Enugu Govt. Pledges 20hrs Daily Electricity by 2030

Enugu State Government has set ambitious goals for its energy sector, aiming to transform from an energy-deficient region into a thriving electricity market generating more than 690 megawatts of power, with a commitment to provide a minimum of 20 hours of daily electricity by 2030.

The government is keen to expedite the implementation of the Enugu State Electricity Law, capitalizing on the 2023 constitution amendment and the Electricity Act 2023, aligning this initiative with its broader economic development plan to position Enugu State as a prominent industrial hub.

Governor Dr. Peter Mbah, speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “The Electricity Act 2023: Implications and Opportunities for State Electricity Market,” emphasized the state’s determination to create a conducive environment for energy stakeholders and investors.

The objective is to stimulate significant economic growth, increasing the state’s GDP from its current $4.4 billion to $30 billion. Enugu State aspires to be a focal point for investors, with a focus on reliable power supply and a well-regulated electricity market.

The governor highlighted that a substantial portion of the electricity generated in the state would come from both renewable and traditional sources. This transition represents a strategic move towards a more sustainable and diversified energy mix.

Enugu State faces significant challenges, as it currently lacks grid-connected generation assets and relies on a single electricity distribution company that receives only 9 percent of its electricity from the national grid to serve a population of over five million people.

However, the Mbah administration has outlined a comprehensive plan to revamp the state’s electricity sector, aiming to reach the target of 690 megawatts and 20-hour power supply by 2030.

• Resident Doctors Declare Daily Protests Over Unmet Demands
• Minister Prioritizes Efficient Power Distribution in Electricity Sector
• Nigeria Expands Independent Power Distribution Landscape: 10 Out of 17 New Operators Already In Action
• President Tinubu Condemns Decade-Long Power Sector Privatization Failure
• Exploiting the Vulnerable: Investigation Reveals Illegal Kidney Trade in Abuja

“As a government, we have set out an ambitious economic growth plan and integral to that plan is the electricity needs of Enugu State and the investors that will be coming into Enugu State.”

“So, keeping that in mind, what we have gone ahead to do is to set out the processes right after the constitutional amendment. We are creating our own Enugu State electricity market. Our key objective for doing this is to ensure the reliability of power that will serve as a catalyst for that growth by making the private sector actors feel comfortable to come to Enugu State.”

“Enugu State’s plan is to be one of the first three investors’ focus and locations in Nigeria; and to do that we have to make sure that we have constant or reliable power as well as encourage a market where investors feel that the power arrangement is governed by a process that is both constitutional and  backed by the right policy. That is the reason we decided as a government for Enugu State to be one of the leading states in setting up an electricity market.”