Benin and Togo owe Nigeria $8.5 million for electricity supply – NERC

Neighboring West African countries Benin and Togo have failed to pay more than half of what they owe Nigeria for electricity supplied in the second quarter of 2025, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed.

According to the Commission’s Q2 2025 report, six international bilateral customers receiving electricity from Nigeria’s generation companies remitted only $9.01 million out of a total of 17.54 million invoices issued by the market operator during the period.

This leaves a remaining balance of approximately $8.53 million, representing a remittance performance of 51.33%.

An analysis of the report obtained by PLATFORM TIMES showed that Benin’s Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE), Togo’s Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CEET) and Niger’s NIGELEC were among the major international buyers of electricity from Nigeria.

While Mainstream Energy Solutions received $2.59 million of the $3.71 million invoice issued to NIGELEC – a remittance rate of 69.8% – CEET made no payments on its $4.31 million invoice during the period under review.

Similarly, SBEE, which buys electricity from Transcorp Power Ltd. and Paras Energy, has also defaulted on some of its payment obligations.

“The six international bilateral customers supplied by GenCos in the NESI made a payment of $9.01 million against the cumulative invoice of $17.54 million issued by the market operator for services rendered in the second quarter of 2025, translating into a remittance performance of 51.33%,” NERC said.

The regulator added that domestic bilateral customers also performed poorly, paying $1.4 billion of the $2.8 billion billed to them, representing a remittance rate of 50.10%.

Of all contracts reviewed, only Transcorp (Ughelli)–SBEE achieved full payment, settling the entire $5.47 million bill. Others, including Paras–SBEE, Paras–CEET and Odukpani–CEET, did not make any payments during the quarter.

NERC also revealed that only one domestic bilateral customer – Trans-Amadi (OAU/FMPI) – made a partial settlement for outstanding invoices from previous quarters, remitting N10.53 million.

The commission has warned that continued shortfall in payments from domestic and international customers is undermining the liquidity of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

He stressed that generation companies and the market operator depend on timely remittances to support network operations and ensure reliable energy supply.

“The persistent low level of remittances continues to threaten the sustainability of the energy sector and the ability of GenCos to maintain production levels,” NERC warns in the report.

The report highlights growing concern over Nigeria’s cross-border electricity deals, which have been criticized for their low returns despite the country’s unstable domestic supply.

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