TheCable

The association of power generation companies (APGC)  says Nigerians can not enjoy more than 4,600MW of electricity despite its capacity to produce 12,000MW.

Joy Ogaji, executive secretary of the association, said this in an interview with NAN.

‎”They have an available capacity of 8,000MW. Out of that 8,000MW, transmission company or the transporter that can take this power from us to give to the distribution claim to have a maximum capacity of 5,500 but we believe they can’t take more than 4,500,” she said.

“A system stress test that was conducted on the distribution lines showed that the distribution companies (DisCos), can take a maximum of 4,600MW. With the available capacity, I have 8,000MW if I say okay, come and take no one can take.”

Ogaji attributed the current reduction in power generation, despite capacity to produce more, to insufficient funds to purchase gas needed at power plants.

“For now we don’t have vandalism problem but inability to pay for gas. How do we pay for the gas (when) my people were paid a week ago for the electricity generated in January?” she asked.

“And when they put 100% on the grid , maximally they have been paid 30% of the money this is one of the issues. As we speak, the sector owes the generation companies about N600 billion, unpaid for power that have been generated and already been consumed.”

Ogaji said GENCOs were ready to advance power generation in the country, adding that it was important to overhaul the transmission and distribution networks in the country to facilitate the supply of more electricity.

“Now federal government came to announce on March 1, that they are bringing N701 billion for the generation companies. Where is this money? We have written to government, please show us where this money is,” she said.