International electricity customers from Togo, Benin, and Niger Republic owe Nigeria a total of $19.97 million for power supplied to them in the first half of 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Gatekeepers News reports that the debt is owed by Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE) of Benin, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CEET) of Togo, and Société Nigérienne d’Electricité (NIGELEC) of Niger Republic.
NERC’s quarterly report revealed that the international customers, supplied by Nigeria’s Generation Companies (GenCos), paid $14.81 million out of a total invoice of $34.78 million issued by the market operator for services rendered in the first and second quarters of 2025.
A breakdown showed that Paras-SBEE made no payment against invoices of $2.42 million and $2.77 million for the first and second quarters respectively, while Paras-CEET paid $0.63 million of its $1.92 million invoice in Q1 but failed to pay its $2.02 million invoice in Q2.
The Commission expressed concern over the persistent default by some international customers and called for government intervention to address the growing debt burden.
Domestically, Nigerian consumers also struggled with payment compliance. Between January and June 2025, electricity users owed a total of ₦368.26 billion, as the country’s 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) collected ₦1.11 trillion out of ₦1.48 trillion billed during the period.
Genesis Energy, NNPCL partner to boost grid supply from Port Harcourt Refinery
In a separate development, Genesis Energy, a pan-African clean energy infrastructure company, has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to channel excess power generated from the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) to the national grid.
The announcement came during a visit by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to Genesis Energy’s operational site in Eleme, Rivers State.
The 84-megawatt (MW) off-grid clean power plant, the largest licensed private off-grid facility in Nigeria, currently supplies electricity to the PHRC to enhance refinery performance, strengthen energy security, and reduce diesel dependence.
Adelabu commended Genesis Energy for its role in advancing Nigeria’s industrialisation and energy transition goals, adding that the partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s Power Sector Reform and Energy Transition Agenda.
“We are ready to do everything possible to attract investors to support us so that industries, businesses, and households can have uninterrupted, reliable electricity,” Adelabu said.
“This collaboration will serve as proof of concept for integrating excess capacity into the national grid and could lead to an additional 120MW expansion once the pilot phase is concluded.”
He also reaffirmed the government’s readiness to fast-track transmission infrastructure and streamline commercial arrangements to ensure seamless off-take of power from the PHRC facility to the national grid.
The partnership aims to optimise domestic generation capacity, improve grid stability, and expand electricity access nationwide, marking another milestone in Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
