24-Hour Power Possible in South-East— Ex-Minister Nebo

Former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has said that round-the-clock electricity supply in Nigeria’s South-East region is achievable through the adoption of clean coal technology.

Nebo made the assertion on Thursday in Enugu at the South-East Electricity Summit organised by the South-East Electricity Consumers Association (SECCA), with the theme: “Genuine Search for 24/7 Electricity Supply to the South East.”

Delivering the keynote address, the former minister said the region continues to suffer from erratic grid supply, forcing households and businesses into heavy reliance on diesel and petrol generators amid rising energy costs.

He argued that coal offers a dependable base-load energy source capable of delivering continuous electricity, unlike renewable sources such as solar, which he described as intermittent, or hydro power, which is affected by seasonal fluctuations.

“Coal can deliver steady electricity for both households and industries. With clean coal technology, 24-hour power supply is achievable,” Nebo said.

He further maintained that coal-fired generation could improve energy security in the region by reducing dependence on gas-powered plants, which he said remain vulnerable to vandalism and supply disruptions. According to him, the proximity of coal deposits in the South-East would also reduce transportation costs and enhance viability.

Nebo added that stable electricity supply would drive industrial expansion in sectors such as cement production, ceramics, steel manufacturing and agro-processing.

He proposed a series of interventions, including revalidation of coal reserves, digitisation of geological data for investors, rehabilitation of abandoned mines, environmental remediation, and the establishment of mine-mouth power plants.

He also recommended the development of a pilot 300-megawatt coal-fired plant within 24 months, alongside the deployment of modern clean coal technologies and integration of coal into the region’s broader industrial policy framework.

Also speaking at the summit, an energy consultant and Managing Director of Valiant Group, Mr Ayodele Ikumapayi, disclosed plans to develop a 350-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Oji River, Enugu State.

He said the project, estimated at about $200 million, is expected to be completed within 24 months, subject to regulatory approvals.

Ikumapayi added that the proposed facility would generate electricity at relatively lower cost, with tariffs projected between N70 and N90 per kilowatt-hour, while adopting clean coal technology designed to minimise environmental impact. He noted that by-products such as fly ash would be utilised in cement and ceramic production.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mr Chijioke Okonkwo, represented by the Commissioner for Electricity Market Operations, Mr Rueben Okoye, described access to electricity as a major development challenge in Nigeria.

He said more than 90 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, a figure he described as the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Okonkwo, however, noted that recent reforms, including the Electricity Act 2023 and the Enugu State Electricity Law, have enabled subnational governments to play a more active role in the power sector.

The former Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, expressed cautious optimism, saying the South-East could achieve stable electricity supply if current proposals are effectively implemented.

He, however, stressed the need for concrete outcomes rather than repeated policy declarations, noting that countries with smaller economies have achieved more stable power supply than Nigeria.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the National Chairman of SECCA, Rev. Christopher Obioha, said the summit was convened to promote coal-based electricity generation as an alternative to gas and hydro sources.

He said the resolutions of the summit would be compiled and submitted to South-East governors to guide policy direction towards achieving stable and sustainable electricity supply in the region.