The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) says 38 companies were operating in the state without applying for the licence and necessary regularisation despite repeated directives, The PUNCH reports.

According to the Commission, some of the firms include MTN, Flour Mills, Golden Penny, First Global Commerce Solutions Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, and Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, and have a combined generation capacity of almost 600 megawatts.

They currently hold various categories of permits issued under the predecessor federal regulatory framework, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and have not commenced the mandatory application process required under the state’s electricity regulatory framework.

“This is to officially notify all concerned stakeholders and the general public that the underlisted 38 licensees are yet to apply to the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission for the necessary licensing and regularisation in line with the regulatory requirements guiding electricity operations within Lagos State.

“Despite ongoing engagements, notifications, and directives issued by the Commission, the affected entities are yet to commence or complete the required application process for licensing with LASERC as mandated under the applicable laws and regulatory framework,” the Commission said in a public notice on Sunday.

Among the largest operators on the list is First Global Commerce Solutions Limited, which holds a captive power generation permit for a 77-megawatt plant at Railway Compound, Ebute-Metta – one of the highest-capacity facilities with licences yet to be regularised.

Flour Mills Nigeria Plc has the second-highest captive power at 74.5MW in its facility at Golden Penny Place, Wharf Road, Apapa, while the Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, located at the Lagos Free Trade Zone, Itoke Village, Ibeju-Lekki, is listed for a 30MW facility.

Irele Energy LFZ Enterprise, also operating within the Lagos Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, holds an embedded generation licence for a 50MW plant and features on the list alongside Geogrid Lightech Limited, which holds a licence for a 30MW facility at Cadbury Nigeria Limited, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Lagos.

MTN Nigeria Communication Plc appears three times, reflecting the telecoms giant’s multiple captive power installations across the state. The company is listed for a 3.46MW plant at Apapa Switch, a 4.5MW installation at Ojota Switch Energy Centre 4, and a 5.4MW facility at Ojota Switch Energy Centre 5, all yet to be regularised with LASERC.