Politically speaking, it is unfortunate that Nigeria is presently fixated on only hydro and thermal generation mix when the country is endowed with numerous other electricity generation sources.
No wonder an analyst posits that Nigeria is “resource-full but not power-full” because given our natural resources, Nigeria ought to have been self-sufficient in electricity generation by taking full advantage of her natural endowments. This assertion is not an exaggeration when one recalls that in the 70’s, Nigeria was earning so much from the oil boom then that the administration on board declared that Nigeria’s problem was not money but what to spend it on, which showed a lack of vision because such administration could have littered the streets with electrical turbines.
The composition of generators in Nigeria reveals that out of the available over twenty five generating stations, there are four hydro stations of Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro and Dadin Kowa while the other stations use fossil fuel as raw material for their operation. They include Egbin, Omotosho 1 and 2, Olorunsogo 1and 2, Ihovbor NIPP, Sapele NIPP, Odukpani NIPP, Afam VI, Okpai, Geregu 1 and 2, Gbarain NIPP, Alaoji NIPP, Paras, Azura, Rivers IPP among others. It is important to state that Zungeru hydro station was exempted as the station is yet to declare for commercial operations.
As the world is undergoing an energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy, Nigeria has no choice but to join the moving train and embrace more of clean energy for electricity generation. Undoubtedly, this requires huge investment in these other alternative sources to achieve this desirable goal.
With lean resources, the most viable investment option for Nigeria is to use policies to stimulate genuine private sector investors’ interests to participate in her quest to expand the generation mix and embrace more of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, biomass etc.
It is noteworthy to mention that although there are ongoing activities in the use of these alternative energy sources to generate power, there is need to increase the pace if we must reduce the current energy gap and deficit and migrate from a semi-industrialized to a full industrialized economy, thus improving the quality of life of Nigerians and also have more to export and earn more revenue for the country.
If Nigeria is able to expand her generation mix to include other alternative sources, it will open up the sector and rapidly increase available generation capacity and give better flexibility and stability to the system.
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