This year’s edition of the Future Energy Nigeria conference and exhibition, which will take place November 12 – 13 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will focus on bridging the Nigeria’s energy access gap through off-grid generation projects as well as the regulator’s plan to franchise the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), the organisers say.
At a press conference announcing the event, Ade Yusufu, head of sales, East and West Africa at Clarion Energy, organiser of the event, says this year’s event will bring together high-level officials from the DisCos, power generation companies, the regulator in a room to find solutions to the challenges facing the sector.
“Our focus is on finding solutions to these problems rather than just talking about problems,” said Yusufu, noting, “How do we make the sector more profitable to attract investments and what kind of reforms are needed are our key focus.”
The session around the off-grid market is themed “Bridging Nigeria’s energy access gap” and will shine a light on off-grid projects of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), from increasing access rates to their positive impact in the communities.
Citing International Energy Agency (IEA), Damilola Ogunbiyi, managing director/CEO, REA in Nigeria, predicts that mini-grids could account for up to $300 billion of investment by the year 2030, hence the Nigerian off-grid energy market opportunity is massive and mini-grids could account for up to $10 billion annually.
“This translates to huge economic opportunities for private sector developers and a larger vehicle for electrifying community clusters across rural and urban Nigeria. Mini-grids, indeed, are the future for reaching unserved and underserved communities with safe, reliable and clean energy,” says Ogunbiyi.
The High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Abhay Thakur, will give a keynote address on ‘India’s interest in working with the Nigerian power and energy ecosystem.’
The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) returns to Future Energy Nigeria as the featured country partner for the third year in a row, hosting a pavilion of almost 50 suppliers of specialized technology and services for the energy sector. Expected at the event are James Momoh, chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Ebipere Clark, Ag. Special Assistant (Energy) to the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria, Chiedu Ugbo, managing director/CEO Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), among others.
A panel session will discuss how DisCos can utilise the provisions of the Eligible Customer declaration. Organisers say panel members will focus on inadequate TUOS and DUOS tariff structures in some regions; the unimplemented CTC mechanism for affected distribution companies; the current balancing mechanisms and the market for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company in the Eligible Customer model.
There will also be discussions around recent regulations including Meter Asset Provider and DisCo Franchising. It will be an opportunity for operators to also present case studies and share experiences.
