Indigenous meter asset provider, Armese Power Solutions, has pledged
its capacity to help Meter Asset Providers (MAP) newly engaged by the
11 distribution companies (DisCos) meet local content requirements for
meter rollout in line with the Federal Government’s MAP regulation.
The regulation specifies a mandatory local content threshold, which
requires MAPs to source a minimum of 30 percent of contracted metering
volumes from local manufacturers. However, some MAPs engaged by the
DisCos for meter supply are reportedly struggling to fulfil this
mandate following a dearth of reputable indigenous meter manufacturers
to partner with in Nigeria.
Imran Aslam Khokhar, CEO, Armese Consulting Limited and Armese Power
Solutions, who was in Lagos recently to sign a Metering Service
Agreement (MSA) with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC),
however assured that Armese was equal to the task of helping MAPs plug
this gap leveraging the expertise of its world class Akwa Ibom-based
meter manufacturing facility, reputedly the largest in sub-Saharan
Africa.
He said: “Our manufacturing subsidiary operating as Metering Solutions
Manufacturing Services Limited (MSMSL) has the installed capacity to
produce 3 million meters yearly on a multi-shift pattern. It is
staffed by a team of seasoned professionals, on a ratio of 99 percent
local to 1 percent foreign, who bring a pedigree of unequalled
competence to the table in the manufacture of world-class meter
assets. Our product line includes single-phase and three-phase prepaid
meters in various configurations and mountings as well as tamper-proof
polycarbonate (PCB) meter box enclosures.”
Mr. Khokhar disclosed that the 20,580sqm manufacturing facility,
launched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other top government
functionaries in September, 2017 had so far supplied over 200,000
meters to DisCos, and was set to produce a minimum of 175,000 meters
catering to domestic and international requirements in the short run.
“Most recently, Armese also leveraged the quality of products
manufactured by our subsidiary MSMSL to supply high-volume meter
assets to the Liberia Electricity Company (LEC) for an ambitious
electrification project funded by the United States of America through
the Millennium Challenge Corporation. In effect, we are poised to help
make the MAP scheme a success in Nigeria through the edge we have
recorded in local content and encourage newly engaged MAPs
experiencing this challenge to partner with us,” he added.
Armese recently scaled a competitive bid process to emerge one of the
frontline MAPs engaged by PHED to roll out meter assets within its
franchise area for a renewable 10-year timeframe. PHED reportedly
supplies power to over 14 million people cutting across Rivers,
Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom. EKEDC is responsible for the
distribution and sale of electricity in southern Lagos and Agbara,
Ogun State.
