12,000mw: Focus on diversifying power generation mix, analysts urge government

Experts in the power sector have commended Federal Government’s move to diversify power generation mix by adding renewable sources such as solar and nuclear energy.

Nigeria’s quest for energy security has been constrained by foreign exchange policy, militancy, lack of investments, gas-to-power challenges and weakness of power infrastructure.

Analysts believe that only strategic focus on diversifying Nigeria’s energy generation mix will achieve the goal.

“Given my understanding of the situation, a reasonable and achievable strategy might as well be an incremental plan, of adding about 3000mw every two years for the next eight years. Off course, this would mean a more diverse generation mix that de-emphasises our over reliance on gas-fired turbines,” Chijioke Mama, an energy analyst, who consults for oil and gas firms, told BusinessDay.

“The projected 12,000mw is achievable, but given the context of the challenges that hinder power generation in Nigeria, one would expect that it will take a reasonable length of time to attain.

“To give an arbitrary date for its attainment will be largely theoretical because power projects are long term projects while the risk and uncertainties can be much.”

Also, a Benin City-based energy expert, Vincent Agbo, said, “It is only in Nigeria that the government still relies only on dams for electricity supply. While dams function well during rainy seasons, they generate less power during dry seasons, as the volume of water recedes. There are different ways through which we can generate electricity; wind energy is another area we can focus on.

“We must do everything in our power to diversify our sources of electricity generation. If we can generate 4,000mw through dams, we can generate another 5,000mw through wind energy, we can generate another 5,000mw through solar, then we can achieve about 50,000mw to power our development.”

Nigeria’s power generation has slumped from a peak of 5,000mw to a paltry 1,400mw after militant attacks on gas pipelines crippled the ability of power plants to get gas required for their operations.

Also hit by the scourge of militants’ activity, Kano State Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) said it would diversify into other sources of power generation.

Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, managing director of KEDCO, said the company entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with investors to work out alternative sources of power generation, saying getting other sources of power supply like solar energy would improve electricity.

Recently at the News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja on Wednesday, May 18, Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works and housing, said the country could generate 12,000mw of electricity once these challenges were addressed.

“In spite of the challenges, the nation’s power sector still has the ability to advance its power generation, transmission and distribution through other sources. There are many perspectives to do this. We have today the capacity to generate at least 12,000mw. If we fix all what is not working,” Fashola said.