Sabine Lanjock
TechInAfrica – At the 2019 Power Nigeria exhibition and conference in Lagos, recently, experts from key energy industry called for the digitisation of Nigeria’s energy sector, saying it would further stimulate the economy.
According to them, technology plays an important role in improving access to clean and sustainable energy resources, thus helping to build the Nigerian economy. Stakeholders who made this synthesis included executives from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, Cummins, PowerPro, Green Power Utility, Kartel Energy.
Industry experts have all agreed that technology is revolutionizing the energy sector. Power Nigeria is the largest energy event in West Africa. It is an annual hub where suppliers meet buyers, stimulating energy markets in West Africa and Nigeria.
Some of the experts who spoke to Hi-Tech at the end of a roundtable discussion at the event said it was time to harness the power of technology to stimulate the energy sector, even though they tasked the government to ensure the deployment of digital infrastructure by focusing on the use of data management to solve energy consumption problems, transform the existing grid into a smart grid and build a robust and resilient grid.
MD EKEDC, Bishop Adeoye Fadeyibi said: “With the current energy consumption in Nigeria, I think it is time that energy systems are designed to ensure the optimization and digitization of the network.
However, he acknowledged that the government has recognized the need for an intelligent and flexible energy system, as it is implementing plans to transform the way energy, particularly electricity, is produced, consumed and stored in the country.
Also speaking during the panel discussion, Kartel Energy’s national director, Ola Ogunsemowo, said Nigeria could be about the only country in the world to spend nearly $14 billion on generators. He described the situation as a reflection of an inefficient energy system. Ogunsemowo said: “The sun is shining on Nigeria’s renewable energy and, as part of our strategy, we understand that technology plays a key role in accelerating access to clean and renewable energy in Nigeria.
Source : https://tech.africa/how-digitalisation-of-energy-sector-can-boost-the-nigerian-economy/
