How can a firm dump the national grid for gas power? Well, among the many advantages of the national grid is that electricity supply is more stable and reliable.

Electric current from there can be distributed to different users according to the voltage requirement, even as maintenance and repair work can be done at anytime.

The question then is: how can a firm dump the National Grid for gas powered supply?

Agricon West Africa Limited which just did that has given its reasons why.

The company offered the justification for dumping the national grid and switching to gas-powered electricity in a statement yesterday, saying it was aimed at cutting costs, boosting efficiency, and advancing the country’s food security goals.

According to it, it entered Nigeria’s rice value chain with a mission to process locally grown rice at scale and reduce dependence on imports.

However, that lofty ideal was hampered essentially by power supply instability.

“Running diesel generators was a huge financial burden, responsible for a larger running cost with less output,” the Plant Manager at Agricon West Africa Limited, Emmanuel Njin, said.

According to him, the firm, which was initially relying on diesel, battled high fuel expenses and an erratic power supply from the national grid that hampered production.

It had no option thus, than to turn to gas power , for which it acquired and installed a 1.5-megawatt Jenbacher gas-powered plant.

“Compared to diesel, the gas-powered generator cut fuel consumption by half while delivering better and more reliable performance.

“The emission of filtered and clean exhaust gases is another advantage,” Njin stated.

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With support from its technical partner, Clarke Energy, this has since made a difference in the company’s operations, conserving between 60 and 65 per cent of its energy costs while improving output and ensuring consistent operations.

“Food is a fundamental human necessity, essential not only for survival and well-being but also a cornerstone of national security,” the Managing Director of Clarke Energy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Yiannis Tsantilas, reportedly said.

“Their investment in a 1.5 MW power plant is a testament to visionary leadership and commitment to sustainable growth.

“We are proud to partner with Agricon to help scale their operations and ensure their lights are always on,” he said of Agricon