By Nkechi Isaac

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has engaged key industry players on the newly approved Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners, a significant step towards promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.

At a one-day training workshop held in Lagos, the director-general of ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi emphasised the need for widespread awareness and compliance with the new MEPS. Represented by the acting director and head of the energy transition unit, Dr. Shehu Mustafa he highlighted that the growing demand for air conditioning, driven by economic growth and rising temperatures, poses serious energy and environmental challenges.

“With the approval of the new MEPS, it is critical to communicate the standards to stakeholders, especially manufacturers, importers, and distributors, who play pivotal roles in bringing air conditioners to the Nigerian market,” Abdullahi said. He noted that the workshop aimed to build the capacity of these stakeholders to ensure smooth compliance with the new requirements.

He stressed that the revised MEPS would help Nigeria meet its cooling needs more sustainably, curb greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the pressure on the country’s already strained power infrastructure.

Speaking at the session, SON’s head of electrical, Engr. Lawal Ismaila explained that the new standards are designed to phase out inefficient and environmentally harmful air conditioners that consume excessive electricity and use ozone-depleting refrigerants.

“These older models pose serious health and environmental risks by emitting gases that damage the ozone layer, increase harmful ultraviolet radiation, and raise the risk of skin cancer,” Ismaila said.

He urged stakeholders and consumers alike to embrace modern, energy-efficient air conditioners that deliver better cooling while consuming less power and emitting fewer harmful substances.

The national coordinator of the Nigeria Sustainable Cooling Project (NSCP), Etiosa Uyigue also addressed participants. He explained that the UNEP, with financial backing from the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC), has been supporting the Nigerian government to review and update the MEPS for air conditioners used in residential and commercial sectors.

Uyigue noted that this work forms part of the project titled “Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s NDC Revision,” popularly known as the NSCP. He confirmed that the revised MEPS was approved by Nigerian authorities in late 2024, following extensive technical work by ECN and SON.

He reiterated that adopting and enforcing these standards would cut energy use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment and save households and businesses money in the long term.

The workshop concluded with a strong call for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the new MEPS and to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to more sustainable and climate-friendly cooling solutions.