Conference to address Nigeria’s energy crisis opens in Lagos Sept. 20
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Nigeria Energy Conference is returning for its ninth edition in Lagos from September 20-22, 2022 with the theme “Affordable, Reliable and Sustainable Energy through Collaboration”.
The conference and exhibition is an annual event aimed at reflecting and promoting Nigeria’s evolving nature of producing electricity and delivering energy security.
The three-day event, according to its organisers, is driven by extensive outreach and stakeholder engagement and builds on the legacy of developing Nigeria’s energy sector to meet the needs of businesses, industries and the general populace.
It is expected to bring together key stakeholders from Nigeria’s energy sector, including government ministries and regulators, gas companies supplying fuel to grid-connected plants to independent power producers, distribution companies and the bodies mandated to facilitate the development of renewable energy and off-grid solutions.
Commenting on the event, Ade Yesufu, exhibition manager, energy portfolio, MEA, Informa Markets, said it is aimed at supporting Nigeria’s energy sector in achieving its power supply targets.
According to Yesufu, Nigeria’s power capacity currently fluctuates between 3,000-4,000 megawatts. This, he explained, means that the power sector can only generate around 4,000 MW, which is significantly insufficient for a country with a populace that surpasses 195 million people.
“The Nigeria Energy conference aims to help the government manifest its vision by collaborating with international and local stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers of certain products that range from conventional generation methods to renewable energy technologies,” Yesufu said.
“The agenda also helps create a marketplace for industry players to network and find solutions to the lingering issues within the energy sector,” he said.
The exhibition manager added that the conference will provide a blueprint for Nigeria’s power sector in the coming years, to not only improve access to electricity, but also drive economic growth and create jobs across the West Africa region.
Nigeria Energy has, through the years, served as one of the country’s leading energy platforms gathering contractors, investors, developers, project owners and utilities to converge and develop reliable power solutions to gratify the country’s energy demand.
Key discussion themes at the 2022 edition will include regulatory measures for improving the Nigerian energy mix; the impact of the takeover of the DisCos on existing/future investor confidence in the Nigerian power sector; significance of the newly introduced Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC); role of collaboration amongst stakeholders involved in the gas value chain; decarbonisation and the future of energy in Nigeria; tariff and subsidy reform to stimulate investment, among others.
Stakeholders and experts expected to speak at the event include Temitope Fashedemi, permanent secretary, Ministry of Power; Ahmed Zakari, special adviser to the president on infrastructure; Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, MD/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria; and Sani Usman, chief business officer, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
Others are Folake Soetan, CEO, Ikeja Electric Plc; Tinuade Sanda, MD/CEO, Eko Electricity Distribution Company; Ed Ubong, president, Nigerian Gas Association & MD, Shell Nigeria Gas Limited; Fola Fagbule, deputy director and head, financial advisory, Africa Finance Corporation; Oladayo Orolu, head of business development & government relations, Siemens Energy, and a host of other speakers drawn from the energy sector.