- The Energy Commission of Nigeria and partners launched a drive to enforce new Minimum Energy Performance Standards for air conditioners to cut emissions and boost efficiency.
- Stakeholders aim to phase out harmful refrigerants, promote recycling, and ensure imported AC units meet climate-friendly benchmarks.
The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has ramped up efforts to promote energy efficiency by convening a stakeholder session in Lagos to support the implementation of newly approved Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners nationwide.
The event, held as part of Nigeria’s commitment to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), brought together manufacturers, importers, distributors, and regulators to raise awareness and build capacity for compliance with the new standards.
Speaking at the session, ECN Director-General Mustapha Abdullahi, represented by the Acting Director and Head of the Energy Transition Unit, Shehu Mustapha, said the standards were developed under the “Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria NDC Review” project. The United Nations Environment Programme supports the initiative and is funded by the Clean Cooling Collaborative.
He emphasised that the project aims to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient, climate-friendly air conditioners using low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants in residential, commercial, and public buildings. This, he noted, would support Nigeria’s NDC targets sustainably and cost-effectively.
“This aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on improving efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energy,” he said. “The Federal Government has already approved the new MEPS, and it is crucial to communicate these standards to key stakeholders and end-users.”
To ensure compliance, ECN focuses on equipping critical market players with the knowledge and tools necessary to implement the changes, especially those related to energy consumption and environmental safety.
Also speaking, Lawal Ayanda, Head of Electrical Standards at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said SON aligned the MEPS with international protocols from ISO and IEC. He noted that the new standards aim to phase out refrigerants that are harmful to the environment.
“There’s an urgent need to raise awareness about the risks of older air conditioning units,” Ayanda said. “They not only emit dangerous gases but also consume significantly more power. The new models are more energy-efficient, offer better cooling, and are environmentally safer.”
He added that SON collaborated with stakeholders, including the Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Practitioners, to develop the MEPS focused on energy management and environmental protection.
Meanwhile, Etiosa Uyigue, National Coordinator of the Nigeria Sustainable Cooling Project at UNEP, discussed the broader impact of the AGORA (Abating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Obsolete RAC Equipment in West Africa) initiative. He confirmed that while the current MEPS focus is on air conditioners, the project may expand to include refrigerators.
“The AGORA project will also address what happens to used air conditioners,” Uyigue explained. “There is currently no official ban on importing used cooling equipment, but we are working toward policy changes that could eventually phase them out. Recycling and safe disposal of these units are also top priorities.”
Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria, stressed the significance of energy efficiency in a country grappling with widespread energy poverty.
“For Nigeria to move toward a net-zero future, every component of energy consumption matters,” Adogame said. “This workshop is timely and strategic, especially as we strengthen collaboration across the cooling sector. The new MEPS will ensure that all imported air conditioners meet rigorous energy and environmental standards.”
With stakeholder engagement now underway, Nigeria appears poised to take a firmer stance on energy-efficient cooling solutions, marking a critical step in achieving its climate goals and strengthening its energy transition.