Kogi Commission, Geregu Power Move To Boost Electricity Supply

Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has initiated talks with Geregu Power Plc to improve electricity supply across the state through a commercially viable local power market and direct electricity off-take arrangements.

The move, according to the commission, is part of the efforts to accelerate the delivery of reliable electricity to households, industries and host communities while supporting the state’s drive towards 24-hour power supply.

Leading a KERC delegation on a working visit to the power generation company in Ajaokuta, the commission’s chairman and chief executive officer, Ibrahim Sunday Abdulwaaris, congratulated the firm’s board and management on its recent change of ownership and the emergence of Abdul-Aziz Yari as chairman.

Abdulwaaris reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to building strategic partnerships with key players in the electricity value chain to strengthen Kogi’s emerging electricity market.

He highlighted KERC’s recent regulatory milestones, including the licensing of mini-grids and embedded generation projects, the issuance of an operating licence to Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited, and the ongoing development of a simplified tariff framework.

According to him, the reforms demonstrate the commission’s readiness to collaborate with major power generation companies such as Geregu Power to address electricity off-take and market settlement challenges through a robust state electricity market.

Describing Geregu Power as a strategic national asset, Abdulwaaris said the company had played a significant role in placing Kogi State on Nigeria’s energy map through its reliable electricity generation.

He proposed four areas of collaboration, including regulatory alignment between Geregu’s national licence and the state’s electricity framework, direct commercial off-take agreements with independent distribution network operators in Kogi, dedicated power supply to industrial and institutional consumers, and the alignment of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives with rural electrification and community development.

Responding, the head of Production at Geregu Power Plc, Ali Mambo Mohammed, welcomed the commission’s proposals and expressed the company’s readiness to collaborate with KERC to position the state as a preferred destination for electricity investment.

He noted that Geregu Power currently operates under a generation licence issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which does not cover transmission and distribution activities.

Mohammed, however, urged the commission to facilitate the development of a state transmission network, even at a lower voltage level, to enhance the effectiveness of the proposed partnership.

He disclosed that Geregu Power Plc has an installed generation capacity of 434 megawatts.

KERC pledged continued regulatory support, policy alignment and stakeholder engagement to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed initiatives aimed at improving electricity supply across the state.