- Nigeria’s power deficit deepens due to poor plant availability and weak maintenance systems.
- Technology-driven maintenance could boost efficiency, reliability, and sustainability across the energy sector.
Plant Availability and the Power Crisis
Nigeria’s energy security relies heavily on plant availability and maintenance. Experts warn that these weaknesses continue to hinder electricity generation. Despite years of reform, frequent blackouts reveal how poor infrastructure and weak maintenance reduce the nation’s power output.
At the 2025 COREN Summit in Lagos, Cesare Canevese, Chief Executive Officer of Dietsmann Maintaining Energy, stressed that improving plant availability and maintenance is vital for a stable power supply. Represented by Ayo Cardoso, he said Nigeria must adopt robotics, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to cut costs and improve performance.
Dietsmann maintains a 98% plant availability rate, while Nigeria’s national average is only 37%. This gap highlights how poor maintenance and system inefficiencies limit electricity generation, even with an installed capacity above 13,000 megawatts.
According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), over 62% of installed generation capacity remains idle due to ageing infrastructure, gas shortages, and financial constraints. Consequently, blackouts persist nationwide, slowing economic growth and discouraging industrial development.
Technology as the Solution
To address these challenges, Canevese highlighted Dietsmann’s predictive maintenance model, which detects faults before they occur. This proactive system reduces downtime, enhances safety, and lowers costs. “Efficiency must guide how we operate,” he said. Predictive tools also allow operators to plan interventions and prevent unexpected failures.
He pointed to the Okpai and Afam VI Power Plants, where Dietsmann has operated for nearly two decades. At Okpai, the company achieved 12 million work hours without a single lost-time incident, a clear example of how safety and reliability can coexist.
Canevese urged African operators to invest in digital maintenance solutions such as robotics and AI. These innovations cut emissions, enhance reliability, and make operations more cost-effective. Furthermore, he noted that 90% of Dietsmann’s Nigerian workforce are local employees. “We train people from host communities so our operations contribute to national growth,” he added.
Ultimately, Canevese believes that technology-led maintenance will define the future of Nigeria’s energy system. With consistent investment, improved maintenance culture, and smarter technologies, Nigeria can achieve energy stability, reduce dependence on imports, and secure a sustainable energy future.