Nigeria Needs 30,000MW For Stable Power Supply – Association

Association of Nigeria Energy Distributors (ANED) said Nigeria needs to generate about 30,000MW to guarantee stable supply of electricity in the country.

ANED also called for the decentralisation of the national grid to ensure improved transmission and distribution of power in Africa’s most populous nation.

Executive director, Research and Advocacy, ANED, Sunday Oduntan stated this on Tuesday in Lagos at a workshop organised by ANED in collaboration with the Macarthur foundation project.

The workshop had as its theme: “Building Consumer Awareness and Strengthening the Customer Service Capacity of Electricity Distribution Companies.’’
Oduntan said Nigeria with a population of more than 200 million people was currently generating less than 5,000MW which was grossly inadequate to meet the energy needs of the nation.

He said: “According to available statistics, there are 32 million households in Nigeria.

“If Nigeria can generate 30,000MW today, we will have 24 hours of electricity in Nigeria.

“South Africa has a population of 67 million people and are generating 46,000MW which is more than enough for the country.”

He said only 28 power plants in Nigeria were currently operational with 25 powered by gas while three were hydro power stations.

Oduntan said the thermal (gas-powered plants) were faced with challenges such as gas constraints and inadequate capacity utilisation to the detriment of the country.