The Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof. Jidare Bala, has said the use of hydropower through dams and rivers could play an active role in the current energy transition programme of the Federal Government.
Bala said this in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the two-day 2022 Annual conference/Annual General Meeting of Hydropower professionals, themed: “Nigeria’s Energy Transition and Inclusive Growth through Hydropower Development.”
The conference, which ended yesterday, was organised by the Nigeria Hydropower Professionals Association (NHPA), in collaboration with National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna.
Bala said the ECN is working to ensure that hydro electricity generation is given priority in the Nigerian energy mix, adding that the Commission will work with the National Energy Policy (NEP), and the National Energy Master Plan (NEMP).
He said NEMP is expected to provide a set of strategies, while the Commission has developed monitoring and evaluation strategies to ensure early corrective action on set targets within determined timelines.
Bala said the Federal Government intended to pursue the Energy Master Plan to derive the maximum benefits which could be obtained by planning ahead.
The D-G, however, expressed confidence that the conference would engender the transfer of technical knowhow, through experience sharing among participants, and help to promote the adoption of efficient technologies for power generation.
Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, said Nigeria is well-endowed with primary energy resources in both renewable and non-renewable, which can help to address existing power shortages in the country.
He said Nigeria is endowed with resources that can promote the Federal Government’s drive to increase electricity production to 30,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030 and beyond.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s main energy carriers are biomass 81.25%; natural gas 8.2%; petroleum products 5.3%; crude oil 4.8% and hydropower potential is 0.4% which are equivalent to 14,000MW.
Aliyu also said the country’s power system is characterised by a huge gap between supply and demand, adding that the current power demand is estimated at 19,798MW.
He said the government has an ambitious target of achieving energy security with 30,000MW, through all energy mix, and access to electricity for all.
Other targets are a 30% share of renewable energy by the year 2030 and net-zero emissions target by 2060.
He added that in recent times, the government has embarked on several hydropower projects to harness Nigeria’s hydro resources, which are at different levels of development.
…the conference would engender the transfer of technical knowhow, through experience sharing among participants, and help to promote the adoption of efficient technologies for power generation.
Inadequate energy supply
However, the pioneer National Vice President 2, NHPA, Prof Adeniyi Olayanju, decried the ever increasing demand and meagre supply of energy, saying this is a great challenge to the country’s development.
According to him, the situation is becoming critical with the increase in population without corresponding balance with energy development programmes.
“The incessant power generation failure has grossly affected the economy, seriously slowing down development in rural and sub-rural settlements, with present energy policy mainly benefiting urban dwellers.
“Globally, energy projections stipulate that between 2002 and 2025, global energy needs may rise by over 34% with that of developing nations doubling this percentage. A robust solution must be found to end the nation’s energy crises,” Olayanju said.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, NHPA, Prof. Bolaji Sule, called on professional hydropower engineers and all stakeholders in the energy sector to partner with NHPA to address the nation’s energy challenges.
According to him, the first and paramount role of hydropower professional engineers is to ensure sustainable energy development in Nigeria. (NAN)
