By Onu Okorie
The Managing Director of NISO Engr. Abdu Bello has assured Niger Delta Power Holding Company NDPHC of level playing ground for all operators in the electricity market as government is poised to introduce measures that would strengthen and expand the national grid.
This was part of discussion when the management team of NDPHC visited Nigerian Independent System Operator NISO in Abuja during the weekend. The team include: the Executive Director (Legal Services), Dr. Steven Andzenge, and Abiose Olayiwola, Chief Operating Officer of Geregu Power Plant.
According to him, “You are the largest utility in Nigeria, with 10 power stations and a minimum of 5,000MW installed capacity. If we can optimize that capacity, Nigeria will be better for it. The NDPHC would be treated fairly like all other players in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry NESI.”
Bello who noted that NISO was already introducing measures to strengthen and expand the national grid explained ha they would continue to work with key stakeholders like NDPHC to enhance electricity generation and distribution across the country.
“NISO is committed to optimizing the national grid and supporting participants like NDPHC to improve the country’s power base,” Bello affirmed.
The Managing Director/CEO of Niger Delta Power Holding Company NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije has emphasized the need for fairer treatment of NDPHC in power load allocation in the electricity sector.
Adighije who noted that despite owning the largest portfolio of generation assets in the country, the company is often overlooked due to the absence of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc NBET.
According to Adighije “We are actively working on bilateral agreements with eligible customers to optimize our stranded capacity,” she said. “However, equitable treatment in the market is essential for us to fully contribute to national power supply.”
She also disclosed that several generating units had been recovered across NDPHC’s power stations, and revealed that the Alaoji Power Plant, which has been offline for two years, is expected to return to the grid by August. “Since I assumed office, our focus has been on optimization—improving operations and commercializing our stranded capacity. In just nine months, we have improved plant availability by over 100%. Another unit at Omotosho will be recovered by the end of this month,” she said.
The NDPHC however, called for support to dispatch of 2,000 megawatts of stranded electricity currently lying idle across its power plants.
The NDPHC boss lamented that despite being the largest investor in Nigeria’s power sector—with over 50 330kV substations, 25 132kV substations, and more than 9,000 MVA in added transformer capacity—the company was not receiving adequate dispatch consideration.“NDPHC is government-owned and has made massive contributions across the electricity value chain. “We expect this to be taken into account when decisions about dispatch are made,” she added.
