Anambra Gets 120MW at Best From National Grid Against Estimated 1,000MW Need, Soludo Says

Anambra State receives about 102MW to 120MW of electricity from the national grid, Governor Chukwuma Soludo said on Thursday

This puts grid supply at roughly a tenth of what he estimates the state needs for its businesses to thrive, News About Nigeria reports.

Soludo gave the figures at the Anambra State Electricity Market Investment Roundtable at the International Convention Centre in Awka.

He put the state’s electricity requirement at close to 1,000MW and asked investors and regulators to identify projects that could narrow the gap and set timelines for bringing them into service.

The roundtable produced a signed memorandum of understanding to develop an energy resource plan for the state. The agreement concerns the preparation of the plan.

Details of the capacity any resulting projects would add, their financing and their commissioning dates were not disclosed in the account of the event.

Soludo said his administration would create conditions for private companies to invest in the state’s electricity market.

He pointed to the regulatory framework drawn up by the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission and said reliable power would be central to the state’s plans to expand manufacturing and develop its commercial and technology sectors.

Ernest Ndukwe, who chaired the roundtable, called for private investment in power generation and gas development. Frank Okafor, chairman of the state electricity regulator, said the meeting was convened to address the power needs of Anambra’s businesses.

Okechukwu Okafor, managing director of FirstPower Electricity Distribution, said it also gave operators an opportunity to share information about the state’s distribution network.

Soludo’s supply estimate covered electricity from the national grid. A figure for power available from other sources was not given at the roundtable.