I just read Businessday’s story on the expected 6000MW promised by the government this December, and how Nigerian policy makers have begun consultation with Germany, India, Malaysia on alternative energy sources, excerpt:
In what appears as the Federal Government’s inability to meet the 6,000 megawatts target by end of December, it is seeking the assistance of the governments of Germany, India and Malaysia in the adoption of renewable energy including solar, coal and wind for the country.
I chuckled.
What Nigeria needs to do is open the power industry to the private sector, and throw in the right policies and incentives. After almost 12 years of experimenting with the so-called National Independent Power Projects, it should be clear it can’t work as designed.
Nigeria’s attainment of 50million+ mobile phone subscriber base within 12 years is made possible by the private sector aided by the right incentives and policies. This can be replicated in the power industry.
Maybe why privatisation or compulsory competitive tendering has not been considered a viable option in the power sector is that doing this, those who have been gaining and still stand to gain more MONEY are not that keen… just a flitting thought. It is indeed the best option for now.
December 8, 2009 at 12:08 pm
True talk omotaylor!
The power sector, in addition to NNPC, are about the remaining national dinning pits for political pinheads to congregate and feast to their heart’s delight. How much has been spent on power projects to date? One half of that amount could have been offered as incentives/grants/loans to encourage private power investors to set up shop in Nigeria, I think.
December 9, 2009 at 1:53 pm