We Need Govt Intervention to Sustain Electricity

The Power Generation Companies of Nigeria (GenCos) have assured Nigerians of adequate power in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs. Joy Ogaji, Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) gave the assurance in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ogaji said that GenCos were working hard enough to ensure adequate power generation is sustained during the Coronavirus crisis, NAN reports.

According to her, they are committed to improving power generation from Thermal and Renewable (Hydro Power Plants) sources across the country.

However, lamenting about the shortage of gas, Ogaji said the power generation companies need urgent government intervention at this time.

“GenCos are altering their business practices and developing strategies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To this end, GenCos have established telework protocols to ensure that non-essential, non-critical employees work from home.

“This is evidence in the increase in power generation which has averaged 4,024MW since the index case was recorded on Feb. 27.

“While implementing continuation of services, GenCos plan to ensure operations and service delivery continue to prevent more economic disruption,” she said.

Ogaji, however, complained of a shortage of gas supply for thermal generation companies as thermal power from gas and steam turbines accounted for about 80 percent of the country’s power generation.

She explained that gas unavailability hindered power generation in Thermal Power Plants and that gas cost constituted over 60 percent of wholesale electricity tariffs.

“Hence, what goes on in the gas sector has huge implications for the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” the executive secretary said.

She added that suppliers demanded upfront payment before they made gas available and that GenCos could not afford to meet the request given the liquidity issues in the NESI.

“Generation Companies are willing to work with relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

“With oversight over gas resources, we can develop novel approaches in making gas available for generation companies.

” Gas and transmission (evacuation) are critical and urgent needs outside the control of the generation companies. It calls for urgent government intervention.

“GenCos are corporate citizens with zeal and are willing to build the nation together with the government,” she added.