Oil & Energy
Stakeholders Partner To Tackle Renewable Energy e-waste
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), E-waste Producers Responsibility Organisation Nigeria (EPRON), and E-Terra Technologies Limited have begun discussions on a possible collaboration to address the growing e-waste challenge associated with Nigeria’s expanding renewable-energy sector. NigeriaTravel Guides
The engagement followed a facility tour of E-Terra’s Materials Recovery and Recycling Facility (MRRF), Abule-Ado, Lagos, by UNIDO and EPRON representatives, followed by a cross-sector meeting on the responsible management of solar panels, inverters, batteries and other renewable-energy equipment at end-of-life.
Speaking, the Technical Advisor, Division of Circular Economy and Green Industry, UNIDO, Satoko Takenoshita, stressed the need for responsible resource management alongside the transition to renewable energy.
“Developing appropriate systems for recovering and recycling end-of-life solar equipment, batteries and related technologies will be critical to ensuring a truly sustainable energy future.”
Executive Director of EPRON, Mrs Ibukun Faluyi, said stakeholders must prepare for the waste streams that would arise from increasing renewable-energy adoption. CompareSmart Gadgets
“Collaboration is essential to building an effective Extended Producer Responsibility and circular-economy framework around these materials.”
Technical Director, E-Terra, Patrick Inoh, who conducted the facility tour on behalf of CEO, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwutem Ochonogor, welcomed the initiative, noting that strategic partnerships are vital to tackling Africa’s e-waste challenge.
The stakeholders emphasised the need for effective collection, take-back, material recovery, recycling and environmentally sound treatment to prevent improper disposal, burning and informal dismantling.
The engagement, they noted, marks an important step towards ensuring that Africa’s clean-energy transition is matched by responsible and sustainable e-waste management.
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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to allocate up to 60% of their earned Non-Administrative Operating Expenditure (Non-Admin OpEx) to capital expenditure (CapEx) from February 2027.
The directive was contained in a new Order issued by the Commission and signed by NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni and Vice Chairman Yusuf Ali.
Under the framework, DisCos without outstanding debts would be required to remit 60% of their earned Non-Admin OpEx to dedicated CapEx provision accounts from the February 2027 market cycle, while 40% would go to their operation accounts.
For DisCos, with outstanding debts, 30% would be remitted to the CapEx account and 20% to their operational accounts, while the remaining 50% would be applied toward outstanding obligations to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and the Market Operator (MO), where applicable.
NERC said the directive follows an April 2026 review of DisCos’ utilisation of earned Non-Admin OpEx during the 2025 market cycle.
The review found that while many DisCos did not generate enough revenue to meet their upstream market obligations, some recovered revenues above those obligations, enabling them to earn significant portions of other components of their approved revenue requirements.
The Commission said improvements in Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses had helped some DisCos generate enough revenue to fully cover their Administrative Operating Expenditure (Admin OpEx), with additional funds available from other revenue requirement components.
NERC said the new framework is necessary because DisCos face difficulties accessing external financing, making it important to deploy internally generated resources toward network investment.
“Non-Admin OpEx is deployed for network improvement and expansion to ensure improved reliability of supply,” the Commission said.
The directive would take effect from the August 2026 market cycle, with a transitional allocation framework running until January 2027 before the higher CapEx allocation takes effect from February.
“From August 2026 to January 2027, DisCos without outstanding debts are required to allocate 50% of earned Non-Admin OpEx to the CapEx Provision Account and retain 50% in their DisCos Operation Account.
“For DisCos with outstanding debts, 25% will be allocated to the CapEx account, while 25% will be retained for operations. Where a DisCo owes either NBET or the MO, but not both, the applicable share for the outstanding obligation will instead be remitted to the dedicated CapEx account”, it stated.
Recall that in July, NERC directed DisCos to dedicate a significant portion of their surplus operating revenues to capital expenditure and market debt repayment while obtaining NERC’s approval before the funds can be spent.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
Oil & Energy
NCDMB, SNEPCO Graduate Seven Young Nigerians On DD/MWD, EWL …….. Issues 18 Int’l Certifications
Seven young Nigerian engineers and geologists have graduated in Directional Drilling and Evaluation Services (DD/MWD) and Electric Wireline Evaluation Services (EWL) for which the trainees collectively received 18 international certifications from reputable European organisations.
The exercise was conducted by Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) Limited and Geoplex Drillteq Limited.
Under the contractual framework provided by SNEPCO, Directional Drilling and Evaluation exposed the trainees to jar maintenance, bottom-hole assembly components, measurement-while-drilling principles, formation integrity and leak-off test procedures.
For Electric Wireline Services, they had hands-on training on wireline logging, cement evaluation, perforation operations, pressure-control equipment, and rig-up and rig-down activities.
The Director, Capacity Building Directorate (CBD), NCDMB, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, represented by the Deputy Manager in the unit, Mr. Tareowei Bufazi, noted with satisfaction that the trainees had a detailed curriculum for the two programmes implemented concurrently under the SNEPCO contracts.
Represented by the Deputy Manager in the unit, Tareowei Bufazi, Bamidele described the classroom sessions of the programmes and the on-the-job training in live projects as rigorous, pointing out that trainees have been adequately prepared for major opportunities globally and Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) that are coming on stream.
Charging the graduands, he said the knowledge, skills and certifications they have acquired should serve as “a foundation for continuous learning and professional growth,” adding that they would be remembered for problems they are able to solve, standards they are able to uphold, and value they create.
“The world you are entering is competitive, demanding, and constantly evolving,” he explained, adding, “you have already proven that you can rise above challenges….Be courageous enough to seize opportunities and resilient enough to overcome setbacks.”
The CBD boss commended SNEPCO for their commitment to the successful implementation of the programme and for investing in the development of Nigerian talent. He also thanked Geoplex and Arewa Innovative Solutions for their respective roles.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Kingsley Erhunmwunsee, of SNEPCO Limited, stated that the company treats local content as an investment in Nigeria’s future, and not just as a regulatory obligation.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry needs highly skilled people who can operate safely, solve complex problems, embrace new technologies and deliver world-class performance.
In his words, “Developing that capability within Nigeria strengthens not only individual careers, but also our companies and the Nigerian economy.” He expressed appreciation to the NCDMB for its sustained efforts in local content development and for the support it provided toward the successful implementation of the training programme.
In another address, the Vice President-Business Development, Geoplex Drillteq Limited, Akeem Raji, described the close-out ceremony as “a celebration of learning, professional development, collaboration and a shared commitment to building sustainable Nigerian capacity within the oil and gas industry.”
According to him, at Geoplex, the Management believes that “sustainable Nigerian Content Development must translate into measurable technical capability, recognised qualifications and improved employability; and the real value of training becomes evident when the knowledge and experience acquired are applied safely, competently and productively within the industry.
Raji expressed commended NCDMB for its leadership, oversight and continued commitment to developing Nigerian capacity in the oil and gas sector.
International certifications received by the seven graduands were from the United Kingdom-based National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), and Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO).
The Technical Lead for Mission 300 in Nigeria, Mr Dayo Olowoniyi said Nigeria recorded over five million new off-grid connections between 2025 and 2026.
Olowoniyi ?????????????made the remark at a Renewable Energy Product Launch, organised by Sun King, in Lagos, at the weekend.
Olowoniyi, said distributed solar is critical to reaching over 70 million Nigerians who currently have no electricity.
Olowoniyi said Nigeria recorded over five million new off-grid connections between 2025 and 2026, adding that distributed solar is one of the fastest ways to extend electricity to underserved communities.
According to him, the Federal Government’s DARES programme, implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), offers capital subsidies to renewable energy firms to reduce the cost of solar for Nigerians..
Olowoniyi said the programme, supported by the World Bank with $750 million, is helping companies deploy solar equipment in rural and low-income communities that otherwise could not afford it.
“The Federal Government cannot do it alone,” Olowoniyi said, stressing the need for more participation by state governments and the private sector to deepen solar penetration in Nigeria.
He said Mission 300, which seeks to connect more than 300 million Africans to electricity, was monitoring the pace of new connections and deployment of solar home systems and productive-use equipment in Nigeria.
Olowoniyi said sustained access to capital and stronger private-sector participation would be required to maintain the pace of electricity connections.
Also, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Ms Titilayo Osodi, said renewable energy could improve the productivity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) while supporting the state’s climate and sustainable-development goals.
Oshodi said reliable energy could enable businesses to operate equipment such as freezers and other appliances, while supporting activities linked to education, food preservation, water and sanitation.
She said financing options that enable households and businesses to pay for renewable energy systems in installments could improve access for people at the lower end of the socio-economic ladder.
Oshodi said more deployment of renewable-energy solutions to MSMEs could boost commercial activity and contribute to economic growth in Lagos State.
The Country Business Manager, Sun King Nigeria, Lisbon Ogunsanmi, said the company’s monthly solar-system sales had risen from about 3,000 units to around 100,000 units, reflecting growing demand for alternative energy solutions.
Ogunsanmi said the company had trained over 200 installers and operated over 136 shops, with after-sales teams across the country.
He identified affordability as a major barrier to solar adoption, saying many households and businesses could not afford to pay the full cost of a solar system upfront.
He said financing models that allowed customers to make regular payments over time could help bridge the affordability gap and enable more businesses to access reliable power.
The Vice President, Pay-As-You-Go Sales, West and Central Africa, Sun King, Omoyemi Tuga, said the company had introduced a 5 KVA Power Hub system, expandable to 30 KVA, and a 210-litre Power Freeze for households and businesses.
Tuga said the Power Freeze could operate with solar power during the day and battery power at night, while the Power Hub could support homes, businesses, schools and hospitals.
He said the company’s ‘EasyBuy’ financing model enabled customers to make an initial payment and subsequently pay weekly or monthly over one to two years, depending on the product.
Tuga said customers could access the 5 KVA Power Hub with a down payment from N340,000, while the Power Freeze would be commercially available soon.
On his part, the Vice President, Global Affairs and Marketing, Sun King, Catherine Mudachi, said the financing model was designed to enable small businesses to pay for energy equipment from their business income rather than make the full payment upfront.
Mudachi said the model allowed customers to work toward ownership of the equipment while spreading the cost over time.
She said collaboration among government, private-sector operators and financiers remained important to expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity, particularly for underserved households and businesses.
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