- Power Generation Drop To 2,903MW,
The nation’s power generation for the second time this month suffered another setback on Saturday morning, as six thermal power generating stations were shut down. Consequently power supply nose dive to 2,903.7megawatts (MW) shedding over 1088.9MW from a peak generation of 3,992.6MW reported Nigerian Electricity System Operator (NESO) the previous day.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has attributed the station’s shut down to inability of the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) to supply gas due to a ruptured gas pipeline as well as technical issues.
The sharp drop in power generation which resulted in load-shedding nationwide was necessary to maintain stability of the grid, TCN said in a statement.
TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah who signed the statement, listed the affected stations as follows; the Ihovbor, Azura, Omotosho gas, Geregu gas, Olorunsogo gas, Sapele and the Egbin Power Station which has managed to generate 60MW only on each of its units, losing a total of 211MW.
The Afam VI power station was also shut down so that Shell Oil Company can resolve its gas well issues to enable it commence gas supply to Afam VI power station, Mrs Mbah stated.
She noted that with the huge loss of over 1,087.6MW into the grid, the transmission system become quite fragile and in order to avert a collapse of the system, TCN then engaged in load-shedding.
The latest development is coming on the heels of a total grid collapsed recorded on June 8, bringing the number of total collapses recorded so far this year to seven.
Data obtained from NESO shows that as a result of the grid collapse, total electricity generation plunged to 2,202.40MW as of 6am on June 9, down from 3,669.20MW on June 8.
Fifteen out of the nation’s 27 power plants were not generating any megawatts as of 6am on June 9, as the collapse led to the shutdown of five additional plants, including Egbin in Lagos.
The other affected plants were Sapele I, Geregu I, Sapele II and Alaoji, joining Afam IV & V, Geregu II, Olorunsogo II, Odukpani II, Gbarain, AES, ASCO, Omoku, Trans-Amadi and Rivers on the list of idle plants.
Meanwhile, many parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had been out of supply during the weekend.
Head of Corporate Communication, Mr Fadipe Oyebode, attributed the non supply and load shedding in some areas to the limited allocation from the national grid to AEDC.
Oyebode said AEDC was only allocated 194.58MW from the grid on June 16, out of its total 11 per cent allocation hence its inability to fully supply to its customers. He, however said that the situation has improved as AEDC’s allocation for June 17, stood at 330.44MW.
