The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has unveiled new policy and regulations to reduce the cost of electricity by industrial players.
The Director-General of ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi said this after unveiling the ECN compendium of industrial energy efficiency policies and regulations in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
The event was a validation Workshop organised by the ECN to validate the recommendations from the analysis of Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) Policies, Regulations and Standards in Nigeria.
The policiy is titled, “Improving Nigeria’s Industrial Energy Performance and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production through Pragmatic Approaches and the Promotion of Innovation in Clean Technology Solutions”.
Abdullahi said that with the new policy and regulations, industrial players would conserve energy, leading to reduction in the cost of electricity.
“We are unveiling the new regulations and also a policy for industrial players to be able to use electricity and conserve it safely.
“With that, we are sure that electricity costs will be reduced. There are two key things here to note; energy generation and energy efficiency.
“If you generate energy, no matter the volume of that energy, if you are having 20,000 megawatts, if you are not using that efficiently, then it will be wasted,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the compendium would provide a consolidated source of readily accessible information on adopted energy and energy-efficiency policies in Nigeria.
According to him, it will 7guide decision makers in establishing adequate policy frameworks for the adoption of industrial energy management systems (EnMS) in the country.
He said that the Compendium was not exhaustive and would therefore continue to exist as a living document, as it will need to be updated as new policies emerge in the future.
He said that the implementation of the project demanded an inclusive approach, where relevant policy makers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), NGOs and the private sector work together to ensure synergy, coordination and consistency.
“Appropriate policy and legislative framework is necessary for the promotion of national energy efficiency and conservation best practices in any sector of the nation’s economy,” the DG said.
The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ayayi-Kadiri, said that industrial energy performance and resource efficiency were essential pillars for driving sustainable economic growth and environmental protection in Nigeria.
Ayayi-Kadiri, represented by, Michael Olufemitan, Liason Officer, MAN, said that new opportunities could be unlocked for job creation, economic diversification and environmental sustainability.
“Our nation’s industrial sector holds significant potential to not only enhance productivity, but also reduce environmental impact through the adoption of clean technologies and sustainable practices.
“By focusing on resource efficiency and innovation, we can unlock new opportunities for job creation, economic diversification, and environmental sustainability.” he said