Imports dependence frustrating power sector development – Adelabu

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that the country’s reliance on the importation of equipment needed for the power sector revamp had been a major setback.

Adelabu stated this when he recently visited Splendor Electric Nigeria Limited, a company producing electrical porcelain products in the Odogbolu area of Ogun State.

 Speaking during a tour of the factory, which uses clays to produce electric pole insulators, Adelabu stated that the Federal Government was ready to support local producers as that would help reduce importation.

He described the infrastructure deficit as one of the hurdles facing the power sector.

 The minister expressed concerns that it had been difficult to achieve speedy enhancement of infrastructure and prompt maintenance because the items needed were not produced locally.

 According to Adelabu, there is always difficulty sourcing foreign exchange to order the products, adding that there is always a long period between when the items are ordered and the time of arrival.

“One of the major hurdles in the power sector is infrastructure deficit, the infrastructure gap across the segments of the power sector, especially transmission and distribution infrastructure, which the ministry is trying to enhance and upgrade to ensure the revamping or resuscitation to ensure stability electricity supply in the country.

 “It has been quite frustrating to achieve speedy or accelerated enhancement of infrastructure and ensure proper and prompt maintenance because all the items in this infrastructure are imported. They are not manufactured here. Apart from the difficulties in sourcing foreign exchange for this importation, there is also a delay in terms of the cycle of importation between the time of order and the time of arrival. This has been frustrating effective maintenance of infrastructure. In the power sector,” he stated.

Adelabu reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to supporting local manufacturers to grow the economy.

He promised to support Splendor Electric in ensuring its products are patronised by contractors and agencies like the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

While asking the company to approach the ministry for any assistance, he charged them to always supply products that could compete favourably with imported ones in terms of quality.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of Splendor Electric, Mr Weitei Guo, claimed that the company was the sole manufacturer of electrical porcelain insulators in Africa, saying it commenced operations in Nigeria last year.

“As a technology leader and manufacturer of electrical porcelain insulators for overhead distribution and transmission lines, our company occupies 230,000 square metres and we have full sets of technical facilities for types of porcelain insulators. The total investment of our company will reach $50m. Now we just finished our first phase of investment and we are planning the second phase of investment,” Guo explained.

He declared that the company was a dedicated specialist focused on high and low-voltage porcelain insulators and metal fittings, such as cross arms, hoops, and wire clamps.

 “Our main products include suspension/disc insulators, anti-pollution type insulators, pins, spools, line posts, strain, shackle and more than 100 types of insulators. All the products are produced in strict accordance with international quality standards,” he disclosed.

He said the company in Nigeria could provide high-quality, reliable electrical porcelain products to global markets.

“We are trying to export to nearby African countries, European countries, the Middle Eastern countries and countries of the Americas in the future,” he declared.

Guo promised that the firm would provide comprehensive support and services to Nigeria’s power industry, hoping to promote the discussion and exchange of mutual learning between China and Nigeria in the power industry.

“We will devote ourselves to the development of Nigeria’s power industry and make greater efforts,” he promised, believing that through strategic partnerships, the company can contribute to the economic and industrial development of Nigeria.

According to a recent World Bank report, the country has the world’s largest absolute electricity access deficit, with 45 per cent of the population (90 million people) lacking access to the electricity grid.

It stated that significant disparities in electricity access existed between urban areas, where 84 per cent of the population had access, and rural areas, where only 26 per cent did.