Nigeria’s Power Sector has signed a partnership agreement with the Turkish Energy Exchange Istanbul, EXIST.
Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc With EXIST to boost cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two countries.
The cooperation agreement, signed between NBET and EXIST at its campus in Maslak, Turkey, is designed to explore mutually beneficial opportunities for growth between both agencies.
Turkey as a country has a generation capacity of 100 Gigawatts, that is 100,000 Megawatts of electricity. The country is Europe’s sixth largest electricity market and the 14th largest in the world.
Approximately 54% of Turkey’s electric power generation capacity comes from renewable energy, including hydroelectric, wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass power plants, making Turkey the 5th largest generator of renewable energy in Europe and the 12th largest in the world.
The country is well advanced in electricity infrastructure and cross-border trading.
There is a lot of optimism in this new partnership, especially as the Government of Turkey has shown keen interest in strengthen bilateral relations between both countries.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Nigerian Minister of Finance and also Chairman of NBET Board of Directors, Ms. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, NBET CEO Nnaemeka Ewelukwa on behalf of NBET and EXIST CEO Ahmet Türkoğlu on behalf of EXIST.
While speaking during the ceremony, Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Ms Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, said: ” EXIST has reached an admirable stage.
”We also want to establish electricity markets by providing the necessary transformation in our country. We want to cooperate with you on this journey by walking hand in hand.”
On his part, the CEO of NBET, Dr Ewelukwa, expressed optimism that the cooperation agreement with EXIST would go a long way in re-positioning NBET for enhanced performance in the Nigerian electricity market and consolidate on its accomplishments.
Dr Ewelukwa stated that, the key aspects of the cooperation would see NBET strategically leveraging on cutting edge technology to chart a new course in its commercial transactions in the electricity market.
”It will ultimately pave the way for more power investments in the country and deepen competition in the market, with greater value delivery to participants in the market,” he added.
According to him, NBET would also synergise with EXIST in developing a framework for upscaling sustainable investments in renewable energy in line with the federal government’s commitment to diversify the country’s energy mix and transition to a low-carbon economy.
“The corporation also ties in neatly with NBET’s long-term plan of leading Nigeria’s renewable energy push in line with its mandate.
“The cooperation agreement covers the transfer of experience and business knowledge, and the design of a functional trading structure for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
Turkey has a large and growing manufacturing base which requires an increasing amount of power generation.
“The annual growth rate in additional power generation capacity has been around 5% due to the increasing economic activity and a rising population in Turkey.
“With this partnership, the NESI can leverage on the EXIST experience towards the design and implementation of policy frameworks that will ramp up energy solution to the manufacturing sector and other vital economic sectors towards increasing the GDP of Nigeria and improving living condition of its people.
“The agreement also aims to liberalize the current market in Nigeria; simultaneously, for the cooperation, the parties have agreed to establish a partnership to support the optimization of NBET’s current energy portfolio and identify sustainable means to scale up energy generation and supply in Nigeria.
“The two parties also agreed to ensure knowledge development and share cross-visits to learn from each other’s experiences.
“Both of them have committed to further research and development in relevant areas that are beneficial for enhancing the energy sector in Nigeria.
“In addition, EXIST shall also assist NBET in the design and implementation strategy and plan that would enable optimal bulk electricity trading that adopts a least cost trading model for energy efficiency.
“In fulfilling the conditions, EXIST shall assist NBET in understudying the Turkish experience and energy transition to adapt successfully to the Nigerian context. NBET currently manages a portfolio of over 13,000 Megawatts of Electricity.
“The two parties will work towards establishing a renewable energy support scheme like the Turkish experience.
Furthermore, both parties will work on developing necessary feasibility studies to establish the energy exchange.“
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