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Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, has assured Nigerians that the Jonathan administration will meet the nation’s quest for regular and sustainable power supply before 2016. He said the commission has issued licenses to independent private power plant operators for generation of 20,000 megawatts of power within the next three years.

Amadi, who was a guest speaker at a town hall meeting on power sector organised by The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) in Minna, Niger State, stated that with 20,000 megawatts the nation’s power need can be met.

“Life has taught us that nothing is impossible. We can make 30,000 megawatts within the next one year if we want. Already we have issued licenses to investors to generate over 20,000 megawatts before 2016. I am sure that with all the efforts put in place, our power generation will surely surpassed our target by 2016,” Amadi said.

He noted that the huge foreign investment in the sector in recent time was a product of the reforms and regulations put in place by the government. He continued: “The sector has been without framework, no cost-related terms and inconsistency in policy had been the order of the sector. But it is now being regulated. This has built confidence in investors, which in turn will boost the sector and our national generation level.” Amadi, who recalled that the sector had suffered decades of total neglect, appealed for understanding from Nigerians, saying result of the reforms in the sector would be gradual and new sources were being utilised to increase generation.

He said gas was being considered as another veritable means of power generation, adding that the gas sector required a review and more incentives to encourage the use of gas for power generation instead of selling it off as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Amadi expressed concern on the volume of gas flared daily in the country. According to him, “The best way to stop gas flaring, aside the global cry for its stoppage is to give incentive to encourage the use of gas for the power sector.”

He said the commission has encouraged the distribution company (DISCO) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to work with small entrepreneurs in the area on the possibility of setting up small generation units using gas being flared as the source. Aside from this, the NERC chairman said DISCOs were been encouraged to establish small modular power generating plants of between 10 and 20 megawatts outside the national grid network. On the contentious monthly service charge levied on electricity consumers by various DISCOs, the NERC boss explained that the commission has directed that no payment should be made when electricity was not supplied for upward of two weeks and above.

Source-On Request