The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said that the government is working through the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) on expanding the transmission grid to ensure it can handle the increased load from new electricity generation sources.
Adelabu further disclosed that the government’s focus is on harnessing the rich diversity of natural resources, from hydro to solar and beyond, adding that the generation capacity to the grid has recently been expanded with the addition of 700 megawatts Zungeru hydropower plant.
He made this statement at the BusinessDay Energy Conference held in Lagos on the theme: “Powering Nigeria’s Energy Future; Addressing Infrastructure Challenges for Sustainable Energy Development.”
According to Adelabu, the Nigerian power sector faces a lot of challenges and to address these infrastructure challenges, the government has embarked on several strategic initiatives designed to enhance sustainable energy development both in the short-term and long-term aimed at transforming our energy sector.
He revealed that the government has put in place the required framework to enable an injection of 1.5 million meters into the power sector through the World Bank Distribution Support Recovery Programme. The Presidential Metering Initiative will also ensure that an additional two million meters be procured yearly for five years. This will ensure accurate billing, reducing revenue loss and improving cash flow for a more liquid power sector.
He added that to ensure the sector’s policy and regulatory framework is aligned and enhanced, the government has commenced the development of a National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan to provide a comprehensive framework for the nation’s electricity sector to support innovation, research, and development in the sector and chart a sustainable path forward in Nigeria’s electricity industry.
“The government believes that a supportive policy and regulatory environment are essential for sustainable energy development and the government is committed to creating policies that encourage investment, foster innovation, and ensure fair competition in the energy sector.”
“With this effort, we aim to not only increase our generation capacity but also improve the efficiency and reliability of our power supply,” he added.
