the reliability of the existing units. We utilised the capacity of our staff to
recover some of the units.
“Currently, we have a capacity of 922 MW but, on the average, it is only 600 MW to 650 MW that
is utilised. So, we have stranded energy, which is seriously impacting on our ability to attract
more funding for capacity recovery and capacity expansion.”
Issues of blackout and perennial power failure have impeded on the nation’s growth and
development for decades. A number of public officials who promised to deliver when appointed
into the power ministry end up failing to actualise their dreams.
The minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has however said at different
fora that the nation’s power situation has improved.
On Thursday, Mr Audu said some stakeholders are looking beyond the shores of Nigeria to
attract investment and optimise underutilised power.
He also explained that the challenges in the Nigerian power industry are complex, adding that
they nation may not experience uninterrupted power supply until the next two decades.
GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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View previous comments…Nnanna Idika Mba
Who says Nigeria market is not viable. Nigeria soil is the most fertile soil anyone can invest in. We've been paying for darkness and u want the people to be happy paying?
Endy Edeson
@Nnanna: According to the director of the power company, it's obvious they are not getting orders or DEALS here in Nigeria @Libra: Goodevening
Salako Saint's Stephen
Let them go may be another company we come that we favor us in NIGERIA, we pay for sun and Moon in our Country,
Jamil Imodibie
Was dis dia plan to put d electricity in other den start selling it to neighboring Con3 😡 ? na wa o 🤔 light wey we no dey see what is really wrong with dis Con3 ?
Psalmwell Ledor Nbura
Dem dey complained say d megawatts d generating stations dey generate no dey enough for Nigerians to consume, yet dem dey export d little wey dey..God help us in dis country.. Las las we go dey OK one day..
Mac David Akwuking
To Burkina Faso when dont enjoy the light here or is there something they are not telling us?
Evangelist Gilbert
last time they exported yams and food crops that was expensive now power, this govt. self do and commot before your begin to sell your citizens as slaves
Niyeck Nandack
I suspect he is just trying to blackmail the authorities so that they can quickly help the DISCOS to improve their capacity.
Fashola is one who believes that he can improve the power situation just by organising press conference and dishing out lies every now and then in Lagos
Fashola is one who believes that he can improve the power situation just by organising press conference and dishing out lies every now and then in Lagos
