Amidst poor energy generation and perennial distribution, the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has renewed plans to build 200 megawatts of incremental capacity through 100 mini-grids to augment shortage.
Besides, KEDCO said its core investor Future Energy Africa is perfecting negotiations to invest in generating another 10 megawatts through Federal Government Haske Solar Power Plant.
The plant located at Challawa, Kumbotoso local government area of the state is developed and funded by National Sovereignty Investment Authority (NSIA).
Briefing journalists on Tuesday on challenges in power distribution across franchise areas, Managing Director, KEDCO, Abubakar Yusuf explained the company’s efforts to source alternative means of energy generation that guarantee no less than 20 hours of supply.
Yusuf who acknowledged the extent customers yearn for adequate supply, explained how difficult it is for KEDCO to meet the demand considering the inadequate energy supply from Transmission Company Nigeria.
The KEDCO boss revealed that the company required no less than 600 megawatts to distribute 24-hour electricity supply across Kano, Jigawa and Katsina as against 180 megawatts consistently received from the national grid in the last 3 months.
“We do acknowledge how important electricity supply is to our customers, socially and economically and especially considering the harshness of the current weather situation coupled with the commencement of the holy month of Ramadhan.
“Majorly, the reason why we have been experiencing a shortage of power supply in our area of coverage is as a result of inadequate power generation nationwide occasioned by gas constraints and consequently low load allocation.
“In the last 3 months, we have been receiving an average of 180 Megawatts; this is grossly below the required average of 300 megawatts to sufficiently supply our numerous customers in the three (3) states of our operation.
“This regrettable development has forced us to engage in massive load shedding of our feeders, in a bid to serve our customers with the meager quantum of energy available to us, while looking forward to improved generation nationwide, within the shortest possible time”. Yusuf noted.
Meanwhile, the General Manager, TCN, Dan’Agundi Transmission Station, Engr. Bashir Muhammed Gote told journalists that the recent fire outbreak that gutted the power hub, demands a crane and a transformer worth over N50 million.
Although, Engr. Gote who spoke when he received the Kano Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel who was on a fact-finding visit, said the entire 180 MW capacity of the transformers had been destroyed.
He however dispelled fear of total darkness in Kano as a result of the incident adding that three out of 7 feeders that supply energy were restored a few hours after the fire outbreak. The TCN manager hinted the other four were restored in less than 24 hours through the alternative high-power transformer replaced.
On his part, CP Gumel addressed satisfaction with the proactive measures deployed after the unfortunate inferno just as he pledged to redouble security presence around the facility to protect lives and property.
