15th June, 2015
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued on-grid licences to four companies to generate 774 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
The companies are to generate electricity from solar and gas.
The companies are Pan Africa Solar Ltd., based in Kankia, Katsina State, to generate 24 MW from solar and Nigeria Solar Capital Partners Ltd., based in Ganjuwa, Bauchi State, to generate 100MW from solar.
Others are Proton Energy Ltd., based in Ogorode, Delta, to generate 150 MW from gas and Turbine Drives Ltd., based in Ajaokuta, to generate 500MW from gas.
NERC Chairman, Dr Sam Amadi, who presented the licences to the companies in Abuja on Monday, told the companies to abide by the rules of the market.
Amadi said that rules and procedures guiding the operations of the market were globally comparable.
“We do our best to follow the rules which are globally comparable.
“I want to reassure everybody that NERC over the years has built a reputation of consistent rules making and honest application of rules.
“We can pride ourselves probably as the most transparent agency in this country.
“We will continue in the practice of openness, transparency and consultation by following the rules.”
He said the commission was ready to support investors who were ready to invest in new energy sources to boost the power sector.
The chairman assured that every company would get a cost reflective tariff as provided in the Electricity Act.
The Commissioner for Engineering Standards and Safety, Mr Abba Ibrahim, warned that the commission would revoke the licence of any company unable to deliver its mandate.
He said that the commission would tighten up its operations as it continued to regulate the power sector.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Legal, Licencing and Enforcement, Dr. Stephen Andzenger, urged the companies to live up to the expectations of consumers.
“We have been lenient in the past but we will no longer continue that way,” he said.
The Vice-Chairman of Proton Energy Ltd., Mr Oti Ikomi, promised that the company would generate 500 MW in the second phase of the project.
He described the licence presentation as a milestone in the change agenda of the present administration.