ECN, UNIDO Launch Initiative To Strengthen Energy Mgt Frameworks

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), has launched a new Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) Database to strengthen national frameworks for energy management and support industries in adopting international best practices.

Speaking at a national sensitisation workshop held in Lagos, the director general of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, noted that the IEE Database was developed to provide reliable data on industrial energy consumption following surveys of small, medium and large-scale industries across major industrial hubs in Nigeria, including Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Onitsha and Warri.

He explained that evidence-based policymaking requires accurate data, particularly in addressing challenges around energy use. “Without comprehensive knowledge of how industries acquire and use energy, attempts to develop policies that promote energy management and efficiency would be baseless and counterproductive,” he said.

Mustapha, who was represented by Engr Gbenga Olokede of the Energy Transition and Linkages Department of the Commission, explained that the database is designed to be user-friendly, easy to navigate and accessible to stakeholders, thereby enabling policymakers and industrialists to integrate efficiency measures into their operations.

In his keynote address, the Lagos State commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, emphasised the centrality of energy efficiency to Nigeria’s industrial future.

He observed that inefficiencies in energy use currently account for up to 30 per cent of industrial energy waste in the country, undermining competitiveness, profitability and environmental performance. “Industrial energy efficiency is not a compliance burden; it is a strategic advantage,” he said, urging companies to pursue certification under ISO 50001, the global standard for energy management systems.

The commissioner highlighted Lagos’ efforts under its 2023 Electricity Sector Reform Law to foster sustainability and improve industry power reliability, pointing to investments in gas-to-power projects, renewable energy and embedded generation. He also underscored the importance of structured energy management processes that follow the Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle, citing successful case studies from South Africa’s pulp and paper industry and India’s cement sector, both of which achieved multi-million-dollar savings and substantial reductions in carbon emissions through ISO 50001 implementation.

The Abuja phase of the initiative provided a platform for the official public presentation of the IEE Database at the Prof. I. H. Umar Conference Hall, ECN headquarters. The event gathered representatives of key government ministries, regulatory bodies, industry leaders, and development partners. Presentations on the development and operationalisation of the database were made, followed by interactive sessions designed to build stakeholder buy-in and encourage adoption.

In his comments, Industrial Energy Efficiency Consultant to the ECN, Engr Okon Ekpenyong, said the database, developed under the GEF-UNIDO project “Improving Nigeria’s Industrial Energy Performance and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production,” is expected to support industries in tracking energy use, identifying opportunities for efficiency and adopting cleaner production techniques. Its dissemination aims to raise awareness, foster collaboration and promote energy-conscious practices as part of Nigeria’s broader development agenda.