‎Low generation, vandals impeding power distribution – BEDC

The Benin Electricity Distribution Company has blamed low generation of electricity from the national gridfor the inadequate distribution of power in several areas within its coverage.The distribution company also decried the destruction of its electrical equipment by vandals in some communities, a situation which it said contributed to the poor power supply in several areas in its areas of jurisdiction.The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, stated this on Tuesday at the company’s headquartres in Benin, the Edo State capital, during a visit by residents of Evbuotubu, in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, who were said to have apprehended some vandals of BEDC equipment in the area.She explained that the disco managed nine per cent of the total power allocation made available across the country, adding that the distribution of adequate electricity ‎depended largely on the population of the area of coverage.Osibodu added, “‎For every one million population, you need 1,000 megawatts. So, if you take Nigeria that has 160 million population, that’s 160,000 megawatts. Nigeria has gone as high as 4,500 megawatts. But what is 4, 500 to 160,000? That tells you where you are going.“When the national availability goes down, like there was a time when it was 2, 500 megawatts, it is nine percent of 2, 500 megawatts. When it goes up to 4, 000, it is nine percent of 4, 000.“Sometimes, going down is also a function of vandalism but at gas level. The process of generating power starts from that.”While commending the residents, Osibodu described their efforts as a demonstration of exceptional patriotism aimed at assisting the disco to monitor its facilities, many of which, she said, were located in the heart of the communities.