Monday, December 12, 2011

PHCN to go: Professor Barth Nnaji

The tweet meet started past five, he actually came late as he was meant to start by 5 pm as earlier announced. He started by apologising.
Professor Barth started by responding to questions asked, saying there is a plan and it is captured in the power sector road map and that more licenses have been given out and that 40,000MW is targeted. He said there is no policy barring states from generating power that states and anybody can generate power. He cited Lagos and Rivers states as states currently generating power.
The high point came when he said PHCN will stop existing by 31stDecember 2011, replacement wasn’t stated but he assured that all PHCN staffs will not lose their jobs that they will be absorbed by successor companies. PHCN corporate headquarter will be shut down, successful companies in distribution, generation and transmission will function. He went ahead to say a wind farm project in Katsina is expected to completed by the 3rd quarter of 2012. He said there are a lot of policies on ground for prospective investors and that more information will be out by the end of January 2012. Someone asked about metre payments and he said NERC has been contacted and that they have removed extra metre charges.
He proceeded saying three coal-fired station are to be set up in Enugu, Gombe and Benue states with generative capacity of 1000MW each and that in addition, 2600MW hydro plant Mambilla Plateau state and 700MW in Zungeru Niger state. HE also said the installation of thousands of transformers across the country to improve power distribution is ongoing.
In his words “When we came at 2010, the generation was at 2800MW . We have improved it to over 4000MW”, “We have established the Nigerian Electricity Bulk Trading Company www.nbet.com.ng”, “We have re-established NERC, a strong regulator has been put in place to regulate the industry”, “The activities of the Bulk Trader are to act as a stand between the generating companies and the distribution companies”, “The activities of the Bulk Trader are to act as a stand between the generating companies and the distribution companies” , “We've gotten World Bank to provide the partial risk guarantee for gas and power. In support of the reform process”, “Increased power supply across the country as reflected in increase of quantum of 2800MW to over 4000MW as of today” ,“We have also got OPIC to provide a 1.5 billion dollars investment window to support the nigerian power sector” , “It takes 3-4 years to complete a power plant if all necessary things are in place.Based on this we project continuous improvements”, “You can also visit our website http://www.power.gov.ng/ to find out more about the activities of the ministry” , “CBN has provided the power intervention fund to support the power sector” , “The new tariff will provide a major incentive for new investment in the sector” , “We have paid PHCN workers N57 billion , have agreed on their 50% salary increase, agreed to convert 11,000 casual to regular staff”, “It is our long term goal that the Nigerian power market reaches a point of stability for a willing-buyer, willing-seller mode” .

He went ahead to say there will be new tariffs which will be announced by NERC next year arguing that Nigeria pays one the lowest electricity tariff in Sub Saharan Africa except Zambia. HE replied someone saying Nigeria supplies power to Niger, Chad and Benin.
He ended saying , “I want to assure Nigerians that we are doing everything necessary to boost power generation nationwide. It has been an engaging tweet-meet with you all. Further questions on other aspects of the reform could be forwarded to bart.nnaji@power.gov.ng.

The tweet meet lasted about an hour



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