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Geregu Power Plc, Nigeria’s first publicly listed electricity generation company, has reported a record-breaking 71% increase in profit after tax to N27.4 billion for the 2024 financial year, marking its fifth consecutive year of profitability.

This growth was primarily driven by a 65.3% surge in revenue to N137.1 billion, the highest the company has ever declared. The strong financial performance underscores the enormous profitability of Nigeria’s power sector, despite the chronic electricity shortages that continue to affect the majority of the population.

Nigeria, Africa’s fourth-largest economy and most populous country continues to battle a power deficit that has stifled economic growth for decades. With an estimated population of over 200 million, a staggering 85 million Nigerians—nearly 43% of the population—lack access to electricity, according to the World Bank. For those who have access, supply remains unreliable, with frequent blackouts and grid collapse being common occurrences. This leaves a massive gap in the market, one that companies like Geregu Power have positioned themselves to exploit profitably.

Geregu Power has not only remained profitable but has steadily grown its earnings yearly, proving that the sector remains lucrative for those who can navigate the landscape effectively. The company’s total assets surged to N243.7 billion, an increase of 33.7% compared to the previous year, indicating a continuous expansion in its power generation capacity.

A deeper look at Geregu Power’s revenue breakdown shows that energy sales rose by 69% to N87.4 billion, while capacity charges increased by 59.4% to N49.6 billion. These figures suggest a rising demand for electricity in Nigeria, and more importantly, that power companies operating within the sector can generate significant earnings if they have the capacity to meet this demand.

However, rising costs affected the company’s operating profit margins, which declined slightly from 51.3% to 42.6%, reflecting the broader impact of inflation on operational expenses.

One major challenge in Nigeria’s power industry remains the issue of non-payment and debt accumulation by government-backed agencies like the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc. Geregu Power’s impairment charges soared to N9 billion, a sharp contrast to the N986 million write-back recorded in 2023. Sources within the company indicate that the impairment relates to outstanding payments from NBET. Some analysts argue that if impairment charges were kept at industry averages of around 6%, Geregu Power’s profit could have been as high as N50 billion.

The company also reduced its external debt burden, repaying N17.6 billion in bonds and borrowings, while also taking on an additional N9.7 billion in financing to support expansion efforts. Investments in plant capacity were evident as the company spent N42 billion on assets under construction, indicating that it is actively scaling up to generate more power in the coming years.

Geregu Power’s profitability has also translated into higher returns for investors, as it announced an increase in dividend payments to N21.25 billion, the first dividend hike since its listing in 2023. Previously, the company had maintained an annual dividend of N20 billion, making this increase a sign of confidence in its continued financial strength.

However, the profitability of Geregu Power highlights a stark paradox in Nigeria’s electricity industry: while the sector remains highly lucrative for companies, the vast majority of Nigerians continue to struggle with access to reliable power. Nigeria currently generates between 4,000 to 5,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, far below the estimated 30,000 MW needed to power the country’s homes and industries effectively. The gap between supply and demand means that businesses and households rely heavily on alternative sources of energy such as diesel generators, solar power, and inverters, making electricity an expensive commodity.

Despite the enormous market opportunity, Nigeria’s power sector continues to face structural bottlenecks. The transmission and distribution networks are largely inefficient, with outdated infrastructure that struggles to handle even the current low generation levels.

The sector is also plagued by policy inconsistencies, liquidity constraints, and regulatory challenges, making large-scale investments risky. However, companies like Geregu Power have managed to leverage these inefficiencies to their advantage, filling the power gap and reaping substantial financial rewards.

However, energy analysts believe that the success of Geregu Power is a strong indicator that Nigeria’s power sector is not only viable but capable of delivering exceptional returns for investors willing to navigate its challenges.

In a move that signals a shift in its artificial intelligence strategy, Microsoft has made Chinese startup DeepSeek’s R1 AI model available on its Azure cloud platform and GitHub, the company announced on Wednesday.

The integration of DeepSeek R1 into Microsoft’s ecosystem marks an expansion of the tech giant’s AI offerings as it continues to diversify beyond OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a model it has heavily invested in but now seeks to reduce dependence on.

DeepSeek’s rise has been unprecedented. Just last week, the company launched a free AI assistant that it claims operates with less data and at a fraction of the cost of existing services. By Monday, the assistant had surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s App Store, triggering anxiety among investors and spurring a competitive response from AI rivals.

“This rapid accessibility—once unimaginable just months ago—is central to our vision for Azure AI Foundry: bringing the best AI models together in one place to accelerate innovation and unlock new possibilities for enterprises worldwide,” Microsoft said.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reacted swiftly, announcing that the company would “pull up some releases,” which materialized on Tuesday with the launch of a specialized ChatGPT model tailored for U.S. government agencies. Meanwhile, China’s Alibaba Group unveiled an upgraded version of its Qwen 2.5 AI model on Wednesday, despite the unusual timing—coinciding with the first day of the Lunar New Year.

DeepSeek R1 will now be available in Microsoft’s Azure model catalog, which already features over 1,800 AI models, catering to a broad range of developers and enterprises. Additionally, Microsoft confirmed that users will soon be able to run the R1 model locally on their Copilot+ PCs, a move that addresses growing concerns over data privacy and AI dependence on cloud services.

“We are committed to enabling customers to build production-ready AI applications quickly while maintaining the highest levels of safety and security. DeepSeek R1 has undergone rigorous red teaming and safety evaluations, including automated assessments of model behavior and extensive security reviews to mitigate potential risks,” the company said.

The move is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to diversify its AI offerings and reduce its reliance on OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which has been deeply integrated into Microsoft’s AI-powered Copilot for Microsoft 365. Last month, Reuters reported that Microsoft has been working on adding both internal and third-party AI models to its ecosystem, ensuring a more diverse and competitive AI landscape within its products.

However, DeepSeek’s integration is not without controversy. The Chinese AI startup has acknowledged that it stores user information in servers located in China, a factor that could prove to be a major hurdle for its adoption in the United States, given increasing scrutiny over data security and Chinese tech influence in Western markets.

Even as Microsoft expands its AI model catalog, concerns over potential intellectual property violations are mounting. On Tuesday, Bloomberg News reported that Microsoft and OpenAI are investigating whether data output from OpenAI’s technology was obtained in an unauthorized manner by a group linked to DeepSeek. If confirmed, such a breach could raise serious questions about AI ethics, data security, and competitive practices in the industry.

The rapid success of DeepSeek has undoubtedly shaken the AI industry, with major players scrambling to defend their market positions. OpenAI’s swift response with a government-focused ChatGPT model underscores the pressure it faces from emerging competitors, particularly in light of DeepSeek’s rapid rise in user adoption.

Meanwhile, Alibaba’s decision to unveil a new version of its Qwen 2.5 AI model—despite it being the first day of the Lunar New Year—suggests that Chinese tech firms are also feeling the urgency to solidify their standing in the AI race.

What This Means for the AI Market

Microsoft’s decision to integrate DeepSeek’s AI model is seen as an indication of a widening AI battlefield, where multiple players—ranging from OpenAI and DeepSeek to Google’s Gemini and Alibaba’s Qwen—are aggressively competing for market share.

Analysts note that this move is for Microsoft, a hedging strategy that ensures its AI offerings are not entirely dependent on OpenAI while also providing alternatives to customers who may be wary of OpenAI’s dominance.

However, DeepSeek’s Chinese origins and data storage policies are expected to attract regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the United States and Europe, where lawmakers have expressed concerns over data security risks tied to Chinese tech firms.