The Nigerian government has signed an agreement with three Chinese companies to supply and install 1.43 million electricity meters across the country. This significant project aims to address the country’s metering gap and improve electricity distribution.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced the agreement, which is part of the Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP) funded by the World Bank. The project will be implemented by Ningbo Sanxing Medical & Electric Co. Ltd, Ningbo Sanxing Smart Electric Co. Ltd, and Messrs XJ Group Corporation.
Nigeria currently has a significant metering gap, with millions of households and businesses relying on estimated billing. This has led to numerous complaints and disputes between consumers and electricity distribution companies (DisCos).
The government hopes that the installation of 1.43 million new meters will help to narrow this gap and improve the efficiency of electricity distribution. This will benefit both consumers and businesses, as it will allow them to pay for their actual electricity consumption.
The DISREP program, funded by the World Bank, aims to strengthen the financial and technical performance of the DisCos. The $500 million loan from the World Bank will support the procurement of meters, a data aggregation platform, and provide technical assistance.
The project has already made significant progress, with key milestones achieved, including approval from the Federal Executive Council and the signing of necessary agreements.
The installation of new electricity meters is expected to have several benefits for Nigeria. It will improve the efficiency of electricity distribution, reduce losses, and increase revenue for the government. Additionally, it will provide consumers with greater transparency and accountability in their electricity bills.
The project is a positive step towards addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges and improving the lives of its citizens.
