By LIZZY ANDREW .
Against the backdrop of epileptic power supply in kogi state , the Management of Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission KERC has sought partnership with Geregu power PLC to build commercially viable electricity market .
The chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Engr.Ibrshim Sunday Abdwaaris, made the disclosure while on courtesy visit to the company on Wednesday in Ajaokuta.
The Chairman noted that the partnership would create direct off-take arrangement and improve power supply reliability for homes, industries, and host communities in the State.
He congratulated the Board of Geregu power PLC and management on the recent change of ownership and new leadership under Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari and reaffirmed Commission’s commitment to building strong partnership with key players in the power sector.
Engr. Abdulwaaris highlighted recent milestones including the licensing of mini-grids and embedded generation, the granting of an operating licence to Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited and the on-going finalization of simplified Tariff framework.
“These steps demonstrated KERC’s readiness to collaborate with major generators like Geregu power Plc to address national off-take and settlement of challenges through a stronger local market framework”. Says Engr. Abdulwaaris
He noted that the Company remains a strategic National asset whose reliable generation has placed Kogi State firmly on Nigeria’s energy map.
The Chairman/CEO presented four key proposals for partnership. These include licensing alignment to ensure Geregu’s national licence complement the State Regulatory framework, direct commercial agreement for possible off-take agreement between Geregu power Plc and Kogi State buyers to reduce commercial risk, dedicated supply arrangements to serve industrial and institutional loads in Ajaokuta and across the State more efficiently; and enhanced community partnership to align Geregu’s Corporate Social Responsibility CSR and community engagement with electrification and development goals for host communities.
He proposed the establishment of a joint technical working group to develop practical, mutually beneficial arrangements grounded in operational realities.
Engr. Ali Mambo Mohammed, Head of Production, who represented the MD/CEO of Geregu Power Plc, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari, expressed appreciation for the courtesy visit and acknowledged the key proposals presented by the KERC’s Chairman.
“We will collaborate with KERC to position Kogi State as a gateway for electricity investors ” says Engr. Ali Mambo
He noted that Geregu Power Plc holds a generation licence from NERC, which does not extend to transmission or distribution. To make the proposed collaboration more effective, he urged KERC to facilitate the development of a state-level transmission line in Kogi, even at a lower voltage.
He added that the company has an installed capacity of 434 megawatts.
The Commissioners present at the meeting are Engr. Michael Meliga, Prof. Ibrahim Abdulkarim and Engr. Abdussalam Yusuf, who made insightful contributions to the proposed collaboration with Geregu power Plc
The Commission pledges regulatory support, policy alignment, and stakeholder felicitations to ensure the success of the initiatives.
