FG recovers $64.6m electricity debt from international customers

The Federal Government, on Monday, announced that it had recovered $64.6 million electricity debt from its international customers.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola announced  this at the 21st monthly power sector meeting in Asaba.
Fashola, in a text of  his opening remark, said that  the money recovered was from  Benin and Niger Republics.
He said that Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) would work out modalities for distribution of the fund to the value chain operators.
The minister also announced that Rural Electrification Agency (REA) had completed guidelines for the operation of the rural electrification fund.
He said that the fund would help vulnerable groups and communities to gain access to funding to support their electricity development programme.
“By way of explanation, the rural electrification fund was created by section 88 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) of 2005 to promote support and provide rural  electrification  access.
“The fund will provide a partial single payment capital subsidy and or technical assistance to eligible private Rural Power Developers, NGOs or communities to invest in options such as hybrid mini grids or solar home systems to scale up rural access to electricity.
“What they are likely to get are minimum amounts of N3.5m and maximum amounts of  N106m or 75 per cent  of project cost  whichever is less,” he said.
According to him,  REA will publish details of  the guidelines and eligibility.
These, he said, were only headline items of developments that characterised the progress  the government was making month after month, especially since March 2017.
He said that progress was  also being recorded  at  the distribution levels.
He listed the recent achievements in the franchise areas of the Benin DisCo to include  the newly completed  Asaba main 2x15MVA injection  substation commissioned on Monday.
Fashola said the completion of the substation was expected to improve service by reduction of  load shedding and increase  power supply to Okwe, Akuebulu, Jarret, Ogbeofu, Osadebe way, Okwe housing estate and Oduke.
“Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week and month by month we have not only gained momentum, we are seeing progress that inspires us to continue, because the power problem can be successfully managed by Nigerians.”
On  further  measures  to improve power supply  in the coverage  areas of the Benin DisCos, Fashola said Asaba – Benin 330KV line was energized to service on  Nov. 3.
Asaba 330kv substation is now being fed from both Benin and Onitsha.
“The line also raised the number of circuits from Onitsha to Benin to three.
According to him, a 40mva 132/33kv mobile transformer is undergoing installation at Auchi with in-house capacity to be commissioned in two weeks time.
Fashola also disclosed that a new 330/ 132kv substation would be constructed at Okpai with a 132kv line from the station to service a proposed 132/33kv substation at Kwale.
He also hinted that installation of a new 60mva 132/33kv transformer would commence at Irrua transmission station any time from now.
The minister thanked well-meaning Nigerians who acknowledged that their experience on the power supply had improved, adding that their  honesty inspired government and the operators  to  continue the improvement.
He, however, admitted  that  there  were other challenges that  must  be collectively addressed.
On estimated billing and metering, he also explained that government and sector operators were anxiously awaiting for  the regulation from NERC to open up meter supply business.