Confab recommends state of emergency in power sector

ABUJA - The National Conference has recommended that President Goodluck Jonathan should declare a state of emergency in the power sector. The recommendation was made on Monday , while adopting the report of the conference committee on Energy. The conference equally recommended that the Federal Government should not leave power and energy to private sector alone as both were strategic to the industrial take-off and wellbeing of the people It further recommended a top-down approach through the amendment of existing framework to allow government at all levels and the private sector to be involved in power generation, distribution and marketing locally. The conference adopted the banning of flaring of associated gas, while communities that are prone to gas flaring should be compensated. Also, it was recommended that the Petroleum Act of 1969 be reviewed in the interest of justice and equity. In the same vein, the conference recommended that government policies should encourage the use of low energy light bulbs and modern clean stove for cooking ``as both are environmentally friendly’’. associated gas produced in Nigeria should be reserved for the domestic market until all demand is satisfied and a pricing regime for gas developed to make this possible. It recommended that laws should be enacted and those available should be enforced at the state and local government levels to control indiscriminate cutting of trees for household energy, charcoal making and export. The conference also adopted that the country should explore the nuclear plant option in view of the possibility of nuclear energy development. The conference similarly recommended better security measures to protect against vandalism, while Nigerian engineers should be adequately represented in the planning and implementation of all aspects of power reform programmes. Also, the conference recommended that the Federal Government should consider the construction of mini refineries in each state as was done in Malaysia and Indonesia. Furthermore, the conference recommended that industries that make use of raw materials should be established close to the source of such raw materials for rapid industrialisation and diversification. However, the conference rejected the recommendation that the Federal Government should face-out the use of generators in all our market. It also ejected the committee recommendation that the Federal Government should subsidise the importation of panel until it can be manufactured locally. Amb. Yerima Abdullahi, an elder statesman moved the motion for adoption of the amended committee report while Mariam Bello, representing organised labour, seconded it. (NAN) ABUJA - The National Conference has recommended that President Goodluck Jonathan should declare a state of emergency in the power sector. The recommendation was made on Monday , while adopting the report of the conference committee on Energy. The conference equally recommended that the Federal Government should not leave power and energy to private sector alone as both were strategic to the industrial take-off and wellbeing of the people It further recommended a top-down approach through the amendment of existing framework to allow government at all levels and the private sector to be involved in power generation, distribution and marketing locally. The conference adopted the banning of flaring of associated gas, while communities that are prone to gas flaring should be compensated. Also, it was recommended that the Petroleum Act of 1969 be reviewed in the interest of justice and equity. In the same vein, the conference recommended that government policies should encourage the use of low energy light bulbs and modern clean stove for cooking ``as both are environmentally friendly’’. associated gas produced in Nigeria should be reserved for the domestic market until all demand is satisfied and a pricing regime for gas developed to make this possible. It recommended that laws should be enacted and those available should be enforced at the state and local government levels to control indiscriminate cutting of trees for household energy, charcoal making and export. The conference also adopted that the country should explore the nuclear plant option in view of the possibility of nuclear energy development. The conference similarly recommended better security measures to protect against vandalism, while Nigerian engineers should be adequately represented in the planning and implementation of all aspects of power reform programmes. Also, the conference recommended that the Federal Government should consider the construction of mini refineries in each state as was done in Malaysia and Indonesia. Furthermore, the conference recommended that industries that make use of raw materials should be established close to the source of such raw materials for rapid industrialisation and diversification. However, the conference rejected the recommendation that the Federal Government should face-out the use of generators in all our market. It also ejected the committee recommendation that the Federal Government should subsidise the importation of panel until it can be manufactured locally. Amb. Yerima Abdullahi, an elder statesman moved the motion for adoption of the amended committee report while Mariam Bello, representing organised labour, seconded it. (NAN)

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