Nigeria has been ranked as Africa’s largest energy economy, according to the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN). The acting Director-General, Joseph Sunday, made the announcement during a workshop organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to report the results of renewable energy projects in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The project was funded by the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, with UNEP implementing the project in collaboration with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
Nigerian Manufacturing Sector Offers Potential for Clean Captive Power Uptake
The ECN has disclosed that only 3 to 4 percent of energy consumed by the Nigerian manufacturing industry comes from grid-connected electricity. However, the manufacturing sector holds the greatest potential for clean captive power uptake. The World Bank Enterprise Surveys conducted in Nigeria in 2014 found that 48.1 percent of manufacturing enterprises identified electricity as a significant constraint, with average losses due to electrical outages amounting to 18.3 percent of yearly sales.
Promoting Clean Captive Installations in Sub-Saharan Africa
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) have received commendations for their efforts to promote the adoption of clean captive installations for industrial clients in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Principal Industrial Officer of the Industrial Development Department at the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Ike Owali Obin, applauded their efforts. The Deputy Head of Frankfurt School, Tobias Panofen, highlighted the importance of accelerating economic development and providing clean and reliable energy solutions for commercial and industrial clients. The German government’s international climate initiative supported the establishment of facilities to assist these clients.
In overall, with the manufacturing sector offering significant potential for clean captive power uptake and efforts to promote clean energy solutions for commercial and industrial clients, Nigeria is poised for new goals. The UNEP and ECN efforts to promote clean energy solutions will accelerate economic development and ensure reliable energy solutions.
