Togo's national utility has formally requested an expansion of its electricity imports from Nigeria, facilitated by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). This initiative is driven by the need to satisfy an increasing demand for power and to broaden electricity access for customers newly connected to the national grid.
The request was articulated during a significant meeting between NDPHC's leadership and representatives from the Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CEET), Togo's national electricity provider. The meeting, as detailed in a statement from NDPHC, was convened in Abuja to bolster their ongoing cooperation and to explore avenues for enhanced cross-border electricity trade.
CEET, with its headquarters in Lomé, currently procures approximately 75 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity from NDPHC under a bilateral agreement. This supply has been instrumental in maintaining a stable electricity provision within Togo, thereby supporting its economic activities.
The electricity imported from Nigeria plays a crucial role in ensuring that households, businesses, and public facilities in Togo receive a consistent and high-quality power supply.
During their discussions, the Director-General of CEET, Mr. Débo- K’mba BARANDAO, conveyed his appreciation to NDPHC for the reliability of its electricity deliveries and acknowledged the positive impact the partnership has had on enhancing power stability within Togo's electricity infrastructure.
He further highlighted that the collaboration has yielded benefits for both entities and has contributed to strengthening regional energy cooperation throughout West Africa.
According to Mr. Baradao, CEET is currently observing a surge in electricity demand, partly due to the integration of new industrial and commercial clients. This demand is also fueled by the Togolese government's ongoing initiatives to expand electricity coverage nationwide.
Consequently, CEET has expressed a strong interest in increasing the volume of electricity it sources from NDPHC. The utility indicated that additional power supply would be vital for the country's power expansion strategy and would ensure that recently connected consumers benefit from dependable electricity.
The Togolese delegation also emphasized that reinforcing energy trade with Nigeria is a key element of Togo's broader strategy to secure diverse and reliable energy sources for its national grid.
In her response, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, affirmed the company's readiness to deepen its partnership with CEET and to continue its support for electricity exports to neighbouring countries within the West African region.
Ms. Adighije elaborated that NDPHC, which operates multiple power generation facilities across Nigeria under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), possesses the capacity to augment regional electricity supply and remains committed to fostering energy integration across West Africa.
The NDPHC CEO noted that the existing collaboration with CEET aligns with wider regional efforts aimed at enhancing electricity trade among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and improving overall power availability throughout the sub-region.
While conveying NDPHC's willingness to increase electricity exports to Togo, she stressed the necessity of establishing bankable and sustainable commercial agreements to govern future transactions between the two organizations.
She pointed out that securing credible financial guarantees and implementing structured payment mechanisms would be crucial in mitigating potential payment risks associated with cross-border electricity supply, thereby ensuring the long-term viability of the partnership.
According to Ms. Adighije, a robust payment framework would not only safeguard NDPHC's commercial interests but also empower the company to sustain its contribution to regional energy stability through continued power exports.
Both parties concluded that the meeting was highly productive and reiterated their dedication to enhancing cooperation in the electricity sector.
They also agreed to pursue further discussions to develop effective frameworks that would facilitate an increase in power supply from Nigeria to Togo.
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