FG eyes 8,000MW as power sector reform deepens

The Federal Government aims to generate and transmit 8,000 megawatts of electricity by the end of 2027 as part of a broader power sector reform. Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, revealed this target at the launch of the Renewable Energy Assets Management Company (RAMCO) in Abuja. The government currently struggles to meet 5,000 megawatts of electricity demand and aims to increase this to 6,500 megawatts by the year's end.

Tegbe expressed optimism about the future of electricity supply in Nigeria, stating that the country would soon enjoy round-the-clock power. He emphasized that Nigeria's rich power assets and infrastructure had long been a paradox of lack of reliable electricity access. RAMCO, launched by the Rural Electrification Agency, introduces a new approach to the management and sustainability of renewable energy infrastructure, which could eventually encompass the entire electricity grid.

The minister highlighted the government's plan to develop a versatile electricity system combining grid supply, embedded generation, interconnected and distributed renewable energy, storage, and other technologies. Mini-grids would be deployed in areas without transmission infrastructure. Tegbe emphasized that the government's goal extends beyond just ending darkness; it aims to use electricity to drive economic growth, particularly in manufacturing and emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and data centers.

The minister stressed that RAMCO would be measured not only by the volume of power delivered but also by the reliability and sustainability of that delivery.