'Nigeria needs 135,000MW to power economy'

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - At a time the country's power generation is at its lowest point, Nigeria's Minister of Power Barth Nnaji has said the country needs to generate 135,000 mega watts (MW) of electricity to power its economy.

The local media Wednesday quoted the Minister as saying, at a workshop in the capital city of Abuja, that the country would seek to improve its power generation to achieve the target through a variety of options, including coal, hydro, wind, gas and solar.

Nigeria, with a population of 160 million, currently generates about 3,600MW even though it has an installed capacity of 5,700MW.

The 3,600MW is far inadequate, thus forcing the country's monopoly Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to engage in massive power rationing that daily leaves most parts of the country in darkness.

The situation has grown even worse in recent times, due to what the minister called non-availability of gas, lack of proper maintenance, water management issues and transmission constraints.

As part of efforts to improve the power situation, Prof. Nnaji said the government had signed US$1.5 billion Agreement with the US Export and Import Bank on power sector financing, while two power giants, General Electric and Siemens, have signed agreements with the power ministry to build a 10,000 MW power plant in the country.
-0- PANA SEG 8May2012