As part of efforts to support Nigeria’s power output, the Federal Government granted 95 licences, permits, and registration certificates for the production of 989.42 megawatts of electricity in 2023.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, an institution of the Federal Government, awarded the power generation licences, permits, and certificates to investors, according to an examination of the most recent industry numbers viewed in Abuja on Friday.
Nigeria produces between 4,000 and 5,000 MW of electricity, and by December of the current year, it hopes to reach 6,000 MW.
As of 6 a.m. on Friday, for example, the nation’s electricity generation on the national grid was 4,096.02 MW.
It was noted that NERC approved the registration of four mini-grids and gave twelve licences and permits for the generation of 723 megawatts of power in the first quarter of 2023.
In the second quarter, it issued 13 permits totaling 20.06MW of power generation.
The commission issued 48 licences, permits, and registration certificates for the production of 203.18MW of energy in the fourth quarter of 2023, whereas the regulator issued 18 licences and permits for the generation of 43.18MW of electricity in the third quarter.
NERC gave a detailed account of the permits it issued during the review period, stating that two new generating licences totaling 723MW were approved by the commission in 2023/Q1.
“Five captive power generation permits were issued alongside five permits and four registrations for mini-grids.”
In the second quarter, the regulator stated that it also “issued three new captive power generation permits with an aggregate capacity of 20.06MW and 10 mini-grid permits”.
For licensing and permits issued to increase power generation in the fourth quarter, NERC said it issued, “Two new off-grid generation licences with gross capacity of 7.5MW. Two new embedded generation licences with a gross capacity of 40MW.
“Renewal of one embedded generation licence (20MW). Four captive generation permits (gross capacity – 131.78MW). Eight mini-grid permits (gross capacity – 2.5MW); and 31 mini-grid registration certificates (gross capacity – 1.4MW).”
Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, made a statement on Friday regarding the production of electricity, saying that the federal government was currently investing in new power plants.
Adelabu, who spoke during an energy conference in Lagos, noted, “To address our generation capacity, we are committed to both enhancing current generating assets and investing in new power plants.
“Our focus is on harnessing the rich diversity of our natural resources, from hydro to solar and beyond. Recently, generation capacity to the grid has been expanded with the addition of 700MW newly commissioned Zungeru Hydropower Plant.
“We have also secured presidential approval to defray legacy debts to gas companies to allow efficient gas supply to the power sector going forward and a payment mechanism to address generation companies’ debts to ensure necessary maintenance is resolved and evacuation capacity optimisation.”
According to the minister, the administration wants to boost power supply efficiency and dependability in addition to generating capacity.
Adelabu also mentioned that in order to make sure the transmission infrastructure could support the additional load from additional power generating sources, the government was extending it as part of the Presidential Power Initiative.
