Power generation drops to record 1,580MW
• Labour shuts national grid
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday confirmed that the power generation level has dropped to an all-time low of 1,580 Mega Watts (MW), thereby dampening hopes of early resolution of the nation’s power supply crisis.
The power generation slide, which was earlier attributed to gas pipeline vandalism, was said to have been accentuated by the on-going industrial dispute in the nation’s power sector.
Already the epileptic supply has been deeply impacting on commercial and domestic activities, as consumers continued to groan under intense heat and business collapse, even as fuel scarcity has blighted private power generation.
According to the TCN’s System Operations, the lower generation automatically degenerated into lower power allocation to the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) across the country.
The power allocation data obtained by The Guardian yesterday showed that Ikeja received 234.09 MW; Abuja, 181.77MW; Eko, 173.87MW; Benin, 142.25MW; Enugu, 142.25MW; Ibadan 205.48; Jos, 86.93MW; Kano, 126.45MW; Kaduna, 126.45MW; Port Harcourt, 102.74MW and Yola Disco got 55.32MW accordingly.
The drop in power generation started last week after the nation recorded about 4200MW on daily average, from the peak generation of 5074MW on February 3.
The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) had estimated the nation’s electricity demand at 160,000MW, with the national grid managing a capacity of 6,020MW.
But the Asst. General Manager (Public Affairs), SO/MO, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Clement Ezeolisah, said there was no system collapse, attributing the generation slide to the on-going labour dispute in the power sector.
“We have not recorded any system collapse since the beginning of 2016, and all hands are on deck to keep it that way,” he said.
The Head, Corporate Communications, Eko Electricity Distribution Plc, Idemudia Godwin, appealed to electricity customers in its network, blaming the blackout poor supply from the national grid as well as the labour action, which has militated against its operations.
He also appealed to the TCN to endeavour to fix up the faulty lines in its network.
He assured that the company is doing all within its powers to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of available power to all customers, pending the time there would be a significant supply from the national grid.
The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, ANED, Sunday Oduntan, confirmed to The Guardian yesterday that many of the power stations, such as Egbin, Delta, Omotosho among others have shut down due the industrial action.
Oduntan said the generation slide was caused mainly by gas pipeline vandalism and the labour unrest in the country.
“What they have done was to make the staff of National Network Control Centre in Osogbo (where the national grid is operated) to join the strike. They said they were all on strike in solidarity with their members in Ikeja Disco who failed competency test.
Due to the situation, he said, “Egbin and Delta power plants have shut down two units each. As I am talking to you, Omotosho has shut down, Afam power plant has also given notice of shutting down due to load down pressure, so we don’t know how far that will go. It’s not in our hands, it has nothing to do with the Discos.”
Oduntan appealed to the labour unions to put the interest of Nigerians at heart. “When they are complaining about their members being sacked from Ikeja, they should also be Godly enough to mention another 700 staffers being employed by Ikeja. So, if the new employment is more than the number of people you are protesting for, it raises concerns. Those 700 people, are they not Nigerians?” he queried.
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12 Comments
I never thought we gonna come down to this. This is totally unacceptable. What kind of country is this. Yesterday I noticed the traffic light that was installed about 6 months ago has stopped working. What kind of country is this? What is wrong with us. I pity Nigerians. Suffering and smiling.
Why would Labour union be the reason Nigerians are suffering swhy are they behaving like this
..the government need to urgentlurgently do something about them
labor union is not the sole reason for this. The power sector is all over the place. They blame poor gas supply due to vandals, they blame labor, they blame forex. The problem is that NERC hasn’t done it jobs and continues to allow the sector do whatever they want.
As usual, Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria
well, thank God its not GEJ this time around
“CHAINED JI” has come, so Nigerians enjoy the fruits of your labour
one year down, 3 to go (hopefully he doesn’t drop dead as omo onile commissioner and thiefnubu are expecting), and may be 4 years
by the time he is done, you’d all be moslems, and have fulani herdsmen stationed in every part of your village impregnating your wives, sisters and mothers as they feel like
Sai Buhari.”Well done”.Doing “good works” in all sectors.Almost a year now.
I can not believe that Fashola can fail so woefully as a minister even from the beginning of his assignment . Why is he silent now? Who are these gas pipeline vandals? Are they Nigerians? Some of the workers in the energy sectors are indolent economic saboteurs. They failed the competence TESTS and they want to be retained at their JOBS. This can only happen in Nigeria. There are millions of fresh graduates roaming the street while we keep on retaining hopeless ignorant deadwood’s at the critical sector of the economy .Until PMB focus his attention on the energy sector this country will not move an INCH
GRADUATES THAT CAN NOT IDENTIFY A PROTECTION RELAY LET ALONE SERVICE IT?OR GRADUATES THAT CAN NOT EFFECTIVELY EXPLAIN POWER GENERATION THEORY?
Until the country see economic sabotage as a serious matter, the country will never move forward. I strongly advocate death sentence for proving cases of economic sabotage as done in China. Until government start making example of culprits, the vicious cycle is going to continue and Nigerians will continue to suffer. What we are facing in Nigeria is impunity taking hold in all our daily lives. No one gets punished for anything no matter what they have done wrong because some tribe will come out to defend the indefensible. The importation of generator must alcohol be revisited because the people in that business are the suspects as far as vandalisation is concerned. The same people will come on social media to critisize the country.
This is just pure blame game here and there. NERC needs to do something about the gas supply, they have to mandate that generation plants have gas storage onsite, to prevent complete shut down due to vandals. NERC also needs to push for decentralized generation and distribution. we need more renewable like solar and wind energy, power generation that is installed and operational within a year.
PLEASE I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION. DURING THE DAYS OF NEPA WHAT WE HEAR ARE VANDALISM/LACK OF GAS,LOW WATER AND LOW TARRIF SABOTAGE, IS IT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE ARE HEARING NOW AFTER PRIVATISATION?
THEN THOSE PROFFESSORS OF ENERGY AND ETC THAT WERE ADVANCING PRIVATISATION SHOULD BURRY THEIR HEADS IN SHAME.
We will review and take appropriate action.