Benin disco explains low power supply

Firm supplies gas to Calabar NIPP

THE management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) yesterday attributed the inadequate power distribution to its customers to the low generation of electricity from the national grid.

It also decried the destruction of its electrical equipment by vandals in some communities, which it said, was also hampering adequate power distribution.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, who stated this yesterday in Benin City when residents of Evbuotubu in Ikpoba Okha Local Council of the state visited her, said that disco manages nine per cent of the total power allocation made available across the country, adding that the distribution of adequate electricity depends largely on the population of the area of coverage.

She said: “‎For every one million population, you need 1,000 megawatts. So, if you take Nigeria that has 160 million population, that’s 160,000 megawatts. Nigeria has gone as high as 4,500 megawatts. But what is 4,500 to 160,000? That tells you where you are going.

“When the national availability goes down, like there was a time when it was 2,500 megawatts, it is nine per cent of 2,500 megawatts. When it goes up to 4,000, it is nine per cent of 4,000.

In another development, an indigenous gas company, Seven Energy, has begun gas supply to the 560-megawatts National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) in Calabar, Cross River State, with a view to fast-tracking its commissioning so that it could boost national power generation by over 10 per cent.

The commercial delivery, which started last month, is being executed by a subsidiary, Accugas, through its Uquo gas processing facility in Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking on the feat, Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy, Phillip Ihenacho, said: “Delivering a cost-effective and reliable gas supply is critical to providing sustainable power supply into the national grid to meet government’s reform objectives and to facilitate industrial development.

I am delighted that our ability to deliver an indigenous gas solution is now being recognised by a broad range of industrial and power sector customers.

Not only will the gas we supply drive enhanced power generation, but when combined with improvements in transmission and distribution, it will also facilitate industrial and commercial developments which will have a far-reaching impact throughout the community, stimulating industry and generating employment as a result.”

Also commenting, the Managing Director, Accugas Steve Tierney, said: “The Calabar NIPP is a major power plant in Calabar and a further endorsement of the quality and reliability of our services.

Our strong capability across the region with ownership of gas reserves and pipeline infrastructure has enabled us to commercialise our gas assets, delivering a solution that the market has been demanding for many years.

We are ready and look forward to adding more customers to our network across the South-East of Nigeria, bringing affordable and reliable gas to a wider audience.”

Osibodu further said: “When transformers are vandalised, that means power in that location is reduced. Until a repair is done, people in that location are out of power and it affects so many things. The power that would have gone to that location will now find its way to somewhere else.

“At the end of the day, it also costs money to replace and if you have to spend less on what I will call maintenance and things like vandals, it gives you opportunity to spend more on enhancing the infrastructure in that area. And the more you enhance the infrastructure, the more availability of power.