FG pays N1.2 trillion energy debt, targets 19,000MW transmission capability

The federal authorities has paid N1.2 trillion of the N2.3 trillion owed to energy sector operators as it really works to ease funding constraints, enhance gasoline provide to producing corporations, and strengthen electrical energy supply nationwide.

Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday whereas briefing State House correspondents on the finish of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) assembly presided over by President Bola Tinubu on the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He mentioned the debt settlement shaped a part of a broader restoration effort protecting grid stability, transmission enlargement and various electrical energy provide to important public establishments.

He mentioned the federal government deliberate to extend transmission capability from about 5,000 megawatts to greater than 19,000 megawatts, giving producing crops extra capability to evacuate electrical energy.

The minister mentioned Nigeria’s electrical energy era capability stood at greater than 13,000 megawatts.

He mentioned a nationwide technical audit had commenced to determine ageing services and prioritise these requiring pressing intervention.

He defined that the nation had been divided into three main power zones for focused enhancements, noting that Lagos and its environs accounted for about half of nationwide electrical energy demand.

He mentioned the interventions would additionally handle transmission and provide challenges round Abuja, Kano and different areas.

The minister mentioned FEC accredited three tasks to strengthen the transmission community and enhance its capability, stability and resilience.

He mentioned the tasks embody upgrading the Katampe transmission substation, a key facility serving the North-Central area, and designing and manufacturing three 300-megavolt-ampere transformers for the Egbin transmission substation serving the Lagos axis.

He mentioned the third venture includes reconstructing a 35.6-kilometre transmission line alongside the Shagamu axis, changing it from a single-circuit to a double-circuit line.

The minister additionally mentioned the federal government had begun clearing greater than 300 containers of energy tools stranded on the nation’s ports.

He mentioned President Tinubu had directed the ministry to collaborate with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service to safe their launch and deploy the tools to electrical energy infrastructure tasks.

On grid administration, the minister mentioned development had begun on a brand new National Control Centre in Osogbo, Osun state, to exchange the prevailing facility, constructed 64 years in the past.

He defined that the brand new centre would incorporate trendy know-how to enhance monitoring and administration of the nationwide grid.

The minister additionally outlined efforts to supply various energy to universities and educating hospitals, saying 14 federal universities had been geared up with photo voltaic mini-grids with capacities starting from one to 5 megawatts.

He mentioned the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) had funded 11 different establishments.
He mentioned the University of Abuja’s photo voltaic mini-grid was commissioned about three weeks earlier, with comparable tasks deliberate for different universities.

He mentioned the federal authorities had additionally accomplished and energised photo voltaic mini-grids in 5 educating hospitals in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

He mentioned the tasks will enhance electrical energy reliability in important public establishments and cut back their dependence on the nationwide grid.

The minister mentioned the federal authorities would maintain debt repayments, infrastructure upgrades and various power investments as a part of its efforts to enhance electrical energy provide throughout the nation.