Pre-paid Meters: Indigenous manufacturers double production effort to meet NERC’s deadline- MEMMCOL

In actualization of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC’s directive on rollout of meters by May 1, the Chairman, Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company Limited,  MEMMCOL,   Engr. Kola Balogun said that indigenous meter manufacturers has commenced massive production of meters to meet the deadline.

Balogun disclosed this in Lagos as an update to journalists on effort deployed by manufacturers to meet the deadline, as May 1 gets closer.

It would be recalled  that on April 5, NERC issued permits to Meter Asset Providers, MAPs to  rollout  new meters not later than May 1, 2019.

According to him, manufacturers have concluded to commence three shift production activities to actulise NERC’s directives.

Balogun said "we will be producing a minimum of about 70,000 meters monthly on three shift production operations. Manufacturers have taken bold steps to double production capacity in area of employment capacity, raw materials and effective services to support meeting up the NERC’s May 1 actilisation."

The Momas boss said that manufacturers had commenced recruitment of more personnel to fill in for the three shifts to be able to work round the clock to meet up the metering gap.

"We (meter manufacturers) have been able to take youths off the street to start working with us. This would also boost the economy growth of the country. It will also reduce the congestion of human capital at the labour market. I Iant to assure electricity consumers that the May 1 rollout of metering is visible and achievable.  Consumes should look up to the timeline of May 1", he added.

Balogun lauded the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola for the bold step taken to address metering gap and power challenges in the country.

He also commended Chairman of NERC and the Commissioners for their immense contributions toward the commencement of meter rollout in May 1, adding that it would be a new dawn in the power sector.

Meter manufacturers commended the Federal Government initiative toward ending metering gap in the country and ensuring all electricity consumers within discos are metered to abolish estimated billings.

He urged government to support more indigenous meters manufacturing companies to excel, saying that MEMMCOL for example, is an example of the local content policy of the government.

According to him, "MEMMCOL is 100 per cent local content, employing young and enterprising Nigerians and equipping them adequately with requisite training locally and internationally."

Balogun said that MAP initiative would put an end to metering challenges faced by customers, adding that the programme expected to commence officially on May 1, was introduced to ensure they only paid for electricity actually consumed.

He said MAP regulator rightly know there were no free meters and however, provided for third party to finance those meters for acquisition of such assets under a term issued by NERC.

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