WorldStage– Nigeria’s former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on Thursday said that 24-hour electricity supply was achievable in the South-East through clean coal technology.
Nebo said this at the South-East Electricity Summit organised by the South East Electricity Consumers Association in Enugu.
The event has the theme “Genuine Search for 24/7 Electricity Supply to the South East.”
Delivering the keynote address, Nebo said the South-East faced erratic grid supply and heavy reliance on diesel and petrol generators due to high energy costs.
He said coal-based generation provided reliable base-load power that was not affected by intermittency like solar or seasonal fluctuations associated with hydro power.
“Coal can deliver steady electricity for both households and industries. With clean coal technology, 24-hour power supply is achievable,” he said.
He said coal would enhance energy security by reducing dependence on gas-powered plants, which were vulnerable to vandalism, adding that the proximity of coal deposits in the region lowers transportation costs.
According to him, stable electricity supply would stimulate industrial growth in sectors such as cement, ceramics, steel and agro-processing.
He proposed measures including revalidation of coal reserves, digitisation of data for investors, rehabilitation of mines, environmental remediation and development of mine-mouth power plants.
Nebo also recommended the inauguration of a pilot 300-megawatt coal power project within 24 months, deployment of clean coal technology and integration of coal into regional industrial policy.
Also speaking, Mr Ayodele Ikumapayi, an Energy Consultant and Managing Director of Valiant Group, said plans were underway to develop a 350-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the Oji River area of Enugu State.
He said the project estimated at about $200 million dollars was expected to be completed within 24 months, subject to approvals.
Ikumapayi, an Energy Consultant, said the plant would generate electricity at lower cost, with tariffs projected between N70 and N90 per kilowatt-hour.
He added that the project would adopt clean coal technology, with by-products such as fly ash to be used in cement and ceramic production, thereby minimising environmental impact.
In a remark, Chairman of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mr Chijioke Okonkwo, represented by Commissioner for Electricity Market Operations, Rueben Okoye, said access to electricity remained a major developmental challenge in Nigeria.
He said over 90 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, describing it as the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Okonkwo said reforms such as the 2023 Electricity Act and the Enugu State Electricity Law had enabled states to participate actively in the power sector.
Former Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Lawrence Agubuzu, in a goodwill message, expressed cautious optimism that the South-East could achieve 24-hour electricity supply if current plans were implemented.
He said that based on the presentations at the summit, there was hope for consistent power, but stressed the need for tangible results rather than repeated promises.
According to him, in spite of the size and economic strength of states like Lagos, Kano and Rivers, they still struggle with electricity unlike smaller African countries.
The traditional ruler cited examples such as Ghana, which he said, had recorded years of uninterrupted electricity supply, contrasting it with Nigeria’s situation.
Earlier, in a welcome address, National Chairman of SECCA, Rev. Christopher Obioha, said the summit was convened to advocate coal-powered electricity as an alternative to gas and hydro sources.
He said the outcome of the summit would be documented and presented to South-East governors to guide policy formulation and implementation toward achieving stable electricity supply in the region.
