Power generation rallies to 4,200MW

After weeks of plummeting fortunes, the nation’s power generation rose yesterday to 4,200 Mega Watts (MW) from 3,755MW.

The power generattion profile peaked at 5,074MW early February, before it started cascading.

The current height, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), was due to the completion of maintenance on the gas pipeline to the generating stations.

In a statement signed by The Asst. General Manager (Public Affairs), SO/MO, TCN, Clement Ezeolisah: “Power generation has started improving and is now over 4200MW on daily average,”
He attributed the recent outages to scheduled maintenance programme on the pipelines supplying gas to the generating stations.

Electricity consumers had in recent times been groanning under epileptic power supply, which has drastically impacted on domestic and commercial activities.

The new development may have however raised hopes of improved power supply in the country, if other factors should work in tandem with the administration’s plan for lower outages.

Meanwhile, other industry sources hinted that the tariff intrigues are brewing concerns around the gas producing companies, which are worried that the failure to implement the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO 2015) might make the electricity business less viable.

According to the sources, if the new tariff fails to sail through, it would leave the industry with non-cost reflective tariff, which might trigger the debt profile of the distribution companies and transmission companies.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Anthony Akah, had lamented incidents of vandalism that led to reduction in peak power supply through the national grid from over 5,000MW attained early February.

Akah therefore solicited support of members of the public and the council to collaborate with the service providers and security agencies in ensuring security of electrical installations.

He said that the commission would soon compel electricity distribution companies to publish their meter deployment schedules, so as to ensure adherence to the meter roll out plan, contained in the performance agreement signed with government by the utility firms.

About nine power generating stations across the country were either completely or partly affected by the gas supply challenges, forcing the national grid to shut-in about 2044Mega Watts (MW) of electricity.

Affected stations included Olorunshogo National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) was completely shutting-in 600MW; Sapele NIPP shuts-in112.5 MW; Omotosho (Gas), 190MW; Geregu NIPP, 145MW; Delta, 340MW; Omotosho NIPP120MW; Egbin 440MW; Olorunshogo (Gas) 38MW due to gas shortage; while Odukpani was shutting-in 59.1MW due to water constraints.