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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