The federal government will by January 2019 unveil a harmonised manual and codes document to guide the implementation of projects and electrical constructions in the distribution section of the power sector value chain.
The Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation (CEIF)/Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Engr. Peter Ewesor said this in Abuja on Thursday.
Ewesor, who declared open a three-day stakeholders meeting to review the draft manual executed by Alpha Power Sector and Energy Consulting Ltd (APSEC) said after the review, NEMSA will consult electricity consumers and that, “We are hoping by January 1, 2019, this document should be in use.”
He said the manual became imperative because, “our field men discovered several construction variances. As soon as some are finishing the construction, they are falling off, and most of the installations go into a state of misuse after they are commissioned.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Engr. Louis Edozien represented by Engr. Nkem Agholor from the Distribution Services Department said with the standards and manual in place, there will be a basis for government to confirm what contractors and engineers do on the field to ensure safe power installations.
The Consultant from APSEC, Engr. Suleiman Yahaya, urged the participants drawn from the various Distribution Companies (DisCos) and NEMSA inspectors to make the best use of the forum to engender best practice.
He said, “This forum is aimed at entrenching safety and enforcing technical standards on the installation and construction of medium and low voltage electrical distribution system in Nigeria.”
Among the DisCos representatives, the Chief Technical Officer of Benin DisCo, Engr. Ashok Acharya, identified the challenges of many agencies and power contractors working without permission from the DisCo and adherence to standards saying it poses safety risks.
An official of Port Harcourt DisCo raised questions about non-approval of lines constructions by NEMSA to serve its premium customers.
Responding, Engr. Ewesor said, “The reason why we say you can’t use the primary feeder line is due to safety.”
Using such line for fewer 33kv customers will deprive larger customers on 11kv power supply and also pose safety risks, he noted.
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