By Ugo Aliogo
The Head of Energy Efficiency, Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP), Dr. Charles Diarra, has said that through the implementation of energy efficiency measures, the Nigeria industrial sector can potentially save-up to 30-35 percent of energy.
He disclosed this at the Implementation workshop of a Pilot Energy Efficiency Network (EEN) for industrial enterprises in Nigeria organised by the NESP in collaboration with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) with funding support from the European Union (EU) and the German Government.
Diarra explained that the saving up of energy depends on what programmes the nation is implementing, the stage energy conservation is and how much the country is losing, while adding that if the Nigeria is to implement energy efficiency measures in all it’s dimensional from the consumption, and the supply side, much savings should be done.
He said: “To save up energy, we need to do a qualified audit for the different areas involved. Unless a study is conducted, we may not be able to ascertain the amount of energy to be saved.”
He further noted that if regulatory bodies responsible are able to audit the energy consumption rates of industries and homes, then they would be able to present a correct figure of the amount of energy that can be saved over a period of time.
Diarra added: “For this programme, we are focused on the energy consumption; however, I will not be able to say that the amounts of energy to be saved because we have not conducted a study on energy consumption. We also need a representative sample of energy stakeholders and find out how we can scale up the rate of 500,000 and say how much we can save. Energy efficiency measure is a new concept because in the power sector in Nigeria, we are struggling to meet up with power supply.
“People are much concerned in having power than energy efficiency measure. The implementation of energy is at a very low stage in Nigeria. We are happy that through this workshop, people are beginning to accept the idea and realising that it is not about getting power only, but implementing some energy saving measures which would help avoid waste and conserve some energy. This workshop is aimed at mobilising people on saving energy consumption. However, before we came in, there were some industries that had the idea of implementing the energy consumption mechanism.”
Speaking on the objective of the workshop, he said the aim is to see how they can produce energy for the industrial sector in Nigeria, adding that NESP in collaboration with many partners has decided to introduce energy management system in Nigeria for companies and support mechanics, therefore we decided to support the implementation of the energy management system.
In his remarks, the Deputy Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access Department, federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPWH), Faruk Yabo, lauded the significance of energy efficiency practices and initiatives such as the EEN, adding the federal government, having ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, and it is committed to meeting its emission reduction targets as well as renewable energy and efficiency target.
