Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued nine new off-grid electricity generation licences in the first quarter of 2024, with a combined capacity of 109.69 megawatts.
The licences were granted to companies, including Golden Penny Power Limited, MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, and other multinationals, to develop mini-grids and captive power plants across several Nigerian states.
Golden Penny Power Limited received permits for six off-grid gas plants located in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states, totaling 100MW in capacity.
MTN was also granted a licence to establish four captive generation plants in Lagos State, with a combined capacity of 15.94MW.
Other companies such as SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, and West African Ceramics Limited received permits to generate captive power, contributing to a total of 52.57MW.
NERC emphasized its commitment to fostering renewable energy development by issuing three mini-grid permits and two registration certificates in the same quarter.
These permits are part of the commission’s strategy to promote off-grid solutions under Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023, which allows for mini-grid concessions serving specific geographical areas.
Additionally, NERC has certified several Meter Asset Providers to improve metering services. These include Genobet Limited, Mojec Meter Asset Management, and Smart Meters Company Limited, among others, to handle meter installation and manufacturing.
In terms of regulatory actions, the commission issued one new regulation and 36 Orders, including the Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for Distribution and Transmission Companies.
