The federal government and Mojec Group were considering fresh options to bridge 8million metering gap and achieve its mass metering initiatives based on timeline it has set for the initiative.
The minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, while speaking on this development said, one of the considerations is to mop up available meters assembled in-country and incentivize indigenous meter manufacturers to enhance their plant capacities to meet demand structure of the Presidential Metering Initiative(PMI).
Adelabu said, President Bola Tinubu has instructed that Nigeria’s import dependency would be significantly minimised before it would eventually be ended.
The minister, who was on a working visit and inspection tour of Mojec Group, a major stakeholder in the power sector said, in addition to repositioning the meter production sector, a new Bill to promote local content implementation in the power sector is being perfected for consideration by the National Assembly.
He said, importation of goods, especially, smart prepaid meters is inimical to national development, employment generation and economic growth and that 90 per cent of the current hardship in Nigeria was caused by the country’s import dependence.
The minister further said, the PMI is making move to embark on bulk procurement of smart meters, the development of indigenous Meter Data Management Systems (MDMS), and the reduction of Aggregated Technical and Commercial (ATC&C) losses to improve efficiency and reliability of the energy infrastructure in Nigeria.
He said, though the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) is not presently considering special intervention options because of issues arising from previous uncoordinated interventions but he is in talks with CBN to consider the dire demand of the sector and provide the necessary support for local meter manufacturers.
Earlier, group managing director of MOJEC Group, Chantelle Abdul said, Nigeria will face serious energy challenges in the next two decades except proactive measures are considered to deal with seeming problems being presented by the sector.
Abdul said, the anticipated local content drive being advocated by the minister will go a long way to strengthen local manufacturers who are in need of intervention by government.
She informed the minister that despite bank guarantees by Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, MOJEC has spearheaded deployment of meters at its own risk across the country.
According to her, about 5 million per-paid electricity meters have so far installed under different government meter deployment initiatives, saying, her company is responsible for 50 per cent of the number so achieved.
She said, the group is ready to enhance present installed meter production capacity to meet demand level by the PMI, adding that, her firm is inching towards increasing local content component of its meter assembly from 40 per cent to over 60 per cent and fully attain 100 per cent as urged by the minister.
The minister had earlier noted the substantial metering gap in Nigeria, and that citizens are tired of estimated billing.
‘Before the end of this year, we are looking at the possibility of ending estimated billing because we want transparency and objectivity in our billing system,’ adding that, the Presidential metering initiative will harmonise all metering acquisitions in the country.
He stated that, “We have up to eight million meters gap in Nigeria and what the initiative seeks to achieve is to close this gap within three to five years. This means that an average of two million meters is required on a yearly basis and achieving the target is compulsory for citizens to enjoy stable power supply,’’
According to him, the Meter Assets Providers (MAPs) would equally have to provide a minimum number of 2,000 meters to participate in the market, stating that, Nigeria should be self-reliant, adding that, Nigeria has a market for its products.
