How do mini-grids provide electricity in cities?

Oct 04, 2022|Noelle Okwedy

Nigeria's electricity supply industry needs all the help it can get. 

45% of Nigerians still don’t have grid access eight years after privatisation. While most of these unserved households dwell in rural areas (only 25% of rural households have grid access), urban electrification is equally unimpressive. Just last week, the grid collapsed again for possibly the 7th or 8th time this year (we’ve lost count). And even those with access are underserved; 78% of Nigerians receive less than 12 hours of electricity daily.

 

Key takeaways:

  1. Even though over 80% of urban households have grid access, 78% of Nigerian households receive less than 12 hours of electricity daily, indicating that urban households are underserved.

  2. Distribution companies, TCN and generation companies can’t solve this problem alone. Partnerships with private companies are key to increasing the electricity supply in Nigeria.

  3. Using a gas-powered interconnected mini-grid, Ikeja Disco has partnered with Enaro Energy to supply electricity to the Ayobo community in Lagos.

​​​​

Thankfully, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the government have recognised that the fate of Nigeria’s electrification cannot be left to the distribution companies, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) or generation companies alone. There’s room for other players, whether they work with the discos or independently.

At the end of the day, most Nigerians don’t particularly care where their electricity comes from; they only want an affordable and reliable electricity supply.

Until recently, urban residential alternative electricity supply was mostly constrained to petrol or

Invest with Confidence, Operate with Precision.

Access economic and industry data & insight for global organisations.

Trusted by leading global organisations
subscriber
subscriber
subscriber
subscriber
subscriber
subscriber
subscriber

Related