The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said it had issued approval to six companies and a private university to generate and distribute electricity.
The commission said the firms, including Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja, will be allowed to generate up to 30 megawatts of electricity under various arrangements.
It said it issued one off-grid generation licence with a gross capacity of 2.63 MW to Daybreak Power Solutions Limited in the last quarter of 2024.
The commission also approved the grant of captive power generation permits to four applicants with a gross capacity of 22.50 MW.
The applicants are Ro-Marong Nigeria Limited in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos (4.40 MW); Quantum Paper Limited, Agbara, Ogun State (7 MW); Psaltry International Company Limited, Alayide village, Oyo State (1.10 MW); and Nile University of Nigeria, Airport Road, Jabbi Abuja (10 MW).
Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that intend to own and maintain power plants exclusively for their own consumption, that is, no sale of electricity generated from the plant to any third party.
Pursuant to section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023, which states that the commission shall “award licences of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service”, the regulator said it continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.
A permit is usually issued to a mini-grid developer for the construction, operation, and maintenance of mini-grids with a distribution capacity above 100 kilowatts and a generation capacity up to 1 MW.
The commission also issues registration certificates to developers for one or more systems with a distribution capacity below 100 kW.
In 2024/Q4, NERC disclosed that it issued 24 permits with a gross capacity of 5.5 MW and five registration certificates with a gross capacity of 450 kW.
Prado Limited got 24 permits to generate electricity with mini-grids in 24 locations in Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo and Kano States.
In the same vein, Cross Boundary Energy was issued five certificates to distribute power in Kogi State.
Within the period under review, the commission confirmed that it certified 18 Meter Service Providers and six meter installer companies, six manufacturers, three vendors, and three importers.
The commission also issued 15 permits for meter asset providers.
