By Ignatius Ushie
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has granted a 9.5megawatts embedded electricity generation licence to Ariaria Market Independent Power Plant Limited, and an Independent Electricity Distribution Licence to distribute same within Ariaria Market to Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited.
This was contained in a statement made available to Transport Day Newspaper in Abuja recently. According to it, the Licence will boost power generation and distribution within the area.
The licences, is issued in line with Section 71(6) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005 were granted after careful consideration of the applications in public interest to promote access to common goods and to promote commercialisation and industrialisation for which Ariaria, a leading commercial hub in the country is reputed for.
The statement further added that both licences granted to Araiaria were affirmation of the Commission’s commitment and response to the long-time yearnings of the market for a stable, reliable and sustainable electricity supply to improve quality of goods and services by Nigerian enterprises and entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that there has been a drop in the electricity generated into the national grid by 1,087.6 megawatts (mw).
According to a statement by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, made available to Transport Day in Abuja, the drop in electricity generated into the national grid was resulting in load shedding nationwide.
TCN further said the load shedding was necessary to maintain stability of the grid as the sharp drop of power generated was occasioned by gas pipeline rupture on June 15, and technical issues at the Shell gas wells on June 16.
The TCN stated that six thermal power generating stations were currently unable to generate electricity and have therefore been shut down due to the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) pipeline incident, it listed the affected power stations to include Ihovbor, Azura, Omotosho gas, Geregu gas, Olorunsogo gas, Sapele and the Egbin power stations.
The six power generating thermal stations had managed to generate 60mw only on each of its units, losing a total of 211mw.
