Since the perennial power supply challenges are not looking to abate anytime soon, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and energy experts have proffered ways to accelerate energy security for manufacturers.
This was discussed at a summit themed; ‘Power Supply Adequacy for Industrial Growth in Nigeria’, organised by the Manufacturers Power Development Company Limited.
Speaking, president of MAN, Francis Meshioye emphasised the commitment of the association to explore collaborative strategies that will enable manufacturers to reduce energy costs, transition to sustainable energy sources and comply with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.
Meshioye recognised that energy security is not only a business imperative but also a national priority, calling for the support for the manufacturing sector which accounts for a significant share of Nigeria’s GDP, and its growth which is critical to economic development.
Group managing director, Income Electrix Limited, Mathew Edevbie noted that a limited supply from the electric grid has forced industries to self generate electricity, lamenting that reliability, availability and cost of electricity to industries remain the bane of industrialisation in Nigeria.
Edevbie noted that despite the challenges plaguing the power sector and industries in Nigeria, there exists prospects and opportunities by utilising a holistic approach to improving reliability, availability and reducing our total energy spend.
According to him, the approaches include optimization of generation sources, efficient utilisation of power and focusing on the use of low energy consuming products.
Director of Huawei Digital Power, Nigeria, Cruise Ni stated that in the past five years the diesel cost, average grid tariff, prices of batteries and solar panels went high, as such there was need for improvement in innovation and technology to meet the rising demand.
Managing director and CEO, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distribution (ANED), Sunday Oduntan noted that the country’s power infrastructure was outdated, under maintained and insufficient to meet the growing need.
Oduntan proffered investment in grid infrastructure to modern transmission and distribution networks to reduce losses and increase capacity in off grid solutions like mini- grid and solar home in rural and underserved areas.
The MD/ CEO Niger Delta Power Holding Company Plc, Jennifer Adighije explained that access to electricity is inevitable for industrialisation, promising to support businesses for off grid solutions.
The chairman/CEO, Nigeria Energy Regulatory Commission, Sanusi Garba had earlier said, powering industry policies that deliberately seek to improve power supply to industrial clusters is required, noting that it could be achieved through embedded generation targeting industrial parks; distribution hub franchising ; ring fencing arrangement; Independent electricity distribution network.
The managing director, Association of Gencos, Dr Joy Ogaji pointed out that, decisions about Investments in power generating capacity depend on expected returns and costs, the illiquid state of the NESI in addition to the fact that all plants are performing below optimum does not encourage the 6000MW discourse.
She said capacity utilisation In any market, is often used as a measure of productive efficiency.
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