Cases of shortage of gas and drop in water level have ripped off over 4,100 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the national grid within the first four days of March.
Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) which operates the grid shows that in the first four days of March, the grid lost over 4,100MW.
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Analysis indicates that low water level affected Shiroro and Jebba hydros with 307MW and 125MW losses. Egbin lost 514MW to faults, Geregu lost 230MW while Alaoji NIPP lost 263MW. Omotosho NIPP lost 233MW, Omoku did not generate 112MW, Okpai could not deliver 204MW while Afam VI saw 511MW drop in generation.
More so, gas shortage affected some other plants: Olorunsogo lost 104MW, Omotosho gas lost 102MW, Sapele NIPP lost 263MW, Olorunsogo NIPP lost 240MW, Geregu NIPP lost 435MW, and Ihovbor lost 142MW while Odukpani NIPP was shutdown, losing 575MW.
Nigerian electricity consumers have been complaining of worsening power supply since early this month amidst cries of increased electricity billing. Some of the Distribution Companies (DisCos) had blamed TCN for reducing the capacity of electricity it transmits to the distribution load centres.
However, the latest grid operation report stated thus: “The current load shedding being experienced nationwide is as a result of very low power generation by the GenCos for TCN to wheel through the transmission grid to distribution companies nationwide.”
The report further stated that since January, at least 14 GenCos were either not generating or had limited generation. 23 turbines of the plants were not generating; the affected plants are Omotosho, Olorunsogo, Omoku, Omotosho NIPP, Delta Power, Afam, Olorunsogo NIPP, Ihovbor NIPP, Sapele Steam, Sapele NIPP, Odukpani NIPP and Okpai plant.
Also, Jebba and Shiroro hydro plants had constraints causing 232MW loss on the grid due to low water level.
During the period, some GenCos comprising Jebba and Shiroro hydropower plants; Omotosho, Olorunsogo, Delta, Afam VI, Ihovbor, Geregu and Odukpani lost 3,180MW from the grid due to either fault or scheduled maintenance.
TCN warned that this situation may continue if power generation fails to improve. “It is important to note that except cumulative power generation increases considerably for TCN to transmit to distribution companies nationwide, TCN will be left with no choice than to continue to load shed.”
