Tuesday, December 24, 2024 - The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed that international customers owe $5.7 million for electricity supplied in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024. The debtors include Paras-SBEE and Transcorp-SBEE from the Benin Republic, Mainstream-NIGELEC from Niger, and Odukpani-CEET from Togo.
Under an international treaty, Nigeria exports electricity to
neighbouring countries like Benin Republic, Togo, and Niger.
In its latest quarterly report, NERC stated that market operators (MO)
issued invoices totaling $12.19 million to six international firms for services
rendered in Q3, out of which $6.49 million was paid.
“In 2024/Q3, the six (6) international bilateral customers purchasing
power from the grid-connected GenCos made a cumulative payment of $6.49 million
against the $12.19 million invoice issued to them by the MO for services
rendered in 2024/Q3,” the report said.
“Similarly, the domestic bilateral customers made a cumulative payment
of ₦1,566.51 million against the ₦2,100.79 million invoice issued to them by
the MO for services rendered in 2024/Q3.”
NERC highlighted that some bilateral customers—both domestic and
international—made payments in Q3 2024 to settle outstanding invoices from
previous quarters. “Odukpani-CEET made a payment of $1.33 million towards
outstanding invoices from previous quarters,” the report revealed.
“Similarly, the MO received ₦31.51 million from the domestic bilateral
customers (North-South/Star Pipe; ₦9.50 million and Trans-Amadi (OAU/FMPI);
₦22.01 million) towards outstanding invoices from previous quarters.”
However, NERC noted that its special customer, Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd,
along with the host community, failed to make any payments towards the ₦1.26
billion (NBET) and ₦0.11 billion (MO) invoices received in Q3 2024.
“This continues a longstanding trend of non-payment by this customer,
and the Commission has communicated the need for intervention on this issue to
the relevant FGN authorities,” the commission said, warning that continued
non-payment could lead to total disconnection from the national grid.
In September, Shuaibu Audu, the Minister of Steel Development, signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Messrs Tyazhpromexport (TPE) for the
rehabilitation, completion, and operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant and the
National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO). By December, Natasha
Akpoti-Uduaghan, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content,
announced plans to commence the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company
plants in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.
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