Nigeria’s power witnesses six total system collapses

The nation’s power grid witnessed six instances of total system collapses and one incident of partial system collapse in the second quarter of this year, essentially due to generation limitations.

Specifically, in June, there were five instances of total system collapses and three incidents of partial system collapse, due to generation limitations.

According to Independent System Operation, which made this disclosure in its national grid performance information released on Monday, said: “The Grid witnessed six instances of total system collapses and one incident of partial system collapse, essentially due to generation limitations. Total generation again went down by 19.23 per cent compared with energy generated in May.”

It noted that generation output from the thermal power stations especially those located outside the Niger Delta region continued to be adversely affected by the pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.

According to the agency, while Egbin Power Station made the highest contribution into the National Grid with 15.81 per cent, Afam VI Power Station came second with 13.81 per cent and Geregu Power Station provided the least at 0.46 per cent.

It said that Afam I-V, Gbarain, AES, Rivers IPP and Omoku Power Stations operated at zero levels.

The agency disclosed that a new Independent Power Plant (IPP), Paras Energy came on stream with the contribution of 0.94 per cent. “Paras Energy, located along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, has a bilateral Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), with Eko Electricity Distribution Company for the supply of all its generated energy,” it added.

It lamented that generation output from the thermal power stations especially those located outside the Niger Delta region continued to be adversely affected by the pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.

The report stated: “Total energy produced dwindled by as much as 13.73 per cent in May compared with energy available in April.
Afam VI Power Station owned by Shell over took Egbin Power Station by making the highest contribution to the Grid with 17.32 per cent. Egbin power station came second with 15.63 per cent. The new entrant, Gbarain Power Station (one of the NIPP plants constructed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company) contributed the least with 0.38 per cent.

Olorunsogo Power Station, which contributed 0.72 per cent in April, made no contribution in May.

The System Operator added, “For the very first time, Jebba Hydro Power Station contributed the highest energy into the Grid by 15.57 per cent. Egbin Power Station came second with 14.58 per cent, while another hydro station, Kanji Hydro Power Station came third with 14.58 per cent. Omoku Power Station resumed production with the contribution of 0.18 per cent.”

It disclosed that the NIPP Group produced 20.72 per cent in April, went down to 17.33 per cent in May, and dropped marginally to 17.06 per cent in June.

It noted that the most significant difference in contribution during the period under review was in the IPP Group. In April, the group’s contribution was 26.80% and it went up marginally to 27.91 per cent in May, but dropped drastically to 21.72 per cent in June.