Niger Republic Owes Nigeria Over N4bn for Power Supply – NERC

By Moses Patience Chat

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has released the first quarter report for 2023, revealing that Niger Republic currently owes Nigeria N4.22 billion for power supply.

According to the report, Niger’s State power firm, Nigerien Electricity Society (NES), was yet to remit the $5.48m invoice issued for power supply by the Nigerian market operator.

“None of the underlisted international customers made any payment against the cumulative $16.11m invoice issued to them in 2023/Q1; Paras-SBEE ($3.46m), Transcorp-SBEE ($3.85 million), Mainstream-NIGELEC ($5.48m) and Odukpani-CEET ($3.32 million).

“Out of N842.38m invoice issued by MO to all the eight (8) bilateral customers in the NESI, only North-South/Star Pipe made a remittance of N15.38m against its invoice of N24.69m,” the report read in part.

NERC mandated the Market Operator to invoke the provision of the market rules to curtail the payment indiscipline being exhibited by the various market participants.

Valuechain findings revealed that last week the power supply from Nigeria to the Republic of Niger was stopped on August 2.

Nigeria also exports electricity to the Republics of Benin and Niger based on various Transaction Service Agreements.

Electricity supplied to Niger is produced in Kainji Dam located in Niger State.

However, to free itself from its energy dependence on Nigeria, Niger is working to complete its first dam by 2025.

Located about 180km upstream from Niamey, the Kandadji Dam is projected to generate 629 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually.