Business

Proposed Nuclear Power Plants’ll Boost Electricity – Expert

Published

6 years ago

June 20, 2018

A Russian nuclear energy expert has said that the construction of a proposed Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Nigeria is capable of delivering stable and affordable electricity in the country.
Dmitry Shornikov, also the Chief Executive Officer, Central and Southern Africa, Nuclear Energy Corporation (ROSATOM), said this in an interview text emailed to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
According to the expert, another advantage of NPP is the predictability of the price of electricity, which has a life span range of between 60 to 80 years.
“Another proven advantage of nuclear power is its environmental friendliness, NPPs do not emit any harmful substances into the atmosphere during their operation.
“First and foremost, I have to point out that nuclear energy is not a competitor with other energy sources but rather a compliementary base load source.
“Nuclear power is characterised by the very large amount of energy available from a very small amount of fuel.
“The amount of waste is correspondingly very small, for example, 25 tons of uranium generates roughly the same amount of electricity as 2.7 million tons of coal.
“The nuclear sector is also the only energy sector that safely stores 100 per cent of all its waste.
“As far as security of supply goes, nuclear is unrivalled, new generation NPPs are able to achieve net capacity factors of well over 90 per cent, whereas renewable sources for instance achieve far less than half of that.
“The net capacity factor is essentially the ratio of a power plants’ actual output over a period of time, when compared to its potential output if it were possible for it to operate at full capacity continuously over same period of time.
“Nuclear energy, therefore, becomes a vital component in the development of a clean energy mix in any country.’’
He said that the primary energy consumption in Nigeria was largely through traditional biomass and waste, consisting of wood, charcoal, manure, and crop residues.
This, according to him, accounts for 74 per cent of energy mix in Nigeria.
“This high share represents the use of biomass to meet off-grid heating and cooking needs, mainly in rural areas.
“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that 115 million people in Nigeria rely on traditional biomass and waste as their main sources of energy.
“The other 26 per cent is made up of oil, gas and hydropower. In recent years, the electricity production from hydroelectric sources has plunged due to water shortages and climate change.’’
On safety concerns raised over the proposed NPP in Nigeria, Dmitry said; “Modern nuclear reactors and plants have proved to be real ‘workhorses’ for developed and developing countries.
“They are among the safest and most secure industrial facilities in the world.’’
He said the multiple layers of physical security, inherent in NPP, together with high levels of operational performance, protects plant workers, the public and the environment.
“Nuclear plants are well-designed, operated by trained personnel, defended against all forms of attacks and prepared in the event of an emergency.
“All the standards in the sphere of NPP construction and exploitation are well elaborated and being monitored constantly by high-level team of international experts from IAEA and key Member-States.
“Stringent international regulation, automated, redundant safety systems and the industry’s commitment to comprehensive safety procedures keep nuclear power plants and their communities safe.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria is among the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) a regional cooperative aspect of IAEA.
Dmitry said Nigeria needs to diversify to other energy sources like nuclear power as “not many sources alone can provide a sustainable, economically viable and secure supply of electricity.
“Therefore, an energy mix is crucial because different sources can bring together these three factors’’.
“Hydrocarbons such as coal for instance are economically viable and offer stable power but are unfortunately very bad for the environment.
“Renewable such as wind and solar are great for the environment but are irregular by nature, and only produce electricity when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.
“There is unfortunately no economically viable methods of storing power at this point.”
He said it was also important not to be overly dependent on a single source of power, as many African countries were excessively dependent on hydro, which has proved detrimental in the ever changing climate conditions.
Dmitry said the inclusion of nuclear energy to Nigerian’s energy mix would provide much needed diversity and stability to the country’s energy mix.
“Nuclear energy and renewable are not mutually exclusive, each of them has its advantages and models of use, both sources are clean and eco-friendly.”
He said a recent analysis conducted by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) indicated that nuclear plants create some of the largest economic benefits when compared to all other generating sources.
According to NEI, the operation of a nuclear plant requires the highest number of skilled workers per kWh produced when compared to any other technology.
“On average, these jobs pay 36 per cent more than the average salaries in the area where the plant is constructed.
“New plant construction creates a direct demand for thousands of locally sourced skilled labourers such as welders, pipefitters, masons, carpenters, millwrights, sheet metal workers, electricians’ and heavy equipment operators among others.
He further listed benefits to be derived from the implementation of NPP projects to include availability of local investments aimed at maintaining the well-being of the region and development of science and technology.
The ROSATOM official said that the continuous development of the sectors would transform the country into a major economic force on the continent and on the global market.

Business

Fuel Scarcity: IPMAN threatens shutdown over bridging claims

Published

5 days ago

May 3, 2024

The Tide

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Depot Chairmen Forum, has exonerated its members from the current fuel scarcity in the country.

According to IPMAN, this is caused by its inability to source petroleum products.

The IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum also threatened to withdraw its services over non-payment of N200 billion bridging claims by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to its members, since 2022.

Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, the Chairman, of the Forum said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.

Alhassan said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) was the sole importer of the product, but the marketers could not source products from NNPC Ltd. deport, rather from the private depots at high rate.

“We cannot buy fuel from the private depots at N950 and transport the product from Lagos to the North and other parts of the country with N2 million and still sell it at N900 or N1, 000.

“It is expedient for us to state that we are more pained by the non-availability of petroleum products in the country, which has given rise to another round of untold hardship for Nigerians.

“Contrary to claims that IPMAN members are hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as fuel, we would like to categorically state that PMS scarcity is wholly triggered by inability to get fuel from NNPC and not IPMAN,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the NNPC Ltd. Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye said the disruption was due to logistical issues which had since been resolved.

“We currently have an availability of products exceeding 1.5 billion litres, which can last for at least 30 days. Unfortunately, we experienced a three-day disruption in distribution due to logistical issues, which has since been resolved.

“However, as you know, overcoming such disruptions typically requires double the amount of time to return to normal operations.

“Some folks are taking advantage of this situation to maximise profits. Thankfully, product scarcity has been minimal lately, but these folks might be exploiting the situation for unwarranted gain,’’ Soneye said.

He however, said the lines would clear out soon.

On the non-payment of bridging claims, the IPMAN forum said it was distressed and depressed by the laidback attitude of the NMDPRA towards the survival its member’s businesses, arising from its refusal in paying the claims.

“It is with deep frustration that we have assembled here today as the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum. It is also disheartening to note that some of our members have completely shut down businesses and retrenched employees.

“As businessmen and women, our members acquired bank loans to keep their fuel retail outlets running on a daily basis across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria in order to serve the teeming population of Nigerians,’’ Alhassan said.

He recalled that Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), at a stakeholders meeting in February mandated the NMDPRA management to clear the entire debt in 40 days.

“However, today, we have crossed the 40 days’ time lapse given to the NMDPRA to clear the debt, and it is shameful to state that only the paltry sum of N13 billion has been paid, ignoring minister’s directive.

“We are not happy with the indiscriminate increment in the issuance and renewal of Sales and Storage Licence, by the NMDPRA, and the subsequent delays in acquiring the licence, which our members are recently subjected to.

“We are also calling on President Bola Tinubu to look into this unwholesome figure which is highly detrimental to our business and reverse it forthwith, as it is bound to impact negatively on the masses.

“We are poised to take far reaching decisions that may cripple the supply and sales of petroleum products across Nigeria if our demands are not met within the shortest period of time.

“We are collectively prepared to withdraw our services, shut down every single outlet, and suspend lifting of products forthwith till our demands are fully met, and the consequences will be terrible.

“We call on our members to however remain resolute and law abiding, even as we draw close to the immediate ultimatum for our demands to be met by the NMDPRA,’’ the chairman said.

Reacting to the IPMAN’s claims, the Acting Head, Corporate Communications, NMDPRA, Seiyefa Osanebi said the bridging claims payment was ongoing.

“The bridging claims payment is always an ongoing process,” she said.

Maritime

Shippers’ Council Registers 160 Port Operators

Published

1 week ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) says it has registered 160 Port stakeholders into its Regulated Port Service Provider and Users platform since the initiative began in 2023.
Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr Pius Akutah, made the disclosure on the sideline of a sensitisation programme by the commission for port operators in Lagos, with the theme, “Regulated Port Service Provider and Users”.
Represented by the Director, Consumer Affairs, Chief Cajetan Agu, Akutah emphasised the significance of the programme for stakeholders.
He said the sensitisation programme was the second edition after its commencement during the last quarter of 2023.
The Secretary said the 160 registered port operators consist of agencies, terminal operators, shipping companies, individual port users as well as service providers.
“We invited the ports stakeholders for enlightening them on the processes for online registration of Regulated Port Service Provider and Users.
“We have demonstrated to them how to register and how to make payment and we were able to present before them the various categories of the registration.
“The rate of payment is also in the registration. The payment of each group depends on the operation. A shipper pays N30,000, terminal operators and shipping companies pay N300,000, truckers also pay N30,000, while some pay N50,000 and N100,000.
“The Council was able to intimate them on the benefits, because port users benefit more as we help to interface on reducing port charges from time to time”, Akutah said.
He said that there was a need to continue to work with port operators to stop delays and eliminate high costs to make the port efficient.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Stakeholders, Service, NSC, Mr Celestine Akujobi, said “the sensitisation exercise was important for the council to enable us bring all the port stakeholders together”.
According to him, this is to avoid challenges during the implementation of the council’s responsibilities.
“By the time we introduce sanctions on defaulters, no operators will complain that he or she is not aware of the registration.
“I’m happy with the turnout of this sensitisation. This shows that the operators are well informed of the statutory friction of the council as the port regulator.
“The final implementation will commence as soon as we discover that all the operators have keyed into the portal.
“We are engaging other ports across the country and we’re hopeful that before the last quater of 2024, the council will implement sanctions on defaulting operators”, Akujobi said.
Earlier, Vice Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwards (NAGAFF), Dr Ifeanyi Emoh, said port challenges were enormous, adding that they originated from some of the government agencies.

Emoh urged the council to look into regulating other government agencies, so that there could be a window through which they can collect port charges collectively instead of indiscriminately.

By: Chinedu Wosu