Presidential taskforce targets 6,000mw by June

THE Presidential Taskforce on Power (PTFP) has projected the attainment of 6,000 megawatts (mw) electricity capacity starting from June this year.

  In a newly-published ‘PTFP 2014 Yearly Report’ released Tuesday in Abuja, PTFP Acting Chairman, Mr. Clement Oke, said the 80-page report provides accessible and factual information on the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to industry stakeholders.

  He said: “It is a substantive report that includes progress reports on 2014 activities, risks and threats, PTFP-led interventions as well as 2015 sector projections from the PTFP perspective as the power sector reform monitoring vehicle.”

  The taskforce stressed the need for TCN to improve performance, noting: “Energy should increase above 6,000mw (by June) and earned revenue collection should exceed 75 per cent in the NESI.”   

  It further projects a deliverable capacity of 8,000mw by year ending even when capacity generation is 2,844.03mw as at March 1, with a 12,800mw peak demand forecast.

  To achieve this, PTFP said there is a projected good outlook on gas supply and infrastructure development up to year 2020, saying that its records show that 1,054 mmscfd of gas will be added to the network in 2015 rising from 1,820 mmscfd in 2014 to 2,874 mmscfd in 2015.

  “Most of the gas will go to power generation while the balance will be for industry use and export through the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP),” it added.

  The report, which advocated for an upward growth of spinning reserves by 300mw, stated: “To better support system frequency stabilisation, spinning reserves targeted upwards to 600mw will be pursued,” adding that overall SCADA monitoring of grid system should improve above 75 per cent in 2015.

  The taskforce in the report urged the 11 distribution companies (Discos) to be more aggressive in deployment of customer meters even as other industry operators work towards increasing the volume of power generation.

  On TCN, it stressed:  “Many of the issues plaguing TCN performance over the years must be solved in 2015. TCN management must show credible leadership and drive improvements with an ownership mentality focusing on proper priorities. The System Operator (SO) must effectively manage system reliability instead of remaining in reactive mode.”

  “The TSP must regain maintenance control of the network as well as improve both the generation companies (Gencos) and Discos interfaces to allow 8,000mw to reliable flow 24 hours a day. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) pledged investment of $1.6 billion (about N320.880 billion) should be delivered and this money should be leveraged for greater effect with a financial framework in support of system expansion plans must be identified.”