The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), in partnership with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development(SRADeV), has initiated efforts to develop Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for electric motors, in a move aimed at improving industrial energy efficiency and reducing emissions.
The initiative was formalised at an inception and validation workshop held recently in Lagos, with technical support from CLASP and participation from government agencies, industry stakeholders and development partners.
Speaking at the event, SON Director-General Ifeanyi Okeke, represented by Yunusa Mohammed, said the development of MEPS for electric motors marks a critical step in advancing Nigeria’s energy efficiency agenda and supporting its climate and economic goals.
He noted that electric motors account for a substantial share of electricity consumption in Nigeria’s industrial sector, adding that improving their efficiency could significantly reduce energy waste, lower operational costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“Energy efficiency remains one of the most cost-effective pathways to achieving Nigeria’s energy transition and sustainable economic growth,” Okeke said, highlighting that many industries still rely on outdated and inefficient equipment.
The new standards build on earlier MEPS introduced for lighting products in 2021 and 2024, which contributed to phasing out inefficient technologies and reducing environmental risks such as mercury pollution.
SON said it is developing a comprehensive framework covering standards development, implementation and compliance, with plans to integrate existing MEPS into the fourth phase of its national energy labelling programme in 2026. Electric motors are expected to be incorporated in subsequent phases to expand efficiency improvements across industrial applications.
Executive Director of SRADeV, Leslie Adogame, said the organisation has supported energy efficiency policy development in Nigeria for over 15 years, including previous interventions in lighting standards.
He cited projections indicating that efficient lighting policies could generate about $2.47 billion in energy savings by 2050, while noting that electric motors are expected to consume about 8.6 terawatt-hours of electricity by 2025.
According to him, adopting efficient motor systems could deliver energy savings of up to 3.34 terawatt-hours and avoid approximately 1.7 million tonnes of emissions by 2050.
Adogame described the workshop as a platform for stakeholder engagement and validation of technical proposals that will inform policy design and implementation.
Also speaking, Angellah Wekongo, Programme Manager at CLASP, said the organisation is providing technical assistance including data analysis, modelling and capacity building to support Nigeria’s MEPS development.
She said introducing efficiency standards for electric motors would help reduce pressure on the national grid, lower industrial energy costs and improve competitiveness, while contributing to job creation through operational savings.
The workshop also featured contributions from representatives of the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment; Power; and Environment, as well as the Energy Commission of Nigeria, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.
Stakeholders at the meeting emphasised that scaling energy efficiency standards across key industrial equipment is essential to reducing Nigeria’s energy intensity, strengthening grid stability and advancing climate commitments under global sustainability frameworks.
