By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) is set to diversify Nigeria’s electricity generation mix with the implementation of the second phase of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), focusing on renewable energy projects, particularly solar and mini-hydropower initiatives in northern Nigeria.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja when the House of Representatives Committee on Power, led by its Chairman, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, paid an oversight visit to the company’s headquarters.
Adighije said the planned NIPP Phase 2 would mark a shift from the gas-fired generation projects implemented under NIPP Phase 1 to renewable energy, in line with the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan.
According to her, NDPHC is considering off-grid solutions, mini-hydropower projects and solar interventions to bridge electricity supply gaps, particularly in underserved communities across northern Nigeria.
“Where we are currently is NIPP Phase 1, which is power generation from fossil fuels, from gas. The NIPP Phase 2, in line with the Energy Transition Plan, is where we are diversifying our generation mix and preparing to transition to renewable energy,” she said.
The NDPHC boss disclosed that the company currently contributes about 4,000 megawatts to Nigeria’s installed generation capacity of approximately 12,000MW, representing about 30 per cent of the national installed capacity.
She said NDPHC had built 10 power plants under NIPP Phase 1, with seven already commercially operational, two under construction and one undergoing upgrade.
On transmission infrastructure, Adighije said the company had completed 120 projects, comprising 60 330kV substations, 31 132kV substations and 37 expansion projects, with installed transformer capacity exceeding 10,000MVA.
She added that NDPHC had also executed hundreds of distribution projects involving distribution transformers as well as 33kV and 11kV lines across the country.
Highlighting some achievements of her administration, Adighije said NDPHC had recovered 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages within its first 100 days in office, saving the company more than N30 billion.
She listed debt recovery, digitalisation, improved procurement processes, asset restoration, completion of distribution projects and the recovery of generation units among other achievements recorded by the company.
According to her, NDPHC had recovered about $12 million from cross-border bilateral customers in Togo and other debtors, out of an outstanding debt of more than $50 million.
She also disclosed that several turbines had been recovered across NDPHC power plants, contributing approximately 470MW to the national grid.
Despite the progress recorded, Adighije identified transmission constraints, low tariffs, inadequate market settlements, gas supply challenges, unpaid debts and vandalism as major obstacles to the company’s operations.
She disclosed that NDPHC had more than 1,500MW of mechanically available generation capacity but was allocated an hourly dispatch of only about 500MW.
The situation, she said, had resulted in significant suppressed and stranded generation capacity and cost the company more than N300 billion.
Adighije therefore called for regulatory intervention to review the electricity dispatch merit order and ensure that available generation capacity is effectively utilised.
She also appealed to the House Committee to intervene in outstanding debts owed NDPHC by participants in the electricity market, including the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), whose liabilities she said had risen above N400 billion.
She further sought the settlement of obligations arising from NDPHC assets recognised in the regulated asset base of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Responding to the presentation, Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, commended the NDPHC management for its efforts to improve electricity generation and described the company as critical to the entire power value chain.
Nwokolo, who said the committee had also visited some NDPHC power stations, said the company was taking “reasonable” steps towards improving Nigerians’ access to electricity.
He stressed that generation, transmission and distribution were interdependent, noting that failure in any segment would affect the entire electricity value chain.
“If they don’t generate, there’s nothing to transmit. If they don’t transmit, there’s nothing for me to distribute. So I must commend them,” he said.
The committee chairman also praised Adighije for what he described as her proactive management approach, citing the Alaoji power plant as an example of a facility that could have suffered further deterioration without timely intervention.
Nwokolo assured NDPHC of the legislature’s support in addressing the challenges confronting the company, stressing that the agency could not resolve all the problems in the power sector alone.
He said the committee would review the concerns raised by NDPHC and engage relevant stakeholders towards finding lasting solutions.
According to him, the oversight visit was aimed at understanding the challenges facing the company and supporting it, rather than creating an adversarial relationship between lawmakers and the agency.
Nwokolo further commended NDPHC for embracing legislative oversight, saying such engagements provide government agencies with an opportunity to showcase their achievements, explain operational challenges and seek the necessary support from the legislature.
