Apart from diversification of sources of power generation, the dearth of skilled manpower and use of technology are areas that should be given serious attention if the problems of the power sector should get sustainable solution, it was learnt.
The Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Power, Olice Dickson Kemenanabo, who was the guest lecturer at the 12th Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineer Annual Lecture in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, highlighted ways to surmount the problems in the power sector.
In his paper entitled: Surmounting the obstacles to the development of a sustainable power system in Nigeria: the Techno-economic approach, he said renewable sources of energy in the country are grossly underutilised.
He noted the importance of exploring alternative sources of power generation as against the undue dependence on conventional sources such as fossil fuels for thermal power stations. He said that long before we learnt how to manipulate and control ambient energy otherwise known as alternative energy, other countries had established ways to intervene in the use of the natural energies of the sun, moving air and water to deliver the basic comforts of life.
He said: “Technologies such as sails, windmills and watermills are a few energy sources that were developed early for specific human purposes. Ambient energy, especially from the sun, is all over yet, has not been maximally developed to meet the demands of modern comfort. The obvious implication is that with the right physical infrastructure, solar energy may well suffice, with no resort to conventional energy.
“Ironically, the world’s total electricity production for the year 2008 was 20,261TWh, which represents only 11 per cent of the energy received from the sun in an hour (174,000TWh); yet, solar energy contributed only about one per cent of this total in the following ratio 0.06 per cent for solar photovoltaic and 0.04 per cent for solar thermal. The extent of inconsistency between the amount of energy from the sun and that which is utilised further leaves a lot of questions unanswered. It calls for concerted global political and technical will in revolutionising research and development in solar power utilisation.
“The other forms of ambient energy were 18 per cent, of which 92 per cent is from hydro, six per cent from wind and about two per cent from geothermal. Indeed Hydro remains one renewable energy source that has proven to be sustainable even in Nigeria. The Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba Hydro power plants are clear testimonies of the hydro-electricity success in Nigeria. However, it is instructive to note that, as long as the world has built and accumulated physical infrastructure whose performance with solar energy seems to be wilfully poor, conventional energy shall continue to be indispensable.”
Conventional energy, he explained, is usable energy in a form that can be stockpiled, transported and released in a controllable fashion when and where it is needed. The first power plants ran on both conventional and ambient energy sources, and up till date on coal, natural gas, petroleum and nuclear. Fossil fuels account for 67 percent of the world’s conventional electricity generation sources, while 13 per cent is from nuclear power. Interestingly, Nigeria has huge untouched fossil fuel resources with potentials that are capable of exporting electricity to the entire sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, the nation has continued to struggle with a number of obstacles that prevented the realisation of these important opportunities to the fullest extent. It is therefore ironical to hear the untenable story of lack of gas or any other feedstock for that matter has been the issue. Perhaps a little bit of statistics will debunk that perspective, he added.
He noted that flared gas from Nigeria is capable of producing 200 trillion hour (TW-Hr) of electricity that can meet power generation of the entire continent and more than twice that of Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa. Painfully, it is simply wasted. He called for more utilisation of gas for power and other domestics operations and for export.
On post-privatisation power sector, he said: “In the present era, and going forward, the major challenge that may confront the energy sector is the technical management of the new regime emerging in consequence of the privatisation of the assets owned by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) monopoly. In meeting these challenges there are several factors that must not be overlooked. Primary among these are the question whether there will be adequate local expertise.
“In spite of what mishaps, misjudgements, bashing, blackmails and setbacks they have suffered individually, collectively or institutionally, one thing I know for sure is that the vacuum created by the exiting PHCN staff will not be easy to fill. Most of the questions they are asked sincerely are not supposed to be answered by them. There are obvious consequences that may arise in our march to infrastructural development with the exit of a workforce that though seems not to measure up with global best practices but, until the right values and competences are imbibed, will remain our best available technical corps in the power sector.
He also urged electrical and electronics engineers to play professional politics to be part of policy-making. “When we contemplate the high profile occupants of sensitive engineering biased ministries, parastatals, and agencies, it seems that engineers in general have not played their political cards right. This appears to be particularly noticeable on the part of electrical engineering biased agencies. Given the importance of the electricity sector to the overall development and progress of our nation, we need to proactively integrate our professionalism with the political structures to enhance decision-making so that policies and plans for the sustainable growth of the sector will be initiated and guided accordingly,” he said.
The Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), Adekunle Sunday Makinde, in address, said: “Engineering, by virtue of its commitment to the wellbeing of the society, places a huge responsibility on engineers to ensure that the interest of the society is upheld in the execution of their projects.
“In particular, electrical engineering, with its life-threatening dangers associated with it, carry serious risks for the safety and well being of electrical engineers in the practice of their profession. On daily basis, our professional colleagues place their lives on the line to deliver power, telecommunications and other utilities and services to users across the country. “
He added that the Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineer Annual Lecture (DEEEAL) series dates back to the year 2000, when the first lecture was delivered.
The President, Society of Engineers, Mustafa Balarabe Shehu, in his address, urged engineers to be professional to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He said: “As change agents, professional engineers must undergo several years of formal and informal training. In addition to the rigorous training successful engineers must imbibe certain character traits in order to excel. At the state and local government levels where governance is closest to the people Nigerian engineers have displayed exemplary conduct and served beyond the call of duty in their quest to deliver the dividends of democracy to every nook and corner of the country.”
