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Nigerian Electricity Firms Grapple With $2.5bn Capital Shortfall

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Nigerian electricity firms is facing a shortfall of approximately 2 trillion naira ($2.5 billion) in capital, highlighting the urgent need for new investors to rejuvenate an industry struggling to meet the power demands of its 200 million residents.

Olu Verheijen, an adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, highlighted in an interview that the companies are burdened by excessive debt and insufficient capital, constraining their ability to invest in the distribution of electricity to households.

Due to insufficient pricing structures, irregular revenue collection, and a deteriorating national grid, the majority of residents in Africa’s most populated nation resort to generating their own power through noisy generators.

An example is Lagos, where the grid provides merely 1,000 megawatts to a city of 25 million people. In contrast, a city like Shanghai, with a similar population size, supplies over 30,000 megawatts during peak demand.

The adviser emphasized the necessity of implementing policies that support reorganization, recapitalization, and the introduction of new partners with fresh capital.

The adviser said “We need to set policies that facilitate reorganization and recapitalization and bring in new partners with new capital.”

However, no specific date or further details regarding the plan were provided.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu made a commitment on January 1 to enhance electricity provision in the West African nation.

The recapitalization efforts will align with strategies aimed at adjusting electricity tariffs to reflect costs, thereby enhancing the financial stability and sustainability of the power sector, as indicated by Verheijen.

Although the country privatized generation and distribution in 2013, tariffs are regulated by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, a government-controlled entity.

Power companies are unable to charge adequately to cover the distribution expenses, leading the government to compensate the shortfall by providing subsidies to companies within the sector.

Without a revision in tariffs, the depreciation of the naira by 50% against the dollar last year, coupled with soaring inflation rates, may escalate energy subsidies to 1.6 trillion naira this year, a substantial increase from the 600 billion naira in 2023, as indicated by the regulator.

Verheijen remarked, “Given the current constrained fiscal conditions, the government faces challenges in covering this deficit. These challenges have further worsened the financial liquidity issues within the sector.”

Out of Nigeria’s total installed capacity of 13,000 megawatts for electricity generation, only 4,000 megawatts are effectively distributed to households and businesses.

In comparison, South Africa, with a population a third the size of Nigeria’s and an economy hampered by nearly daily power outages last year, boasts approximately 52,000 megawatts of capacity.

Three-quarters of this capacity is derived from a debt-laden state-owned utility managing aged power plants.

 

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Energy

Dangote Partnership: MRS Urges Nigerians To Insist On N935/Litre Petrol Price Nationwide

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MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, a prominent player in the Nigerian downstream oil industry, has implemented a new petrol price of N935 per litre across all its retail service stations nationwide.

The company has also called on Nigerians to monitor and report any outlets that fail to adhere to the new price structure.

Biztellers reports that this is consequent upon an announcement by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to offer petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets, following a reduction in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre.

ALSO READ: Dangote Slashes PMS Price To N899.50k

It was gathered that MRS Oil Nigeria Plc has instructed all its outlets to implement the new price immediately, setting up a digital platform and monitoring team to ensure full compliance.

In a statement on Monday night, the company declared, “Petrol is now being sold at N935 at MRS Filling Stations nationwide. If you find any station not following this price, please report it. Call 08009447853 or email: NG-FMKPMGWHISTLEBLOWING@NG.KPMG.COM

Emphasising the eco-friendly nature of its products, MRS Oil added, “We call on all petrol station owners to join MRS Oil Nigeria Plc in improving the supply chain of our beloved country, ensuring product quality and availability in every corner of Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

In Lagos, commuters were seen queuing at MRS filling stations to purchase petrol, with many expressing their gratitude to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil and Gas, urging other marketers to support the indigenous refinery rather than import off-spec products into the country.

A commuter at the MRS station at Alapere on the Lagos Ibadan Express way, Ibukun Phillips, could not hide her joy as her husband filled up their car.

“I am very happy today. This is a victory for Nigeria,” she said. “The price reduction is the best gift of the season. But beyond just the reduction, we are buying standard, eco-friendly petrol at a lower rate. My husband and I have decided we will only be using MRS from now on because we are confident in the quality of the product and supporting the economy.”

A commercial bus driver, Adio Ajibade described the price reduction as a great relief, especially during the festive season.

“The reduction is a great relief. It will reduce transportation costs and benefit Nigerians. God will continue to bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” he said.

A public affairs analyst and university lecturer, Dr. Tunde Akanni, said the collaboration between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil represents a significant step towards improving the affordability, quality, and sustainability of petroleum products in Nigeria.

According to Dr. Akanni, “this move will not only help ease the financial burden on Nigerians but also promote a more environmentally conscious approach to fuel consumption, benefitting both the economy and public health in the long term.”

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FDI: Shell To Invest Billions Of Dollars On Nigeria’s Bonga North Oil Field

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As a direct implication of the Federal Government’s Foreign Direct Investment drive, the Royal Dutch Shell has completed the final investment decision on the deep offshore Bonga North project in Nigeria.

Biztellers reports that the Bonga North will be a subsea tie-back to the Shell-operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility which Shell operates with a 55% interest.

Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, Zoë Yujnovich, said, “This is another significant investment, which will help us to maintain stable liquids production from our advantaged Upstream portfolio”.

ALSO READ: OGUNCCIMA Commends Dangote Refinery’s Impact

It was gathered that the Bonga North project involves drilling, completing, and starting up 16 wells (8 production and 8 water injection wells), modifications to the existing Bonga Main FPSO and the installation of new subsea hardware tied back to the FPSO.

The company is optimistic that the project will sustain oil and gas production at the Bonga facility.

The Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and will reach a peak production of 110,000 barrels of oil a day, with first oil anticipated by the end of the decade.

In addition, the Bonga North will help ensure Shell’s leading Integrated Gas and Upstream business continues to drive cash generation into the next decade.

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Chevron Nigeria Bags ‘Energy Company Of The Year For Environmental Sustainability And CSR

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Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), has received an award as “Energy company of the year (2024)” for its Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility accomplishments.

The award presented by the Nigerian News Direct newspaper, on Friday December 6, 2024, and was received by Manager Communications, Chevron Nigeria and Mid-Africa Business Unit, Victor Anyaegbudike, at a colourful event at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

ALSO READ: Stakeholders Hail NCDMB As Local Content Level Hits 56%

The organizers of the award noted that Chevron has implemented the “Protecting People and the Environment” policy, which aims at preventing injuries, illnesses, and environmental incidents. They also referenced that the company has achieved 97% gas flaring reduction in its operations in Nigeria, while implementing waste management and environmental conservation programs.

According to the media organization, Chevron Nigeria has also invested millions of dollars in community development programs, supporting education, health and economic development initiatives that have benefited thousands of people, while ensuring diversity, inclusion, and employee engagement in its business operations.

Receiving the award from the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, Anyaegbudike thanked the organizers for the honour, and reiterated Chevron’s commitment to continue to develop, affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy that enables human progress around the world.

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