Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has sought a partnership with Geregu Power Plc to develop a commercially viable electricity market in the state.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KERC, Engr. Ibrahim Abdwaaris made the proposition during a working visit to Geregu Power Plc in Ajaokuta, where he led a delegation from the Commission.
He congratulated the company’s Board and Management on its recent change of ownership and the emergence of a new leadership under Sen. Abdul-Aziz Yari, reaffirming KERC’s commitment to building strong partnerships with key stakeholders in the power sector.
Abdulwaaris emphasized the Commission’s recent achievements, including the licensing of mini-grids and embedded generation projects, the issuance of an operating licence to Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited (KEDL), and the ongoing finalisation of a simplified tariff framework.
According to him, the initiatives demonstrate KERC’s readiness to collaborate with major power generators such as Geregu Power Plc to address national off-take and settlement challenges through a stronger local electricity market.
He described Geregu Power Plc as a strategic national asset whose consistent power generation has positioned Kogi State prominently on Nigeria’s energy map.
“The four key areas of collaboration, include licensing alignment to ensure Geregu’s national licence complements the state’s regulatory framework, direct commercial off-take agreements between Geregu Power Plc and independent distribution network operators in Kogi State to reduce commercial risks, dedicated electricity supply for industrial and institutional consumers across the state and aligning the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives with rural electrification and community development projects” he said
He also proposed the establishment of a joint technical working group to develop practical and mutually beneficial arrangements that reflect operational realities.
Responding, the Head of Production at Geregu Power Plc, Ali Mohammed, appreciates the Commission’s visit and welcomed the proposals, expressing the company’s readiness to collaborate with KERC in positioning Kogi State as a preferred destination for electricity investors.
Mohammed explained that while Geregu Power Plc currently holds a generation licence issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the licence does not cover electricity transmission or distribution.
He, however, urged KERC to facilitate the development of a state-level transmission line, even at a lower voltage, to support the proposed partnership and improve power delivery within Kogi State.
Mohammed disclosed that Geregu Power Plc has an installed generation capacity of 434 megawatts.
In their separate remarks, KERC Commissioners Engr. Michael Meliga, Prof. Ibrahim Abdulkarim, and Engr. Abdussalam Yusuf, reaffirmed commitment to providing regulatory support, policy alignment and stakeholder engagement to ensure the success of the proposed partnership and accelerate the development of Kogi electricity market.
