Business
Electronic Monitoring Of Pipelines Underway – FG
The Federal Government has said that plans were underway to commence electronic monitoring of pipelines and other facilities channeling gas to power plants across the country.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who made the announcement in Ikorodu, near Lagos on Saturday, said the measure was to curb incessant pipeline vandalism.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the new 220 megawatts turbine at the Egbin Power Plant.
Nebo blamed vandals for the Federal Government’s inability to meet previously anticipated power generation targets.
He said that government was also planning to enlist the Nigerian Air Force in the joint task force team set up to provide aerial surveillance for pipelines.
The minister said that electricity generation would increase significantly in the next four years, disclosing that power generation was currently standing at 3, 600 megawatts, due to gas shortages.
According to him, power supply in Nigeria is mostly based on gas with about 70 per cent gas-fired turbine while 30 per cent is hydro based.
“When we have a holistic energy mix, things will get much improved, oil thieves and vandals who break into our pipelines make it difficult for Nigerians to even benefit from what this government has done.
“We have far larger capacity installed than the power we are giving out because of gas supply, which is being taken care of. More forces are being deployed.
“Electronic gadgets are being installed to ensure that at any point of disruption our security forces will know and know how to forestall it.”
Nebo said that government’s desire for Nigerians was to ensure stable power supply, noting that measures were being put in place to ensure steady power supply.
“The commissioning of this unit is a clear demonstration of the wisdom of President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s commitment to the reform and development of the power sector.
“The power sector is beginning to see the impact of the privatisation of the generation and distribution assets to the benefit of Nigerian electricity consumers.
“With this new unit, the new owners of Egbin Power Plant have accomplished the commendable feat of bringing the power plant back to its original installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts.
“The ability to wheel this power from the generation stations on to distribution companies rests with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“This has been strengthened by the private sector participation of Canada’s Manitoba Hydro International as the management contractor.
“TCN has the mandate of not only upgrading the existing transmission infrastructure but also to embark on new transmission projects to expand capacity around the country.
“Federal Government has graciously approved huge capital investment to enable TCN to realise the vision for a more robust higher capacity transmission network in the country.”
He said that Otorogu and Pan Ocean Power Plants would be back on stream by today bringing additional 90 million standard cubic feet of gas.
The minister said that major pipelines, the Trans Niger Pipeline and the Trans Forcados Pipeline were hacked into multiple points.
He said that this resulted to production losses as well as drop in power generation as the plants were starved of gas supply.
Nebo, however, said the situation was now under control as generation capacity gone up again to above 3, 600 megawatts, Nigeria’s highest capacity till date.
The minister said that vandalism had become one of the biggest challenges faced in the energy industry in general.
He said that the problem had resulted to colossal losses running into millions of dollars in crude oil and gas production losses as well as power generation shortages.
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Blue Economy: Minister Seeks Lifeline In Blue Bond Amid Budget Squeeze

Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is seeking new funding to implement its ambitious 10-year policy, with officials acknowledging that public funding is insufficient for the scale of transformation envisioned.
Adegboyega Oyetola, said finance is the “lever that will attract long-term and progressive capital critical” and determine whether the ministry’s goals take off.
“Resources we currently receive from the national budget are grossly inadequate compared to the enormous responsibility before the ministry and sector,” he warned.
He described public funding not as charity but as “seed capital” that would unlock private investment adding that without it, Nigeria risks falling behind its neighbours while billions of naira continue to leak abroad through freight payments on foreign vessels.
He said “We have N24.6 trillion in pension assets, with 5 percent set aside for sustainability, including blue and green bonds,” he told stakeholders. “Each time green bonds have been issued, they have been oversubscribed. The money is there. The question is, how do you then get this money?”
The NGX reckons that once incorporated into the national budget, the Debt Management Office could issue the bonds, attracting both domestic pension funds and international investors.
Yet even as officials push for creative financing, Oloruntola stressed that the first step remains legislative.
“Even the most innovative financial tools and private investments require a solid public funding base to thrive.
It would be noted that with government funding inadequate, the ministry and capital market operators see bonds as alternative financing.
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