By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The European Union (EU) and German Government within the framework of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) have supported the training and certification of 30 engineers from various manufacturing and energy service companies, including policy makers on energy audit.
The gesture aims to develop expertise on energy efficiency services for the Nigerian manufacturing sector.
The training was part of NESP’s support to participating companies of the Energy Efficiency Networks (EEN), a platform aimed at developing the technical capacity of energy managers to independently carry out energy audit in their production facilities.
Head of Section of Economic Cooperation and Energy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Inga STEFANOWICZ underlined the benefits of the energy audit training:
“The training was aimed at developing the capacity of professionals in the manufacturing sector to identify commercially viable energy efficiency measures to save energy, reduce energy cost and CO2 emissions. These will support the achievement of the country’s climate targets”
Participants at the training included engineers from Dangote Cement, Nigerian Breweries, Flour Mills of Nigeria, PZ Cussons, CHI Limited, International Breweries, Nigerian Foundries, Vitafoam, Berger Paints, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, Honeywell Flour Mills, Premium Oil, Golden Sugar, Nestle, Golden Pasta, Hello Products, Jubaili Bros. Engineering, Danelec Limited and the Nigerian Bag Manufacturing Company.
Following a supervised examination, conducted by AEE, successful participants were awarded the Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) credentials.
Similarly, in a bid to develop expertise of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to conduct and lead effective energy management system audits, NESP supported the training and certification of 22 female and male staff of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria as certified ISO 50001:2018 Lead Auditors issued by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
The training covered key principles and practices of an effective energy management system audit in accordance with ISO 19011 “Guidelines for auditing management systems.”
Using a systematic approach, the participants of the training were guided through the entire audit process from initiation to reporting on audit findings, and follow-up to establish conformity and enhance energy performance. Successful participants of both trainings were today, presented with their certificates.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Director of Management System Certification of SON, Engr. Felix NYADO, expressed delight in NESP’s support: “The training will certainly enhance the capacity of SON staff to take on the role of Lead Auditors on ISO 50001 Energy Management System standard,” said Engr. Nyado.
He further highlighted plans towards the Adoption of ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management System (EnMS) Standard as a Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS).
Also speaking at the event, Duke BENJAMIN, Head of Programme, NESP said: “Following the success of the trainings, a high level of interest from manufacturers to improve energy performance, the resultant achievement in energy savings and CO2 emissions reduction in the participating companies and SON’s intention to commence certification on ISO 50001 EnMS standard, NESP plans to organise additional trainings and certifications on energy management and systems optimisation for energy managers and support the accreditation of SON to issue certification on ISO 50001 EnMS standard in Nigeria.”
The training is part of the “Implementation of Energy Management System and Energy Efficiency Networks in Manufacturing Industries in Nigeria” project of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), a technical assistance programme, co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power.
