TheCable

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) recorded 31 deaths and nine injuries in the fourth quarter of 2021. 

The commission said this on Thursday in its economic report for the fourth quarter of 2021.

According to the report, the accidents involved both employees of the companies and third parties.

It said the total number of incidents that occurred in the quarter under review was 40, compared to the 49 incidents recorded in third quarter of 2021 – 19 injuries and 30 deaths.

The report, however, added that the commission has launched investigations into all the reported incidents with a view of understanding the root causes as well as meting out relevant penalties on the licensees.

“In line with its 2017-2020 strategic goals, the commission has intensified efforts at implementing various safety programmes aimed at eliminating accidents in the industry,” the report reads.

“Some of the safety programmes implemented by the commission include the standardisation of protective schemes, public enlightenment on health and safety, engagement of government agencies on right of way (RoW) violations, and a review of an operational procedure for distribution system operators on fault clearing.”

The report also said out of the 87 mandatory health and safety reports expected from licensees in Q4, 2021, it received 75 reports – compared with 85 submitted in the third quarter of 2021.

“Port Harcourt DisCo had three outstanding reports while AES Barge, Afam Power, Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, and Kano Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) each had one outstanding report for Q4,” the report said.

It further noted that in accordance with section 32 (1)(e) of electric power sector reform act (EPSRA), the commission continued to monitor the health and safety performance of the NESI.

This, according to the report, was in order to guarantee the delivery of safe and reliable electricity to Nigerians, adding that the commission had developed new processes to track the submission of statutory reports, including health and safety reports by licensees.

It said the processes would guide the implementation of relevant actions against licensees that do not meet their obligations.

“The health and safety reports were analysed in line with the provisions of section 32 (1)(e) of ESPRA for monitoring and evaluating of health and safety performance of licensees in order to ensure that operators abide by their responsibility of delivering safe electricity services to consumers,” it said.