The Nation Newspaper

Category: Energy

  • Egbin unveils maiden sustainability report

    Egbin Power PLC has unveiled its maiden sustainability report for the power generating company to boost access to affordable, reliable and sustained energy in the country.

    Entitled ‘Building a sustainable future,’ the report is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s power sector, it highlights Egbin’s status since its privatisation in 2013; its values and governance model; alignment of the company’s strategy with its commitment to a sustainable global economy; socio-economic and environmental impact of its activities and the roadmap for future plans.

    According to a statement by the spokesman of Sahara Group, owner of Egbin, Mr. Bethel Obioma, Egbin’s Chairman, Mr. Kola Adesina, in the report said: “We are delighted to unveil Egbin’s maiden sustainability report as it reinforces our resolve to ensure sustainable growth for the company having achieved major milestones since the new management took over on November 1, 2013. Egbin remains committed to working with all stakeholders as we seek to establish Egbin as a foremost industrial hub for economic growth and development.”

    Sahara Group, working through a special purpose vehicle in collaboration with Korea Electric Corporation (KEPCO), acquired majority shareholding to complete Egbin’s privatisation in 2013. Following its privatisation, generation capacity in Egbin grew from an average of 400megawatts (Mw) to hit 1100Mw in 2015 for the first time since its inception; with the company already planning to double the plant’s capacity by 2020.

    Adesina noted that whilst the report covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2015, references are made to activities from the point of takeover of the plant in 2013. “It’s a celebration of our success and recognition of areas where we could have performed better. In addition to reiterating our continuing quest for sustained outstanding performance, it also demonstrates our commitment to transparency and best practice for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”

    Egbin’s sustainability report was developed using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework and provides a metric for measuring the company’s financial and non-financial performance. The report employs the GRI G4 “In Accordance” Option of the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and the supplement dedicated to the Electric Utilities sector issued in 2013.

    The report includes disclosures on key indicators in areas material to Egbin’s stakeholders including the level and capacity of energy generation, economic performance, workforce diversity, safety report, conservation and biodiversity management as well as strategies targeted at improving performance in these areas.

    Adesina said the management of Egbin is hopeful that sustainability reporting in the power sector would help ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are taken into account across all points of the sector’s value chain.

    “We intend to make this an annual publication and hope it will inspire other operators in the sector to follow suit. We believe Egbin has once again raised the performance bar in the sector as we work towards using the principles of sustainability to achieve our goal of optimising our generation capacity through quality human capital, continuing investments, consideration for socio-economic and environmental issues and strategic alliances that will open new frontiers for Egbin across Africa,” he said.

    The intended audiences for the report include Egbin’s shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers and other third party business partners, government and regulatory organisations, local and foreign institutional investors, international agencies and the general public. These stakeholders are directly and indirectly impacted by the activities of the organisation.

    The report will be disseminated through hard copy and online versions, which will be hosted on Egbin Power’s website (www.egbin-power.com) and Sahara Group’s website (www.sahara-group.com), among other online portals.

  • Lagosians benefit from NNPC/Shell health outreach

    Thousands of Lagos State residents have benefited from a health outreach held by the NNPC and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company (SNEPCo), which offered free medical services and education at strategic areas in the mega city.

    The Health-in-Motion programme took the team of doctors and nurses to Lagos Island East Local Government Area and the Ojota Motor Park, one of the largest in the state, providing cardiovascular screening, screening for blood sugar and cholesterol, alcohol breath test for drivers, HIV counselling and testing, malaria testing, screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer, dental care/minor surgery, optometry/distribution of eye glasses and treatment of minor ailments, the Corporate Media Relations Manager, Precious Okolobo said.

    Speaking about the programme, SNEPC, Managing Director, Bayo Ojulari said: “We are pleased to reach our extended families with this first major health initiative.”

    The three-day outreach at Lagos Island Local Government Area held at the Campos Mini Stadium with a representative of the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Titi Ayinla, who kicked it off.

    Describing health “as an individual’s most important asset,” she said  SNEPCo displayed responsible corporate citizenship by subscribing to the health and well-being of Lagosians, especially  Isale Eko people.

    Ayinla later presented five schools with a first aid box each, dewormed school children, and distributed long-lasting insecticide treated nets to pregnant women.

    The Sole Administrator of the Local Government, Mr. A. B. Are, highlighted his joy regarding the “fruitful collaboration” between the council and SNEPCo.

    In addition to the screening tests and treatment, the health team visited five primary schools and trained a total of 2470 children on hand washing. In all, nearly 5000 men, women and youths benefited from the outreach at Isale Eko, many of whom received spectacles and drugs for blood pressure management and also underwent dental surgery, among other medical procedures.

    The outreach at Ojota Motor Park saw SNEPCo collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to flag off FRSC’s 2016 Ember Month campaign with the theme: “Crash the crash: speed kills.”  The focus was on the driver’s health and safety to prevent road traffic crashes and influence policy.

    The kicked off was attended by high ranking officials of the FRSC, SNEPCo, SPDC, NURTW, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), members of the uniformed forces and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) who delivered goodwill messages.

    The Corp Marshal, represented by Assistant Corps Marshall Austin Aipoh, acknowledged the contributions of SNEPCo for sponsoring the Health-in-Motion for drivers.

    The state Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya, who represented the Governor and called on drivers and road users to discard “rhetorics” and “myths” and take “strong actions and commitment” in reducing road crashes.

    A total of 398 drivers and transporters benefited from the programme, with 60 trained in first aid skills.

    SNEPCo also presented five alcohol breath analysers to the Corps.

  • Strings of misfortune hit sector

    Strings of misfortune hit sector

    The outgoing year has been challenging for the petroleum industry. It recorded slow growth, following a dip in operators’ revenue, among other issues, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE 

    The oil and gas sector faced major challenges in the outgoing year. These ranged from the crisis in the global oil market – the fall in the international spot prices of crude oil to many local problems that have their roots in inequity in oil wealth distribution, resulting in militancy, especially in the oil producing areas of the Niger Delta.

     

    Fall in crude oil price

    The volatilities in the global oil market and the subsequent fall in the prices of crude oil is affecting Nigeria and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

    Being an oil-dependent nation, as its derives more than 70 per cent of its earnings from crude oil exports, Nigeria was hard hit by the crash in crude oil prices globally.

    The issue delayed the implementation of the 2016 Budget, as the Federal Government struggled to get money to execute fiscal projects.

    Also, it was the inability of the government to arrive at oil price benchmark, that is appropriated for the budget.

    The issue generated controversy, a development, which made the government to settle for $38 per barrel, as oil price benchmark for the 2016 Budget.

    Amid this, the government struggled to raise money to finance the budget, as international prices of crude oil dropped further.

    With crude oil price falling as low as $28 per barrel in the second quarter of the year,  stakeholders  said the  country is in for a big problem.

    The Ministry of Finance, in its report for August, said the weakening revenue and  the low oil  output, have compounded the problems in the country.

    According to a data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), oil production was below two million barrels per day for the greater part of the year.

    It said the prevailing oil production level in the country, coupled with the low crude oil price, which at a point, fell to $28 per barrel, has negatively impacted on the government’s earnings and its capacity to implement many of its fiscal programmes.

    NNPC said the low crude oil output was as a result  youth restiveness in the Niger Delta  region and its accompanying breaking of oil pipelines owned by multinational oil companies such as Shell, Agip and others.

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, said the government has put in place measures to improve crude production and further boost the economy.

    He said the government was providing a conducive environment for operators to enable the industry achieve optimal level and further boost the economy.

    Kachikwu said: ‘’For most part of 2016, especially the third and the fourth quarter of the year, there was increase in the number of oil and gas pipelines bust by the militants in the Niger Delta region. It is regrettable that these things are happening in the country, where the development of oil and gas assets and other national assets should have been given enough consideration by its people.‘’

    He said the effects of destruction of oil facilities were visible in the region, adding that it boasts of 90 per cent of crude oil, which Nigeria relies on for sustenance.

    Also, a former Country President, International Association of Energy Economists (IAEE), Prof Wunmi Iledare, said oil production and exploration activities was reduced to a abysmal level in the year, because militants refused to stop bombing oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

     Niger Delta Avengers (NDAs) The self-styled militant group paralysed activities in the region, by breaking major oil and  gas installations  in the region. The body, which prided itself as fighting for the interest of the oil-producing region, destroyed facilities belonging to Shell, Agip and other International Oil Companies (IOCs) producing in the area.

    The facilities were of immense value to the nation’s oil and gas industry, such that any attack against them, would affect power generation and other activities in th value chain.

    The group did not only claimed responsibilities for the destruction of Escravos terminal and other facilities in August this year, but also threatened  to break more facilities before the end of the year.

    Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) Managing Director, Mr Abubakar Atiku Tambuwal, while assessing the performance of the oil and gas sector, said the industry would have performed better, if not for the activities of militants, who break the oil pipelines.

    He said the destruction of Escravos terminal was affecting activities in the petroleum and allied sectors of the economy.

    He said the bombing  of Escravos terminal, by the militants was affecting the sector greatly.

    He said the facility, owned by Shell Petroleum Development Corporation(SPDC), provides gas to Afam power plant, adding that the bombing of the facility by the militants, is hindering supply of gas to the plant.

     

    Shortage of gas

    The perennial gas problem has resulted in poor power generation in the country.  Like a recurring decimal, the issue of shortage of gas reverberated throughout the year, causing  untold damages to the power, manufacturing and other sectors of the economy.

    Tambuwal said power generation peaked at 5,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity in February this year, because power companies were able to access gas for production unhindered.

    He said generation has in the past few months, dropped to a little over 2,5000 megawatts(Mw) of electricity from 5,000 megawatts(Mw) of electricity,  because power firms were unable to access gas for generation.

    He said: ‘’For sometime bow, power generation has been fluctuating between between 2,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity to 3,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity. The reason is because militants have broken many gas pipelines, a development, which has made it difficult for power firms to access gas for operation.’’

     Power sector crisis

    The nation’s power sector was troubled by high technical losses, inability to recover cost, vandalism, obsolete equipment,  huge debts, caused by failure of customers, especially Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs), to pay their bills,  and loss of jobs, a fallout of cost-saving measures adopted by the power firms.

    Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors(ANED) Executive Director,  Mr Sunday Oduntan, said the sector was enmeshed in crisis.

    In his presentation ‘Getting the power sector right to boost productivity’, at a stakeholders summit in Lagos, he said the sector was facing some challenges that had made it unable to play its role as the engine of growth and job creation.

    According to him, “The electricity supply chain still remain comatose, the promised increased generation and reliability as part of privatisation –has not happened; generation continued to hover around 3,000 and 4,000Megawatt; energy theft and meter bypassing are very rampant; and shortage of meters.

    He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) are owing the power distribution companies (DisCos) N100billion debt, adding that the liquidity gaps of the energy distribution companies would hit N900billion before this December, unless urgent steps are taken by the operators, to improve funding in the sector.

     

    Subsidy removal

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said the Federal Government is saving N16.4 billion monthly for removing fuel subsidy. He said the government would have been paying the money to offset the subsidy claims of oil marketers had it not taken the decision to remove the subsidy on petrol.

    He explained that at the time the government made the decision, it was incurring about N13.7 as subsidy on each litre of petrol bought by Nigerians.

    Kachikwu said: “There is no provision for subsidy in 2016 appropriation. As of today, the PMS (petrol) price of N86.50 gives an estimated subsidy claim of N13.7 per litre, which translates to N16.4 billion monthly. There is no funding or appropriation to cover this.”

     Fuel scarcity

    Long queue returned to the fuel stations nationwide in March and May 2016, due to inability of marketers to import bring in enough fuel to complement, whatever the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is supplying the market.

    Fuel scarcity continued to June, when the Federal Government introduced the new pump fuel price of N145 per litre. As usual, individuals and private entities were counting their losses, a development which made the labour  unions to threaten to go on strike.

    Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) President, Dr Jacobs said the country  lost several billions of naira to the fuel scarcity early in the year, adding that the issue has compounded the woes of his members.

     Flexible exchange rate

    The implementation of a flexible exchange rate policy by the Federal Government, is a blessing to fuel importers. Introduced to enable importers source for dollars from multiple windows and further ease the burdens on them, the idea has assisted marketers to import fuel into the country.

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) National President, Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo, said marketers, as a result of the policy, were getting enough dollars for fuel importation.

    He said activities of marketers and other operators at the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry has improved in the year, following the decision of the government to liberalise the forex market.

    He said the industry can now meet its daily 40million litres target, without any problem, adding that the forex policy has improved the operation of the industry.

  • Fed Govt is owing GenCos over N400b

    Fed Govt is owing GenCos over N400b

    •Firms may pack up soon, says group

    The Federal Government is owing power generation companies (GenCos) over N400 billion, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) Executive Secretary Mrs. Joy Ogaji has said.

    She said the debts were from November 2013 to last month.

    Mrs. Ogaji, in an interview with The Nation, said Egbin Power PLC was owed N93 billion and Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), N105 billion.

    Others are Ughelli Power Company ( N50 billion ), Geregu Power Plant( N80billion), Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro Hydro power plant (N30billion).

    The amount excludes debts owed Olorunsogo and Omotosho power plants, she added.

    Mrs. Ogaji said the debts were hampering the firms’ performance, urging the government to pay up to enable them buy gas.

    She said: “The generation companies can no longer pay salaries; they can’t even pay for gas and the gas companies are no longer selling the product to them, as a result of the debts. Banks are not ready to advance credit to the GenCos again. This means that the power firms cannot get money to buy gas. Also, banks are not sure of getting their money back from the GenCos, even when they offer them facility.”

    The GenCos, she said, did not have money to maintain their equipment, and pay contractors.

    According to her, four of the contractors have stopped working because they are being owed.

    Mrs. Ogaji said the generating plants may pack up soon, since they were not being maintained promptly.

    She urged the government to hold the DisCos accountable to the terms of their agreement and make them to pay, adding that the GenCos should not get involved.

    Mrs Ogaji said: “When generation companies were invited to buy these assets, the government promised that the bulk trader set up to take the power said the GenCos should not worry about payment, but now the bulk trader is not paying up these debts,’’ adding that the GenCos didn’t have any contract with the DisCos.

    She said the association was engaging the government at various levels and working out lasting solutions to the sector’s problems.

    Mrs. Ogaji regretted that the solutions were coming rather too slowly. She said: “All we have been hearing is that the government is working out plan; the generation companies are not part of that plan, the government should involve the generation companies in their plan,”expressing the opinion if you are finding a solution for the gencos let them be part of that solution to know if the solution is viable and sustainable’’.

    NDPHC General Manager, Corporate Communication, Yakubu Lawal, confirmed that the company was being owed about N100 billion.

    To boost their revenue base, he  urged the government to prevail on DisCos to meter their customers and be active in revenue collection, adding that there were many people not captured by the DisCos and, as a result, get estimated bills, thereby making the DisCos to lose money.

    Lawal maintained that there was the need for DisCos to meter their customers, adding that it would help to increase their revenue.

    He urged the government to raise some bonds for investors to access loans to continue their businesses.

     

  • ‘Why Shell introduced kinetic energy in Nigeria, others’

    ‘Why Shell introduced kinetic energy in Nigeria, others’

    Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) has introduced kinetic energy to Nigeria, Kenya, Brazil, China, United Kingdom and the United States to boost power supply, its Communication Manager, Mrs Shola Abulu, has said.

    At the first anniversary of the kinetic energy pitch which the oil giant provided for the Federal College of Education (FCE) Technical, Akoka, Lagos, Mrs Abulu said the idea, a product of Makethefuture Campaign, was aimed at improving power supply globally.

    Other reasons, she said, included the need for the countries to generate electricity using advanced technology and to increase access to power.

    She said kinetic energy is generated when people walk or jump on the solar-powered pitch or ground, while gravity energy is produced through the use of a heavy object fitted with electricial apparatus.

    Mrs Abulu said the firm also invested in kinetic energy and other smart energy solutions in the countries to provide altenatives to fossil fuels, regarded as unclean, unreliable and an expensive source of energy globally.

    She said kerosene and diesels are dangerous to health, adding that smart energy is new and safer.

  • NCDMB, Agip to partner on project

    NCDMB, Agip to partner on project

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) have agreed to work together to ensure the speedy completion of the Zabazaba and Etan deep water project.

    At a meeting on the project at the agency’s headquarters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, NCDMB Executive Secretary Simbi Wabote said the project would utilise capacities and facilities developed on past projects. He charged the promoters to exceed the Nigerian Content performance achieved on the Egina deep water project, including the partial integration and fabrication of the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform.

    NAOC Managing Director Mr. Massimo Insulla pledged the company’s commitment to developing the project to create jobs.

    He underscored the support of NCDMB since the conception of the project, noting that a speedy development would benefit all.

    According to him, the promoters of the deep water project are keen on taking the Final Investment Decision (FID) and determined to make it profitable, despite the sustained low price of crude oil.

    Insulla confirmed that the project would generate about $8 billion for the Federal Government, adding that the company has been engaging local and international contractors in the past four months.

    The General Manager, Nigerian Content, NAOC, Mr. Barry Nwibani, said the company organised six workshops in August and September for local and international contractors enlightening them on the Nigerian Content opportunities on various packages of the project.

    He said the workshops afforded contractors the opportunity to showcase their capacities and form alliances to enable them to deliver on the project in compliance with the Nigerian Content Act.

    Nwibani noted that the feedback from the workshops confirmed that there were scopes of the project where local capacity exceeded the percentages prescribed in the Nigerian Content Act, while there were also scopes where local capacity was short of the targets set in the Act.

    He said the areas of significant capacity limitations would require the Board’s review to enable it to decide the capacity development initiatives to be developed in place of waivers.

    NCDMB General Manager, Projects and Operations Division,  Paul Zuhumben, urged NAOC to ensure that the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors sign Memoranda of Agreements (MOA) with local contractors to firm up the execution of the job.

    NAOC is developing the Zabazaba and Etan deep water integrated project in Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 with Shell Nigeria Exploration Company (SNEPCO).

  • DisCos, manufacturers quarrel over meters

    Power distribution companies (DisCos) and indigenous manufacturers of meters are trading words over the  quality and quantity of meters produced.

    Some officials of Ikeja Electric (IE), Eko Electricity Distribution Companies (EKEDC) and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), who spoke to The Nation at a stakeholders’ forum, said the DisCos were not patronising local meters manufacturers because their products were of poor quality.

    The officials, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said meters imported from Europe and Asia were of better quality, adding that every organisation wants the best.

    Ikeja Electric Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr Anthony Youdewei said only a few meters were produced in the country.

    He said none of the firms approved by the Federal Government to manufacture meters could supply the needs of the market.

    He said: “After a thorough appraisal of the situation in the  electricity sector, we, at (Ikeja Electric), have realised that local manufactuters of meters are incapable of meeting the needs of power distribution firms. Though the companies are still producing meters, they supply smaller quantities to the market.’’

    He added that none of the meter companies has over 50,000 meters in stock.

    “If you visit the meter factories, you would see that none of them have 50,000 meters in stock. What they do is that they import materials, couple and sell them. The demand for meters, by DisCos, is huge, because they have millions of cusomters in their records,’’ he added.

    Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(EMMAN) Secretary Mr Muhideen Ibrahim,  denied the allegations.

    He said the group comprised  five manufacturers, adding that each could supply at least 100,000 meters to the market.

    On quality, Ibrahim said DisCos, which bought meters from local manufactuters have never complained of poor quality.

    MEMCOL Nigeria Limited Managing Director Mr Kola Balogun also denied the allegation of lower production of meters, adding that a local manufacturer could produce over 100,000 meters, depending on demand.

    Balogun, whose firm manufactures meters, said MEMCOL has over 200,000 meters in stock, adding that the company produces pre-paid meters and smart meters.

    He said the meters were patronised by Ibadan, Abuja and Port Harcourt DisCos, because they meet international standards.

    ‘’Are we to talk of voltage? Are we to talk of smart technologies, which enable owners to have updates on the working of his/her meter, not minding the distance?’’ he asked.

  • 10 years after, NDPHC opens 330kv station in Akwa Ibom

    The Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) which  superintends the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) has inaugurated the 330kV switching station located in Essien Udim / Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Awka Ibom State.

    Its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, said the projects started in 2006, but disrupted by poor funding and communal problems, which led to protracted court cases. He added that with the  support of the Federal Government, the projct saw the light of day.

    He listed the components of the facilities to include the 35KM 330kv Alaoji Substation to Ikot-Ekpene substation double circuit line to evacuate power from NIPP Alaoji Power Plant; the 70.3km 330kv double circuit line from Calabar to Ikot Ekpene to evacuate power from NIPP Calabar power plant.

    Others are the 162km 330kV double circuit line which evacuates all power from Ikot Ekpene switching station to the grid at Ugwuaji; and the 12-circuit Ikot Ekpene 330kv switching station that will serve as the central switching hub for receiving generated power from four generating locations at Alaoji, Afam, Calabar and Ikot-Abasi.

    At the event were Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Finance and Administration, NDPHC, Mallam Babayo Shehu, among others.

    According to a statement by NDPHC’s Communications and Public Relations General Manager, Mr. Yakubu Lawal, Ugbo said the switching station has boosted transmission capacity of the country, adding that it will wheel all the power to the grid via the 330kv double circuit lines to Ugwuaji, New Haven and to Makurdi and Jos in the northcentral zone.

    He said: ‘’The robust interventions of NDPHC management with strong support and assistance from both our Board Chairman, the Vice President and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing are reasons we have successfully tackled those issues to make the projects available now for inauguration and use by the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.’’

    When completed, Ikot-Ekpene 330kV switching station and these lines will become a 2,400Mw evacuation facility addition to the grid, he said, adding that the completion level at the switching station has a 1,200Mw capability in place. The NIPP generating stations of Calabar and Alaoji with a combined installed capacity of over 1,100Mw are connected through this corridor to the grid, he added.

    Ugbo said the switching station and the interconnecting lines have three benefits to the transmission networks in the country.These include increased reliability as other heavily loaded lines will be relieved and made more stable as more paths will be available for power in the face of contingencies; more exchanges between parties in the energy market will become possible due to availability of new transmission paths; and the lack of generation in the north will now be alleviated leading to a more equitable distribution of energy for the Nigerians.

    NDPHC under the management recently signed Partial Risk Guarantee Pact between the Federal Government, World Bank and Seven Energy in Abuja to facilitate operation at its Calabar Power Station.

    Fashola said all the power plants in the Eastern region have combined capacity of 1,846Mw comprising 561Mw Calabar, 450Mw in Alaoji, 185Mw Ibom power and 650Mw Afam VI, which were producing 100Mw each for the first three power plants mentioned and 300Mw for the Afam VI, all totalling 600Mw. With the inauguration of Ikot Ekpene Switching Station, there will be incremental output until full capacity is available to add an extra 1,246MW to the grid.

    The minister commended the management of NDPHC who midwifed the project and the focused dedication of Ugbo and his team for this great success.

  • ExxonMobil gets award

    ExxonMobil gets award

    ExxonMobil’s affiliate companies in Nigeria have won the Social Enterprise Report and Awards (SERAs) as the Best Company in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/Sustainability West Africa category.

    The oil giant’s subsidiaries were recognised for their contributions to the development of Nigeria.

    This is based on their cumulative impact and reach of its community enhancement projects in the year.

    The projects include the establishment of science libraries, solar boreholes and virtual laboratory projects in several states across the country.

    ExxonMobil’s community projects were nominated in nine separate categories: Best Company in Climate Action, Best Company in Education, Best Company in Stakeholder Engagement, Best Company in CSR/Sustainability West Africa, Best Company in Provision of clean water & Sanitation, Best Company in affordable & clean energy, Best company in infrastructural development, Best socially responsible company and Best Company in Partnership for Development.

    The projects submitted for consideration in each of these categories targeted specific areas for development. ExxonMobil funded the development of e- learning centres to equip pupils with the foundations of modern information technology and enhance their ability to compete effectively in today’s IT driven world; The Back to School programme provides children in primary schools with essential school items; the Science libraries improve student interest and enhanced performance in STEM related subjects; solar powered boreholes allow underground water in various communities to become a major source for drinking water and irrigation, providing a reliable and readily available water supply.

  • ‘How to make gas more profitable’

    The Federal Government can make gas investment more profitable by providing enabling environment for operators,  Nigeria Gas Association (NGA) President, Mr Thomas Dada, has said.

    In an interview with The Nation, he listed other factors to include the provision of credit facility to operators by banks, and ensuring that local and foreign investors participated in the sector.

    Dada said the sector would be made more profitable for investors  when the right  policies are in place and operators are able to access funds for growth.

    He said when banks provide funds, there would be increase in investments.

    He praised the decision of the Federal Government to develop a new gas policy, adding that the initiative would help in galvanising the potential in the sector.

    He urged stakeholders, including the Federal Government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other regulators, as well as  investors to work together to make the sector viable.

    He  said the sector has its own problems that need to be addressed urgently to achieve the desired results.

    Dada, also the Managing Director, Frontier Oil Limited, said there must be a willing buyer and a willing seller of gas, arguing that the idea would lead to competition among operators.

    The idea, Dada said, would help in unlocking the potential in the sector for growth.

    On power, Dada said operators in the electricity industry depend on one another for growth.

    “Consumers of electricity must pay their bills to their power distribution companies(DisCos) and DisCos in return would pay the power generation companies (GenCos) for the power they supplied the DisCos.

    ‘’Also, the GenCos pay the gas marketing companies for gas they supply them to generate electricity.  The sector operates like a chain; one aspect depending on the other for growth,” he said.

    He said the Nigerian Gas Association is into advocacy, adding that the body has senstised  the government and other stakeholders on how to develop the sector.

    The NGA chief urged the government to maximise the potential in the petroleum industry.

    He said the government could achieve this goal, when the country’s exports ensure refined petroleum products, instead of crude oil and also exports Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) instead of natural gas it is exporting to countries in Asia and Middle East to earn revenue for the government.