Engr. Saleh Mamman looking at an equipment
…MOMAS has capacity to meet metering gaps in the country
…Impressed with the local content driven initiative by MOMAS Company
The Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, has expressed his readiness to improve the country’s power sector through effective metering that will meet consumer’s demands and also address liquidity challenges.
Mamman said that effective metering of electricity consumers remains the best option to help distribution companies get more money to pay generating companies.
He said this during facility inspection of Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL) factory in Ogun State to see things for himself on the company’s capacity in meeting metering demands.
According to Mamman, metering is one of the things bordering Nigerians particularly, the electricity consumers, “when I resume, I took it as my priority as one of the important areas on electricity market liquidity and sustainability.”
“I have to produce meter to get more money for the sector. We will get more money from distribution companies to pay Generating Companies (Gencos). That is the only way to justify metering. That is why am here to see it and believe it and to also direct on how to get meter soonest,” he said.
Speaking at the metering factory, the Minister asserted thus: “Am here to inspect the factory of Momas meter manufacturing company because I don’t believe in sitting in the office and listen to story. I want to see things for myself and today am convinced that we have a Nigerian company that has capacity and capability to meet metering gap in the country. This encouraged me to also tell our local companies that have the capacity to produce meter that is expected and required in-country.”
The minister commended the management of MEMMCOL for putting up the gigantic meter manufacturing company that has capacity to meet Meter Assets Providers (MAPs) specification in the country.
Mamman was impressed with local content driven initiative by Momas company on meter manufacturing company, “to see a Nigerian producing meter up to 1,000 per day. This is indeed commendable. Momas is one of the top meter manufactures in Nigeria that we should be proud of.”
He told operators in the sector to allow and encourage investors into the country and also gives consideration to local manufacturers to grow.
Mr Kola Balogun, the Chairman of MEMMCOL said that his company has the capacity to produce above 50,000 smart meters per month if given the support by government and adequate patronage from distributing companies.
Balogun commended the minister for inspecting his meter manufacturing company, while assuring him that the company will continue to produce quality and standard meters that meet international best standard. “I want to tell Nigerians that we have the capacity and the capability to deliver metering solution to also bridged metering requirement in the country.”
The MEMMCOL MD stated further that what the indigenous company needs is government intervention so as to make liquidity available in order to produce for the larger populace that requires metering.
One of the major challenges is funding, because Distribution Companies needs recapitalization, adequate funding to buy sufficient meter for consumers.
On MAP, Balogun said due to liquidity and insufficient fund, in terms of single digit from financial institution, it posed serious challenge to metering requirement. It is a challenge that meter providers are facing.
He appealed to government to ensure that local content is entrenched as policy in the power sector industry for meter licensee to comply with local content policy.
Balogun urged government to upscale the 30% Local Content Act on metering to 70% to give local meter manufacturers opportunities to attract investors. “We can increase our meter producing shift from one to three shifts to meet up the metering gaps if given the opportunity and patronage.”
Balogun pleaded with the government to proclaim an enabling regulation that will enhance support for locally produced electricity smart meters and products.
He explained that government needed to invest heavily in the sector and, through its regulatory authorities, ascertain that these products meet international standards.
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