The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has asserted that the federal government’s newly approved Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) for air conditioners would reduce energy demand and boost its availability to Nigerians.
The Director General ECN, Mustapha Abdullahi, disclosed this on Tuesday at a one day stakeholders workshop in Abuja.
The workshop which was organised by the ECN in partnership with Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) showcased the project achievements and present the content of approved air minimum energy performance standards.
Abdullahi said, “I have been informed that the new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners has been approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The implementation and enforcement of this landmark standard will bring both economic and environmental benefits to the nation as this will lead to energy savings for individuals and national savings for the country leading to reduction in energy demand and increased energy access.
“There is the need to communicate the success made in this Project to the Nigerian public, specifically creating awareness on the new air conditioner energy standards, as stakeholders in Nigeria, especially critical stakeholders like the national regulatory bodies, manufacturers and importers of air conditioners need to be aware about the standards.
“As the project nears completion, it is essential to showcase its achievements to stakeholders. This workshop will also serve as a platform to present recommendations for a Waste Management Mechanism for air conditioners and domestic refrigerators, including refrigerant management and disposal strategies.”
Abdullahi noted that, ” the aim of the workshop is to: showcase the achievements of the project since the inception before national stakeholders., present the content of the newly approved AC MEPS to stakeholders, especially critical stakeholders such as manufacturers and importers of ACs., present the recommendations for a waste management mechanism for the management of wastes from air conditioners and domestic refrigerators (including the refrigerant management and disposal mechanism) in Nigeria.”
The Recycling Expert, Mitigation Branch, UNEP, Jose Carbajosa, in his remarks stated that, “The United Nations Environmental Programme, under this project, has been very cordial since the beginning of the project. The Scaling-up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s National Determined Contributions Revision was inaugurated in February of 2022. It is implemented by the Energy Commission in partnership with the UNEP.”
Speaking further he said, “the objective is to align with Nigeria’s climate targets in the nationally determined contributions. Since the beginning of the project, remarkable achievements have been made. Among them is a revision and approval of the Minimum Energy Performance Standards, also called MEPS, for air conditioners.”
In addition he said, “The project’s overall goal is to accelerate the use of energy-efficient air conditioners with climate-friendly refrigerants used in residential, commercial, and public buildings.
“Proper testing and enforcement are essential, and to underpin these MEPS and labels and other such policy interventions. With Nigeria’s new Minimum Energy Performance Standards for air conditioners, the stage is set to have 11.5 TWh of energy annually by 2040. This is a game changer for Africa, and it will allow Nigeria to be a leading example in the continent.
” Nigeria is not only lowering costs for consumers, but also leading the way forward. This transition will have a meaningful contribution to meet the climate change targets defined in Nigeria’s nationally determined contribution. In a cost-effective and sustainable manner.”
The Acting Director of Energy Transition and Linkages of ECN, Dr. Shehu Mustafa, in his welcome address spoke on the importance of the workshop he said “Is to facilitate common understanding on the expected roles and responsibilities of stakeholder groups in accelerating the transition to energy efficient and climate-friendly refrigerators and air conditioners in Nigeria.”
