The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says
international customers owe Nigeria N32.8 billion in electricity bills.
Nigeria sells electricity to neighbouring countries like
Benin Republic, Togo and Niger.
According to the regulator’s quarterly reports, Benin
Republic and Niger were issued N42.4 billion invoice for the electricity
purchased from Nigeria in 2019.
The Beninois Electricity Community (CEB) and Nigerien
Electricity Society (NIGELEC) did not make any payment for the first, second
and third quarters of the year. They only paid N9.6 billion in the fourth
quarter.
“In the same quarter, the invoices issued to the Ajaokuta
Steel Company Limited (designated as a special customer) and international
customers (CEB/SAKETE and NIGELEC) were ₦300million and ₦12.402billion
respectively,” NERC said.
“However, only payment of US$31.5million (~₦9.618billion)
was received from the international customers as part payment of their total
outstanding debts. The Nigerian government has continued to engage governments
of neighbouring countries benefitting from the export supply to ensure timely
payments for the electricity purchased from Nigeria.
“The challenge of poor remittance has remained a serious
concern to the Commission as it is one of the main causes of the liquidity
crisis facing the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
“Low remittance adversely affects the ability of NBET to
honour its financial obligations to GenCos while service providers (TSP, MO and
NERC) struggle with the paucity of funds impacting their capacity to perform
their statutory obligations.
“The severity of the liquidity challenge in NESI was
reflected in the settlement rates of the energy invoices issued by NBET and MO
to each of the DisCos as highlighted above, as well as the nonpayment by the
special and international customers.”
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