Nigeria plans study of national electricity demand

This will shock Nigerians: Officials have been guessing the national electricity demand in expanding the nation’s power infrastructure.

According to Power Minister, Professor Bart Nnaji, a national study will soon be carried out on the extent of demand for power supply.

Nnaji spoke in Asaba weekend at the end of a two-day third quarter Power Summit.

He said that there was no real figure as to how much power was needed in the country, adding that figures from the study, which would take the form of a census, would be captured in the 2013 census.

He also said that the ministry would, by the first quarter of 2013, implement fully the automated scaler system.

The minister explained that this would be done with a view to identifying problems in any particular area.

He further said that the full transmission network project across the nation, would help to expand and stabilise the grid, adding that the quick win process to be implemented by the ministry, would enhance distribution capability.

According to him, one of the resolutions reached at the summit is that that there will be standardisation of the distribution network.

He also said that there would be improved power supply as the issue of metres had been resolved during the summit.

He explained that the metre distribution companies would work with the ministry to ensure progress in metre procurement in the country.

Nnaji said that the power summit was held with a view to reviewing the progress being made in the sector, while fine-tuning the projects being handled by the ministry.

This, he said, was in line with the road map by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He stressed the need for continuous improvement in the sector as the various constraints were being addressed.

He expressed concern over a situation where more power was being generated yet the distribution company could not handle it.

While lauding the progress made so far in the sector, the minister, however, said that being able to provide information to all participants in the sector remained critical to the success of the sector.