Analysis: Solving Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis

Nigeria’s government should pursue more targeted steps to grow alternative power sources such as renewables and to increase overall electricity supply.

Diverse stakeholders need closer cooperation to anchor full deregulation of the gas sector, paving the way for an attractive pricing regime and increased investments in power generation.

Regulators must accelerate efforts on universal metering of customers, including through pre-paid meters to enhance transparency in revenue collection.

Introduction

Nigeria is in a dire energy situation with 60-70% of its population of almost 200 million people living without regular access to electricity. The majority of rural homes are also not connected to the national grid. With this, Nigeria’s industrial development and economic diversification plans are severely constrained. Experts estimate annual economic loss through power outages at about N126 billion (US$ 984.38 million). Though millions of households and businesses rely on self-generated electricity through power generating sets, this represents a major source of waste, severe health and environmental costs, as well as other inefficiencies.

Electricity generation began in Nigeria in 1896 with the installation of a 2MW plant to provide electricity for Lagos. The first electric utility company known as the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company was established in 1929. By the year 2000, a Federal government owned monopoly, the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), was in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Reform efforts include the passing of the Power Sector Reform Act of 2005, which paved the way for the National Electric Power Policy aimed at establishing an efficient electricity market in Nigeria.

Following the return to civilian rule in 1999, the policy emphasis shifted to the transfer of ownership and management of power infrastructure and assets to the private sector. This led to the creation of structures required to create and underpin an electricity market in Nigeria[1]. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was established to replace NEPA in 2005. PHCN comprised of 18 successor companies, including six generation companies, eleven distribution companies and one transmission company. By November 2013, the privatization of all the generation plants and ten distribution companies (Yola DisCo is currently managed by the government due to the insurgency)was completed. However, the Federal Government presently retains the ownership of the transmission company.

Incomplete reform

Reliable power supply is a prerequisite for the development of any nation. Consumers in Nigeria require safe, reliable and affordable power to create prosperity and lead a more fulfilling life. According to an analysis by the United States Aid for International Development (USAID), Nigeria’s electricity output currently stands at an average of 5,000 MW, which is far below the installed capacity of 12,522 MW. These figures are grossly inadequate relative to the population size and the need of the economy.

Many consumers and businesses generate additional power through generating sets. In 2017, the country spent about $5billion on fuelling generating sets[2]. Yet, insufficient electricity generation is not the only problem. Most domestic and industrial consumers of electricity find it impossible to “predict when power from the national grid will be available for their consumption.”[3]

Clearly, the reform measures introduced by the Nigerian government to support the power sector have not achieved the desired end result. Consumers across the country who are connected to the national grid are yet to experience permanent improvement in power supply. Businesses have failed sometimes because they cannot afford to operate diesel-powered generators.

At all levels of the power value chain, power loss is recorded, sometimes as high as fifty per cent of electricity generated.[4]There is also the challenge attributed to the constant sabotage of gas pipelines, leading to gas shortages for generating plants. Inadequate transmission infrastructure similarly contributes to power loss at the transmission level.

Gas supply and pricing constraints

Presently Nigeria generates much of its power from thermal power plants, gas-fired plants and hydroelectric turbines. The government has stated that 74% of the electricity generated are from gas-fired plants.[5]This invariably means that the country’s natural gas reserves can provide a way out of the extant power crisis. Nigeria sits on the biggest natural gas reserve on the continent and ranks 9th globally[6]with an estimated 180 trillion-cubic feet and a production span of about 60 years.[7]

However, most of the gas produced in the country is largely as a result of oil exploration and is flared for the most part. Nigeria flares about 17.2 billion m3of natural gas per year[8]. This is because major oil marketers and investor are reluctant to invest in facilities for gas production and processing. Investors have pointed to the fact that the gas industry remains highly regulated. Under the current regime, gas producers have quotas to be supplied for domestic consumption and this is usually at a fixed price.

Operators also complained that giving the high start-up capital required for gas exploration, it would be difficult to recoup investment with the present tariff system. The current tariff is below the international price and this has failed to incentivise needed investment. In as much as the pricing issue remains unresolved, major gas companies will remain reluctant to make huge investment in gas production, processing and supply.

The passing of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Act, which created a joint venture between the Nigerian government and foreign oil companies (Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), demonstrates the government’s determination to utilize Nigeria’s gas resources. However, only about 0.5 billion cubic feet per day is supplied to the domestic power sector[9]. This insufficient quantity remains a challenge to achieving power generation increase in the country.

Liquidity issues in the sector

In addition to the identified challenges in power generation, the cash flow problem experienced in Nigeria’s power sector represents a major factor constraining power supply. As at the end of December 2016, the revenue shortfall in the Nigerian electricity market had reportedly reached a staggering N1 trillion.[10] The debts owed by the sector to commercial bank stood at over US$12.52 billion as at the last quarter of 2016.[11]One of the reasons for this cash crunch is the tariff regime set for the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) by the government. This is not cost reflective and has thus failed to attract investors.

Despite unanimous objection by the DisCos, the government passed the Eligible Customer Regulation on May 15, 2017,[12]which permits eligible customers to buy power directly from the generation companies (GenCos) at an agreed price. Although the new regulation is expected to tackle the liquidity challenge in the sector by increasing competition along the electricity value chain, one of its consequences is the potential loss of customers by the DisCos. The potential customer loss, which can deters investors, has led to a ministerial directive in July 2018 for compensation to DisCos.

Huge collection loss is also a contributing factor to the cash crunch in the sector. Revenue collection is at the core of the power value chain. DisCos have reportedly generated revenue from only about 50% of end users of electricity already supplied.[13]This is largely due to consumers’ refusal to pay for electricity used. Government ministries, departments, agencies and military facilities owe about N93 billion to DisCos and have mostly failed to pay up.[14]Under the privatization agreements, DISCOS have the responsibility to provide meters to consumers across the country, but the reality is that there is a huge metering gap of about 4.09 million customers.[15]

Alternative energy sources

With an electricity demand of 41,133MW[16], Nigeria needs to increase its power generation. In order to achieve this increase, alternative sources should be explored more concertedly. Renewable energy sources can help increase both output and efficiency. Today, renewable energy occupies centre stage in energy research and planning. With Nigeria’s huge potential in renewable energy, the country can tap multiple energy sources. Hydropower as a renewable form of energy has contributed in no small way, providing according to one source about 32% of Nigeria’s electric supply in 2015.[17] – – By Eniayo Ibirogba