Saturday, July 6, 2013



The Federal Government of Nigeria has decided to use part of the unused coal we possess in our great country to generate up to 4000MW of electricity in our bid to solve this long overdue power problem.
Coal reserves which lie in states like Enugu, Kogi, Benue, Nassarawa, etc. has opened our eyes to the fact that we need to diversify from our thermal and hydro source of electricity generation.

According to the Ministry of Power, there is a proven coal reserve of about 639 million tons in the country, and inferred reserves are in the region of 2.75 billion tons. A committee (like you should expect...) was inaugurated on 4th of July to identify problems of coal powered electricity generation end develop ways to invest in coal power generation. They will also develop a national framework for coal to power.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja stressed the need to diversify the fuel for power generation in Nigeria in line with global practice. He added that the Ministry of Power was working with the Ministry of Mines and Steel to explore the nation’s coal for power generation.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant deposits of coal spread in 13 states of the federation. Significant commercial quantities are evident in the belt spanning Enugu, Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa and Gombe,” he said.

He stressed the hassles associated with exploration work and development of infrastructure. He also recalled that of the current power generation, 70% is from thermal plants while the other 30% is from hydro power plant.

Accessing the world generation percentage which is 41% coal, 21% gas, 16% hydro, 13% nuclear, while 5% was from oil, and all other sources of electricity generation. “When you look at the contribution of coal to power in some countries, you will realize that South Africa has 93%, China 79%, Poland 87%, Australia 54%, and USA 45%.

He added that the committee “would review the status and adequacy of available studies and project documents relating to the establishment of coal fired power plants in the country and make recommendations towards facilitating investment in coal to power generation.”

“The members of the committee will also liaise with other stakeholder agencies to review current initiatives of private investors on coal to power and advice on areas of possible support and collaboration with the ministry, and also make other recommendations towards facilitating the utilization of coal for power generation.” He added.

The committee headed by Mr Garba has assured the federal government that the committee will work according to its term of reference.

Elsewhere the Minister of State for Power, Alhaja Zainab Kuchi, while speaking with reporters at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abuja on Wednesday assured Nigerians that power generation in Nigeria will peak at 10,000MW by the end of December, 2014. She said this while in company of the Minister of Power.

“In 2014, we envisage 10,000MW. God willing, with our short term, long term and immediate strategies that we have in the ministry, working assiduously with all the other stakeholders in the power sector, we envisaged we would make it. With all the other NIPP work going on and the Niger Delta Power Company coming up and to be commissioned by December 2013, we look forward to 10,000MW come December 2014. And this is what we are working towards; if we succeed making it more than that, we are very happy people. But we are focused on actually delivering 10,000MW by 2014. And this, by our calculations and data we have on ground, will give at least between 17 and 18 hours of power supply to Nigerians.”

Don’t hold your breath though, remember “6,000MW by December 2009” was much publicized than this and we are yet to generate 6,000MW even by July 2013. Let us wait and see what happens by December 2014, then we can praise them (hopefully).

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