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.

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