By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In order to drive efficient metering to enhance the performance of the energy sector, some technicians in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) are undergoing a training programme in Lagos.
The training, under the end-user Metering Capacity Building (MCB) programme, was put together by MOJEC International, a leading manufacturer of electricity meters, in partnership with Sahara Foundation, Energy Training Centre (ETC) and Ikeja Electric.
It was majorly to upgrade the known of the metering technicians to make them more competent and bolster overall transmission and distribution capacity in addition to significant CAPEX improvements in the NESI.
Efficient metering will not only assuage deficiencies associated with the poor metering processes but also engender and build trust in customers, the Head MAP and Metering Projects, MOJEC Meter Asset Management Company, Mr Onuorah Michael, said whilst addressing the trainees.
He further noted that, “With the national end-user metering gap just over 10 million today, the imperatives of a robust and efficient metering infrastructure in the NESI cannot be over-emphasized.
“Efficient metering will increase customer’s confidence in billing transparency, completely eradicate the quagmire of estimated billing, pave the way for cost-reflective tariff and provide much-needed cash flow required by the market for value chain performance improvement.”
Whilst expounding the essence of the programme, Mr Onuorah stated that strategic partnership with key stakeholders in the industry was critical in expediting the national metering plan and creating job opportunities.
According to him, the training scheme is a glowing testimony to MOJEC’s plan to upskill up to 10,000 metering technicians in the industry.
“Our strategic partnership with Ikeja Electric, Sahara Foundation and ETC underscores our strong commitment to accelerate the national metering plan, job creation and also aligns strategically with MOJEC’s short to medium-term action plan to train and inject up to 10,000-meter installation technicians into the space.
“Our capacity to deploy over 3 million meters over the next 18 months is underscored by investment in a state-of-the-art meter manufacturing plant with an installed production capacity of 2 million units, our investment in people, process and technology,” he averred.
He further said that the training curriculum will cover a myriad of subjects, including Introduction to Metering, Nigerian Metering Code, Meter Specifications and Standards, Power & Energy Calculation, Introduction to Nature, Sources and Drivers of Electrical Losses, Job Safety Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Meter Maintenance and Trouble Shooting.
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Adedapo Adesanya