Meter manufacturers double production to meet NERC’s deadline

Chairman, Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Lagos, Kola Balogun, says indigenous meter manufactures have commenced massive production of meters in order to meet the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) May 1 deadline.

Balogun disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He stated that his firm will be producing a minimum of 70, 000 meters monthly on three shift production operations to support the May 1 actualization, adding that “manufacturers have taken bold steps to double production capacity in areas of employment capacity, raw materials and effective services to meet NERC’s May 1.”

The Momas boss said that manufactures had commenced recruitment of more personnel to fill in for the three shifts to be able to work round the clock to meet the metering gap.

“We (meter manufacturers) have been able to take youth off the streets to start working with us. This will also boost the economic growth of the country. It will also reduce the congestion of human capital at the labour market.

“I want to assure electricity consumers that the May 1 rollout of meters is visible and achievable. Consumes should look up to the timeline of May 1,” he assured.

Balogun lauded the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, for the bold step he took in addressing the metering gap and power challenges in the country and also, commended the chairman of the NERC for the contributions toward the commencement of the meter rollout on May 1.

According to him, meeting the metering gap will be a new dawn in the power sector, stressing that “meter manufacturers commended the federal government’s initiative towards ending metering gap in the country and ensuring all electricity consumers within Discos were metered to abolish estimated billings.”

Balogun, however, urged government to support more indigenous meter manufacturing companies to excel, saying that MEMMCOL for example, was an example of the local content policy of the government.

“MEMMCOL is 100 per cent local content, employing young and enterprising Nigerians and equipping them adequately with requisite training locally and internationally,” he said, just as he expressed delight that the MAP programme was introduced to ensure consumers only paid for electricity they actually consumed.

Balogun said that the MAP regulator rightly knew there were no free meters, but provided for a third party to finance meters acquisition under terms issued by NERC.