Teamwork key to addressing power sector challenges — AEDC MD

Teamwork among key players in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry will help address sector challenges,” the Managing Director of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr Christopher Ezeafulukwe, has said.

He mentioned that although there have been improvements since the privatisation of the power sector, a lot of work is still required to meet the sector’s objectives.

Speaking at the bi-annual joint generation, operations, and DisCos planning meeting in Abuja, Ezeafulukwe stated that the sector can only grow when the various segments work in unity.

He pointed out that the sector has been plagued by issues of sustainability in policies and operations, adding that the biggest question confronting the players today is, “How do we collectively ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity to our valued customers even in the face of challenges?”

He explained that to overcome the mistrust of the public in the sector, players need to work as a team across the value chain.

“A team means a group of people who work together towards achieving a common purpose or goal. And our common goal is to ensure that we collectively and sustainably provide electricity supply to our customers.

“Incidentally, we are all customers. That is the interesting aspect of the product that we either produce, transmit, or distribute.

We are not in the kind of business where some people sell things that they don’t use. And so, we need to work together as a team,” he said.

He urged participants to take a holistic view of the industry and come up with sustainable plans on how to improve sector performance.

While admitting that there were issues in the sector that needed to be addressed, the AEDC boss stressed that these should be tackled with a focus on the bigger picture.

However, he expressed AEDC’s commitment to delivering better services to its customers, stating that “AEDC is strategizing and refocusing on improving electricity supply to its customers.”

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, the General Manager of Transmission Service Provider at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Ajiboye Oluwagbenga disclosed that transmission capacity has improved to 8,500 megawatts.

He assured that TCN currently has the capacity to evacuate every quantum of electricity produced by power generation companies in the country.

“We have demonstrated in practical terms through simulations that TCN can conveniently handle 8,500 MW. But up until now, the power generation coming to the grid revolves around 4,000 MW.”

Also speaking, Engr. Onyekachi Nwosu, Senior Manager of Plant Performance at Omotosho (Gas) Power Plant, urged the government to address the issue of gas supply to the power plants.

“There should be more investment in gas supply to guarantee supply to power generators. In our sector, 95 per cent comprises thermal power plants, meaning they use gas. And the challenge has been getting adequate gas to power the plants.

“The next challenge is the issue of the networks, both at the transmission and distribution ends. The networks are fragile, and that’s the importance of this meeting.

We are here to plan and ensure that we manage what we have and that services to consumers are improved.”

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