NDPHC Targets Renewables, Industrial Clusters to Boost Power Reliability — MD
By Naija Enquirer Staff
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije, has disclosed that the company is strategically diversifying into renewable energy development and direct electricity supply to industrial clusters as part of efforts to enhance power reliability and stimulate economic growth nationwide.
Speaking during a television programme monitored in Lagos, Adighije explained that the company’s evolving strategy is anchored on long-term sustainability, improved operational efficiency, and closing critical electricity supply gaps affecting industrial productivity.
Shift Toward Renewable Energy
According to her, NDPHC is gradually transitioning into cleaner energy sources, including solar and small hydro projects, to complement its existing gas-fired generation assets developed under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
She revealed that the company is developing a solar power initiative targeted at industrial clusters in Kano State, which will serve as a pilot for similar interventions in other industrial hubs across Nigeria.
The initiative is designed to provide dedicated and reliable electricity to manufacturing zones, reduce dependence on diesel generators, lower production costs, and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian industries.
Direct Supply and “Light Up Nigeria” Initiative
Adighije disclosed that NDPHC is exploring direct electricity supply arrangements with distribution companies (DisCos) and eligible customers under existing regulatory frameworks to ensure efficient delivery of generated power to high-demand clusters.
Under its flagship “Light Up Nigeria” initiative, the company aims to provide reliable and affordable electricity to industrial and commercial clusters, markets, universities, and residential communities through embedded and independent power solutions.
The programme is expected to stimulate job creation, attract investment, and support small and medium-scale enterprises that are heavily impacted by unreliable electricity supply.
Infrastructure Capacity and Asset Optimisation
Providing an update on NDPHC’s infrastructure portfolio, Adighije stated that the company has constructed 10 power plants across 10 states under the NIPP programme, with eight commissioned and six currently in commercial operation.
She noted that NDPHC’s installed generation capacity stands at approximately 4,000 megawatts, representing nearly 30 per cent of Nigeria’s total grid-connected capacity.
Within the past year, the company recovered about 900 megawatts of previously dormant generation capacity through improved plant optimisation, operational discipline, and predictive maintenance strategies.
Additionally, NDPHC recently recovered 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages of critical power equipment from Nigerian ports. The equipment will be deployed to complete ongoing generation, transmission, and distribution projects across the country.
Sector Challenges and Reform Advocacy
Despite these milestones, Adighije acknowledged structural challenges within Nigeria’s electricity sector, including transmission constraints that limit efficient evacuation of generated power.
She also identified gas supply shortages — which account for nearly 60 per cent of operational costs for thermal generation — and liquidity challenges, as only about 30 per cent of sector invoices are currently settled.
To address these issues, she advocated for gradual implementation of fully cost-reflective tariffs and the decoupling of government subsidies from electricity pricing to create a financially viable market capable of attracting private investment.
Adighije emphasized the importance of consistent implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 to unlock investment, strengthen infrastructure, and drive sustainable growth within Nigeria’s power sector.
She reiterated NDPHC’s commitment to improving electricity access as a foundation for industrialisation, economic diversification, and improved living standards, expressing optimism that ongoing reforms and renewable energy investments will significantly boost power reliability in the coming years.
