Nigeria Relies Heavily on Petrol and Diesel Generators for Electricity

The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that the country generates approximately 40,000 megawatts of electricity from generators powered by Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).JAMB Result

This information was disclosed during the ministerial summit on the Integrated National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, which focused on addressing the key challenges to electricity reliability in Nigeria.

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Despite the national grid’s capacity to generate and supply between 3,500MW and 4,500MW of power for an estimated population of 200 million, there is a heavy reliance on petrol and diesel generators. This dependency highlights the gap between the existing power infrastructure and the energy needs of the nation.NYSC Portal

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in his address at the summit, acknowledged that one of the primary goals of the Nigerian electricity sector reform program, initiated over 23 years ago, was to provide efficient and consistent electricity across the country. However, this goal remains unmet, with a substantial amount of money being spent annually to generate electricity through diesel and petrol generators.informationguidenigeria

Adelabu also pointed out the low electricity consumption per capita in Nigeria, which stood at 140 kilowatt-hours in 2021. This figure is not only low in comparison to neighboring countries but also nearly three times lower than the average for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Adelabu said, “Nigeria is a case study in a deep electricity paradox. Nigeria has grown to become the host of probably the world’s largest fleet of diesel- and petrol-powered generation capacity that is utilised for baseload supply.

“Various figures have been mentioned but it is safe to say that this fleet measures no less that 40,000MW of total capacity.JAMB Portal

“At an average operating cost of no less than N250/kWh as opposed to an average economic tariff today of approximately N120/kWh (weighted between petrol and diesel generation), the daily cost of this extreme inefficiency in electricity supply in Nigeria, is measurable in tens of billions of naira daily.”

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