Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited is at risk of losing its electricity suppAjaokuta Steel Company Faces Blackout Threat Over ₦5.46 Billion Power Debtly after accumulating an unpaid power bill of ₦5.46 billion, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
NERC disclosed that the debt covers years of ouations owed to the distribution company serving the area. If the amount remains unpaid, the plant and surrounding host communities could be disconnected in line with regulatory procedures.
The potential outage goes beyond the steel plant. Ajaokuta town depends on the same power infrastructure, meaning residents, businesses, and critical services in the area could also be affected. This has raised concerns about the impact on livelihoods and security in the community.
Industry stakeholders say the development further complicates efforts to revive the steel complex, which has been moribund for decades despite huge government investment. Reliable power is considered essential for any restart of operations, and a disconnection would set back ongoing discussions on concession and rehabilitation.
Regulators have urged the management of Ajaokuta Steel to urgently engage the distribution company to resolve the debt. They noted that restoring and sustaining power supply is vital not only for the company’s future, but also for the thousands of people in the host community who rely on it daily.
Ajaokuta Steel Company Faces Blackout Threat Over ₦5.46 Billion Power Debt
