Only 25 of 160 licensed GenCos operating in Nigeria

Dr Joy Ogaji, Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), says only 25 out of 160 GenCos licensed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) are currently operating in Nigeria.
Ogaji made the disclosure during a panel session at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference and Exhibition on Wednesday in Abuja.
She noted that data from the National Control Centre, Osogbo, showed that Nigeria’s energy demand was about 28,000MW while the current available power was about 6,000MW.
“NERC has issued 160 licences to power generation companies. Only 25 are operational currently.
“The other thermal stations are waiting on the sidelines and if they are actively involved, we can generate an additional 30,000MW.
“The 25 operational GenCos have an installed capacity of about 13,000MW,” Ogaji said.
She, however, disclosed that current available capacity had dropped from about 9,000MW in 2020 to about 6,000MW.
According to her, this is not being optimally utilised due to load rejection by electricity Distribution Companies for various reasons.
Ogaji noted that the three hydro power plants — Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro — with an installed capacity of 1,500MW were also not being optimally utilised.
She said the take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement had made it imperative for Nigeria to fix its power sector to make its companies able to compete with their counterparts across the continent.
Ogaji described gas supply constraints as one of the major challenges facing GenCos and responsible for the drop in power generation.
She said that this could be remedied by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation agreeing to supply 60 per cent of the gas needed by the GenCos.
Ogaji said the move would enable the sector to achieve its vision of generating 30,000MW by 2030, with 3,000MW coming from renewables and 27,000MW from the power plants.