Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Association of Alternative Power Suppliers of Nigeria has expressed the readiness to develop mini grids to augment electricity generation and supply in the country. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission recently unveiled the Draft Mini-Grid Regulation 2016, saying mini grids could be used as a bridge technology to accelerate electrification activities. NERC said the mini-grid regulation was specifically designed to accelerate electrification in areas without any existing distribution grid and areas with an existing but poorly electrified or non-functional distribution grid, especially but not limited to rural areas. The President, AAPSN and Managing Director, AOS Orwell, Mr. Femi Omotayo, said members of the association would provide alternative power mainly through embedded generation projects to fill the supply gap in the power sector. According to Abiola-Odunowo, the association’s plan is to find 10 companies in each local government that can generate one megawatt to start with. He said the mini-grid regulation would afford alternative power producers the opportunity to go to the consumers directly.