The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), has issued permits to MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, Golden Penny Power Limited, Havenhill Synergy, and others for mini-grid electricity generation.
According to the Commission, it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences.
The NERC said that the MTN was granted a permit to build four captive generation plants across Lagos State with 15.94MW capacity.
Aside from MTN, SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, West African Ceramics Limited, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, and Armilo Plastics Limited were permitted to generate captive power.
Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to own and maintain power plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party. The commission issued nine captive power generation permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW, the Commission said.
It added that Golden Penny Power Limited got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states with total capacity of 100MW.
The report yesterday, said that the other licensed companies for mini-grids included Daybreak Power Solutions, TIS Renewable Energy Limited, Auro Nigeria Private Limited, Watts Exchange Limited, Centum Dopemu Energy Services Ltd, DMD Electric Limited Lagos State.
Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023 permits the commission to award licence of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service.
Under this, the commission said it has continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.
During the period under review, NERC stated that it certified six Meter Service Providers, including four meter installers and two meter manufacturers.
The certified meter service providers are Genobet Limited (installer), Mojec Meter Asset Management (installer), Epagad International Services Limited (installer), Abdulrahman Ahmadu Zubairu (installer), Smart Meters Company Limited (manufacturer), and Crestflow Energy Limited (manufacturer).
The commission also said it issued one regulation and 36 new Orders in 2024/Q1. They include NERCR0012024 Eligible Customer Regulations, 2024; NERC/2023/023NERC/2023/033 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the Distribution Companies; and NERC/2023/034 MYTO 2024 for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc.
Other are NERC/2023/035 Order on Performance Improvement Plan of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; NERC/2024/001 Order on the Regulatory Intervention in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; NERC/2024/004 NERC/2024/014 Order on Noncompliance with Capping of Estimated Bill by DisCos for the period January September 2023; and NERC/2024/016 NERC/2024/036 February 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the Discos.
During the quarter, the Commission issued 36 orders to guide the activities of licensees.
