The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Monday in Abuja issued on-grid licenses to four companies to generate 774 megawatts of electricity into the nation’s supply chain.
With the development, the supply of electricity to consumers in the country is expected to improve considerably.
The four newly licenced companies are to generate electricity from solar and gas.
The companies are Pan Africa Solar Limited based in Kankia, Katsina State, which is to generate 24 MW from solar; and Nigeria Solar Capital Partners Limited, based in Ganjuwa, Bauchi State, to generate 100MW from solar.
The rest are Proton Energy Limited, based in Ogorode, Delta State, which is to generate 150 MW from gas; and Turbine Drives Limited, based in Ajaokuta, Kogi State to generate 500MW from gas.
The Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, while presenting the licences to the companies, tasked them to abide strictly by the rules of the market.
Amadi pointed out that the rules and procedures guiding the operations of the market were globally comparable.
His words: “We do our best to follow the rules which are globally comparable.
“I want to re-assure 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.”
The NERC Chairman said the commission was ready and willing to support investors who were ready to invest in new energy sources to boost the power sector.
Amadi concretely assured Nigerians that every company would get a cost reflective tariff as provided in the Electricity Act.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Engineering Standards and Safety, Abba Ibrahim, sounded a clear note of warning that the NERC would revoke the licence of any company which is unable to deliver its mandate.
Ibrahim added that the commission would tighten up its operations as it continued to regulate the power sector.
Speaking in the same vein, 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,” Andzenger said.
The Vice-Chairman of Proton Energy Limited, Oti Ikomi, who spoke on behalf of other companies, promised that they would generate 500MW in the second phase of the project.
Ikomi described the licence presentation as a milestone in the change agenda of the present administration.
