Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1072
2009-06-16 12:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: USTDA SPONSORED ELECTRICITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
how-toVZCZCXRO0726 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #1072 1671252 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 161252Z JUN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6316 INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 1518 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0380 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS ABUJA 001072
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTDA-PAUL MARIN, EXIM-JRICHTER
DEPT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA
DEPT PASS TO USAID AFR/SD FOR CURTIS, ATWOOD, AND SCHLAGENHAUF
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH
TREASURY FOR PETERS, IERONIMO, AND HALL
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/CREED
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON EINV EAID PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: USTDA SPONSORED ELECTRICITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
REGULATION LAUNCHED
REF: ABUJA 291
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
UNCLAS ABUJA 001072
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTDA-PAUL MARIN, EXIM-JRICHTER
DEPT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA
DEPT PASS TO USAID AFR/SD FOR CURTIS, ATWOOD, AND SCHLAGENHAUF
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH
TREASURY FOR PETERS, IERONIMO, AND HALL
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/CREED
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON EINV EAID PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: USTDA SPONSORED ELECTRICITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
REGULATION LAUNCHED
REF: ABUJA 291
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Summary. On May 28, the Ministry of Power held a mandatory
meeting of the electricity sector to disseminate the Nigerian
Electricity Health and Safety Standards Manual and to declare that
the industry is now accountable to the standards and that
infractions will be punishable by law. This manual was funded by a
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) 2007 grant in the amount
of $507,000. Minister of State for Power Nuhu Wya and Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Administrator Imamuddeen
Talba thanked both USTDA and the Mission for the manual and
continued partnership in bringing adequate and affordable power to
Nigerians. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Minister of State for Power Nuhu Wya and NERC Administrator
Imamuddeen Talba led a power industry meeting on May 28 to present
and distribute the Nigerian Electricity Health and Safety Standards
Manual and to declare that the industry is now accountable to the
standards. In his speech Wya said that the power sector will now
operate under new international standards that will guarantee the
safety of workers and members of the public. He underscored that
industry participants must comply with the manual or be prosecuted.
Talba added that NERC confirmed 23 deaths in 2007 and 42 deaths in
2008 from electrocution with a large percentage attributed to the
State distribution companies. The USTDA technical assistance program
provided a train-the-trainer program and these trainers will lead a
nationwide training program which launched on June 1, 2009.
3. (SBU) The manual was developed as a part of a $507.000 - USTDA
grant to develop industry-specific health and safety standards for
Nigeria's electricity sector. Wya and Talba thanked both USTDA and
the Mission for the manual. A hard copy of the 350 page manual, as
well as an electronic copy, was issued in tandem by Wya and Talbert
to the head of the transmission company, generating companies
(private and public),distribution companies, representatives of the
labor, health, justice, and petroleum ministries, the Nigeria Gas
Company, the Independent Power Producer Association of Nigeria
(IPPAN),Nigerian Police Force, National Insurance Commission,
Federal Fire Service, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian
Armed Forces.
4. (SBU) The standards focus on all electrical and non-electrical
workers performing work by electricity entities involved in the
generation, transmission or distribution of power in Nigeria. A
review of numerous industry reports supported that fatalities
occurred which could have been prevented by the use of recognized
electricity industry safety systems in the workplace. The power
sector is expected to double by 2010 and double output again by
2012. Currently the sector employs approximately 34,000 people.
The country itself has a population of almost 150 million, with less
than 40 per cent of the population with access to electricity.
5. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTDA-PAUL MARIN, EXIM-JRICHTER
DEPT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA
DEPT PASS TO USAID AFR/SD FOR CURTIS, ATWOOD, AND SCHLAGENHAUF
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH
TREASURY FOR PETERS, IERONIMO, AND HALL
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/CREED
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON EINV EAID PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: USTDA SPONSORED ELECTRICITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
REGULATION LAUNCHED
REF: ABUJA 291
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Summary. On May 28, the Ministry of Power held a mandatory
meeting of the electricity sector to disseminate the Nigerian
Electricity Health and Safety Standards Manual and to declare that
the industry is now accountable to the standards and that
infractions will be punishable by law. This manual was funded by a
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) 2007 grant in the amount
of $507,000. Minister of State for Power Nuhu Wya and Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Administrator Imamuddeen
Talba thanked both USTDA and the Mission for the manual and
continued partnership in bringing adequate and affordable power to
Nigerians. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Minister of State for Power Nuhu Wya and NERC Administrator
Imamuddeen Talba led a power industry meeting on May 28 to present
and distribute the Nigerian Electricity Health and Safety Standards
Manual and to declare that the industry is now accountable to the
standards. In his speech Wya said that the power sector will now
operate under new international standards that will guarantee the
safety of workers and members of the public. He underscored that
industry participants must comply with the manual or be prosecuted.
Talba added that NERC confirmed 23 deaths in 2007 and 42 deaths in
2008 from electrocution with a large percentage attributed to the
State distribution companies. The USTDA technical assistance program
provided a train-the-trainer program and these trainers will lead a
nationwide training program which launched on June 1, 2009.
3. (SBU) The manual was developed as a part of a $507.000 - USTDA
grant to develop industry-specific health and safety standards for
Nigeria's electricity sector. Wya and Talba thanked both USTDA and
the Mission for the manual. A hard copy of the 350 page manual, as
well as an electronic copy, was issued in tandem by Wya and Talbert
to the head of the transmission company, generating companies
(private and public),distribution companies, representatives of the
labor, health, justice, and petroleum ministries, the Nigeria Gas
Company, the Independent Power Producer Association of Nigeria
(IPPAN),Nigerian Police Force, National Insurance Commission,
Federal Fire Service, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian
Armed Forces.
4. (SBU) The standards focus on all electrical and non-electrical
workers performing work by electricity entities involved in the
generation, transmission or distribution of power in Nigeria. A
review of numerous industry reports supported that fatalities
occurred which could have been prevented by the use of recognized
electricity industry safety systems in the workplace. The power
sector is expected to double by 2010 and double output again by
2012. Currently the sector employs approximately 34,000 people.
The country itself has a population of almost 150 million, with less
than 40 per cent of the population with access to electricity.
5. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS