By Etuka Sunday
The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the headquarters of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in Abuja.
The minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Godknows Igali, and other aides, noted with concern the drop in available power supply in the capital city, and pledged to
review the ceiling on the quantum of electricity being supplied to the Abuja Disco.
Prof. Nebo said a situation where Abuja, which is the seat of government, suffers inadequate power supply is counter-productive to the Transformation Agenda of the President, especially in terms of attracting foreign investments into the country.
Prof. Nebo said it was imperative for him to visit AEDC, to find out what was happening, and the challenges that the company is facing, so as to seek a way to address the problems.
In his response, the Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Neil Croucher, thanked both the minister and the permanent secretary for the visit, and commended them for the efforts they were making to ensure the
success of the President’s Transformation Agenda in the power sector. Mr Croucher explained that the current power situation in Abuja is as a result of the 20 to 30% drop in electricity supplied to AEDC from the national grid, bringing down the quantum of power supplied to it from about 400 megawatts (MW) to between 260 and 300 MW.
The MD also said the load allocation of 11.5% to Abuja Disco and the penalties charged to it by the Market Operator for energy taken above this ceiling, put further constraints on the company.
The AEDC boss appealed to the minister to help ensure that sufficient power is supplied to Abuja Disco to meet the electricity needs of the FCT, considering its strategic importance.
Mr. Croucher informed the minister that AEDC is thinking ahead as it is currently looking at options of embedded generation within its own catchments area, to augment power supply from the national grid.
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