Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate for the Labour Party stated that he will unbundle transmission lines under a guideline that enables what is produced to be distributed accordingly, adding that if elected Nigeria would declare a state of emergency in its power-producing sector to achieve at least 20,000MW in 4 years.
Obi revealed this alongside his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed at the Channels Television’s Townhall series.
He also hinted that Nigeria is underutilizing its geographic sea port potential, urging that he will work with the private sector to build and manage ports for economic diversification.
Power production: Obi hinted that his administration has no other option but to make it work, urging Nigeria to learn from the examples in South Africa and Egypt.
- “We are going to make it work.
- “What we need to is to unbundle first, the transmission line, because today, we are actually generating up to 10,000MW but the transmission lines can’t carry that ( grid) by unbundling the transmission lines, support the DisCos to make sure at least what is produced is distributed accordingly, which should be done under a guideline.
- “Then we have to open up as South Africa has done for its power, even with a population of 60 million, they are generating, almost over 40,000MW, they declared an emergency and said anyone can generate up to 100MW without a license.
He added if South Africa generating nearly 50,000MW can declare such a power emergency, he will declare war on Nigerian Power generation.
Lessons from Egypt: The Labour Party candidate also hinted that Egypt recently repositioned its power sector and a few years went from 20,000MW to 50,000MW in production capacity.
- “Egypt did the same thing, they had about 20,000MW, and they discovered from studies that power is a critical issue, today they generate almost 50,000mw.
- “If this can be done around us, why not Nigeria, within 4 years, we should be able to generate not less than 20,000 MW, it’s going to be war.
Datti Baba-Ahmed, his Vice candidate added that Nigerians must also be willing to cooperate with the FG in fixing power, citing that a new era of pricing is also needed. He said:
- “Why buy fuel cheap and buy security more expensive, as long as there is domestic demand that is boosted by a new government that is able to save from waste, the marginal increase is going to bring you to a level that we are paying the realistic commercial price level for either energy or electricity.”
- “Nigerians should develop an attitude of reason with the people because a government does not operate in a vacuum, they must be understanding and the participation of Nigerians is important.
- “We have to understand that this a new era of pricing, there is an era in which it was taken for granted that electricity must come cheap, now we must pay commercial rate.
- “If people do not pay the market rate, it will not work.
Improved Port infrastructure: Obi noted that 20 years ago the biggest port in terms of operations was Singapore, which today is in 4th or 5th position ( replaced by 3 ports in china), citing that it is a dynamic industry, he added that his administration will reduce waste and “ dismantle confusion” from the FG’s side.
- “The Nigerian Ports Authority have offices in London, for running a port in Nigeria, we will dismantle this confusion and get the country to work.
- “It’s not rocket science, the port is not difficult, Nigeria has so much port potential from Ibom to Port Harcourt terminal started by Shagari and still not fully operational,
- “ I will change it by bringing the private sector to build ports and manage it in collaboration with the government.”
If I understand, the presidential hopefuls are saying
– Egypt went from 20000MW to about 50000MW generating capacity
– SA generates up to 40000MW and enables IPP of 100MW
– 9ja generates up to 10000MW
– 9ja transmits less than 4000MW
– they will unbundled Transmission
– they declare state of emergency in its power-producing sector to achieve at least 20000MW in 4 years.
Couple of things:
Has the LP presidential hopeful takes into consideration
1. The cycle or process of power generation, transmission and distribution/consumption
2. Generation without commensurate #transmission capacity, (matching distribution) leads to grid collapse
3. Egypt, as around 2013 (a DECADE ago), has about
– 30000MW (30GW) transmission operating ‘load’
– 45GW transmission capacity
– 30GW generating capacity
– 90% powered by fossil fuels (of which 60% is gas)
– over 90% distribution access for consumption by her population
– increasing tariff
4. Despite population access of almost 100%, Egypt faces ‘prolonged’ outages!. Hence, the electricity crises!!!
5. From 2014, Egypt embarked on generation AND transmission capacity increasing projects
– by 2022, added about 30GW generation capacity (from electric power production units + the Benban solar energy complex). PS: this received world recognition for the feat achieve (size and duration). Inbtw, this costed around 355billion Egyptian Pound; that’s about US$15b
– national generation capacity stands at about 75GW
– ongoing frantic effort to match transmission with new generation capacity.
– already, about twenty-one 500 kV transformer station added
– many more to be added urgently within the current 5yr plan.
Regarding South Africa, devoid of details to keep space, has the presidential hopeful consider that
6. Is faced is rolling blackout (termed loadsheddinh). By the way, this was like the ‘planned’ shutdown we used to have in 9ja in the days of ECN
7. SA has more than tripled electricity tariffs in the last decade
8. SA has no end insight of its electricity crisis.
9. SA is looking to learn from others while they the presidential hopeful are looking to learn from SA! Paradox of sort. Inbtw, SA engaging with UK and the likes of the same Germany to bolster it’s crumpling energy crisis
10. I thought 9ja is executing on a sort of energy state of emergency. We’ll sort of, as the speed of execution could be faster and more clinical
– Siemens transmission grid expansion (just like Egypt ongoing to match it’s transmission to it’s new generation)
– Siemens Energy implementating Nigeria’s Presidential Power Initiative (PPI)
– 9ja and French AFD signing €25m deal to strengthen power transmission (North -West corridor)
– Afdb $250m deal for 9ja Transmission Expansion Project – phase 1 (NTEP 1) to bring transmission capacity at par with generation’s 10GW
11. Seemly, 9ja national Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP) is multiphase. Are the presidential hopeful critically hopeful of this and bringing crisis change mgt.
12. The 9ja PPI (strategically anchored around Siemens Energy) is already projected to bring transmission capacity to about 25GW. Are we, according to the LP presidential hopeful going to ‘deterioratly’ regress back to 20GW by 2027 (their 4 yrs energy crisis SoE action plan)