Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has chal­lenged electricity genera­tion firms operating the country to fill in the exist­ing energy gap that has be­come the bane of industrial growth in the country.
The minister who spoke when he was presented with the Award of the Af­rica Utility Performance for 2013/2014 by Genesis Electricity Company, urged the firm to take advantage of the enormous gap in energy need of industries especially in the South-East while as­suring it of government sup­port.
For instance, the minister said that Nnewi, the hub of industrialization in the South East region, has in recent time had 40 of the 46 in­dustries closed down, due to huge cost of running genera­tors.
The stage is set for the Genesis Electricity to purse its area of strength, that is embedded power to cover the South-East and South-South, urging the company to carry out a survey of in­dustrial clusters, and assess their power need, as that will enable it find solution to their energy requirements, he said.
Genesis Electricity should also extend its services to ru­ral and urban areas where the national grid has not reacted in these regions.
He assured the company of government’s readiness to partner with it, describing Genesis Electricity as a spe­cialist in Embedded Power. He added that because of the inability of the system to generate enough energy, the company would be critical to the sector, in filling the exist­ing gaps.
The Minister said the award bestowed on Genesis is a testimony of the fact that the company is a pride to Nigeria and indeed the continent, adding that it is a thing of honour to see a Nigeria company emerge as the “Africa in Power Utility of the Year 2013/14”, at an event that took place in Cape Town, South Africa in May 2014.
He said that as Nigeria grapples with the task of industrialization, govern­ment will solicit the sup­port of Genesis Electricity, enjoining its management not to rest on its oars but to redouble its efforts in the re­newed task of ensuring that industries, urban and rural areas are all energized. “No community, no household will be left in darkness, we are prepared to partner with you in the realization of this government directive in the whole gamut of providing electricity to our people”.

FG tasks electricity firms on embedded power generation