MAN moves to scale up power supply

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has begun moves to scale up power supply for the manufacturing sector in wake of the perennial energy crisis plaguing the industry. 

The association explained that the moves include a drive to intentionally carry out power projects as well as a push for the manufacturers’ transition to sustainable energy.

Oweh Mba-Sam, Acting Managing Director of Manufacturers Power Development Company Limited, disclosed this at the end of the Manufacturers Energy Security Summit held in Lagos.

The summit with the theme; ‘Power Supply Adequacy for Industrial Growth in Nigeria’, organised by the Manufacturers Power Development Company Limited.

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The three-day event attracted major stakeholders and speakers from the manufacturing and energy sectors, who dissected challenges and proffered solutions to the power crisis.

Speaking with newsmen, Mba – Sam said: “We decided that rather than complaining, why not take the initiative to see how we can look inwards and partner with original equipment manufacturers and project developers to develop power projects and supply power to industries.”

He expressed optimism that a lot of power projects will emerge as part of the outcomes of the summit.

In his remarks, the Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, noted that energy adequacy remains a major component of the industry’s imperative for competitiveness. 

He said, “Grid modernisation is key because  it will be a  driver of energy efficiency today. Therefore, the smart grid is imperative, and it is the direction such investment should look to help improve the stability of the power supply.

Some of the experts who spoke at the summit proffered ways to accelerate energy security for manufacturers, including transition to sustainable energy.

The Group Managing Director, Income Electrix Limited, Mathew Edevbie noted that a limited supply from the electric grid has forced industries to self generate electricity, lamenting that reliability, availability and cost of electricity to industries remain the bane of industrialisation in Nigeria.

Managing Director and CEO, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distribution (ANED), Sunday Oduntan noted that the country’s power infrastructure was outdated, under maintained and insufficient to meet the growing need.