The Senate Committee on Power has kickstarted discussions with a South Korean energy firm, BK Energy, to explore mini-grid solutions and alternative energy sources, including coconut-derived graphene for power generation. This comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s persistent national grid collapse and unstable power supply.

During a meeting on Monday, the Committee Chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), told the South Korean delegation that Nigeria’s power sector has remained stagnant at 4,000 megawatts due to outdated infrastructure and the lack of transmission capacity to distribute additional power.

Senator Abaribe said that Nigeria’s biggest challenge is not power generation, but the inability to transmit and distribute generated electricity efficiently.

He said, “Our major concern is how to break the bond and bridge the yawning gap of insufficient power generation in the country. We want practical solutions, not just theories.”

In response, BK Energy representatives, Mr. Haeagwoo Lee and Mr. Sangwoo Park, recommended a mini-grid system to decentralize power transmission and prevent national grid failures.

Mr. Lee highlighted that South Korea, with a population of 50 million, generates 130,000 megawatts without relying solely on a single national grid.

He added, “Decentralising power generation and transmission will reduce energy waste and frequent grid collapses.”

The South Korean experts also proposed using coconuts, which are abundant in Nigeria, to produce graphene for electricity generation, similar to South Korea’s model.

He said, “Coconut trees can be harnessed to build power plants in local communities, providing sustainable and decentralised energy solutions.”

Earlier, TUG Energy Chairman and CEO, Mr. Uzo Udemba, who facilitated the meeting, urged Nigeria to embrace Green Hydrogen technology and move away from the outdated national grid model.

He said, “Many countries are shifting away from centralized power storage and distribution to avoid the frequent collapses Nigeria faces. BK Energy is here to introduce new technologies and train Nigerians in power generation, transmission, and distribution.”

The Senate Committee expressed readiness to work with BK Energy and other investors to develop mini-grid systems and explore alternative energy sources, marking a possible turning point in Nigeria’s quest for reliable electricity.