South African auditors rate Abuja electricity firm high in health, safety and environment measures

A South Africa based independent consultancy, EOH Coastal and Environmental Services (CES), has rated Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) high in its diligent treatment of health, safety and environment (HSE) operations, including the company’s management of enterprise risks.

Equally, the auditors, after the conclusion of an audit of the company’s operations between 16th and 20th October, 2017, commended the AEDC’s prudent financial management, which they said was imperative as the power sector in Nigeria strives towards transformation and efficiency.

AEDC’s Head of Public Relations & Media, Ahmed Shekarau, said the audit was conducted on behalf of CEC Africa and the Dutch Development Bank (FMO), and it focused on the activities, programmes and projects that are being undertaken by the company to manage and address the HSE risks that it could be exposed to as a business.

The audit team, led by two seasoned experts, Dr Kevin Whittington-Jones and Tony Barbour, specifically visited AEDC to verify and report on core HSE related issues.

Such issues include progress in the implementation of previously agreed HSE actions, the general state of implementation of a sound HSE Management System in the company, its overall compliance with applicable legislation and the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Performance Standards, associated sector-specific guidelines and the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, as well as the general level of attractiveness of AEDC to external lending institutions with reference to HSE performance.

Meanwhile, the AEDC Managing Director, Ernest Mpuwaya, has noted that there is a correlation between the amount of electricity pursued and the level of development in any country.

He said this in a workshop meant to enlighten the judiciary on the operations and challenges of the sector, and to collaborate with the judiciary in tackling the challenges of electricity theft.

He said: “But the nation has taken a bold step to ensure that there is transformation in the sector. This transformation is ambitious and one of the largest which had been undertaken in the world.

“The major problem we are facing in the sector is characterized by liquidity challenge but if you analyse further, the main reason that underpins this challenge can be traced to the theft of electricity and unaccounted for energy in the sector.”