Electricity generation hits 4,656 megawatts

ELECTRICITY generation into the nation’s national grid appeared to be on an upward trajectory as it hit a new-all time peak of 4,656 megawatts (mw) as of yesterday from the 4,545 mw it recorded on Monday.

Despite this feat in Nigeria, the Africa Progress Panel 2015 report foresees electricity coming to all homes and businesses in Africa by 2080. The report also estimated that an investment of $55 billion would be needed yearly to achieve universal access.

This increase in power generation was attributed to an increased capacity in the nation’s national grid from Egbin Power Plant, the Omotosho NIPP and improvement in gas supply.

Inefficient power supply has been the West African nation’s greatest economic bane, but the tide seemed to be turning for the better with massive investments in the sector through public private partnerships.

The country’s power generation capacity currently stood at 6,000 mw, while installed capacity is expected to grow to 40,000 mw by 2020.

General Manager, Public Affairs of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Seun Olagunju, in a statement said: “In 2013, there were 22 instances of system collapses and in 2014, this was drastically brought down to only nine. This year, the transmission grid has experienced only four system collapses out of which two in May were attributed to extremely low generation of around 1400mw due to gas supply shortages.

“In fact, majority of these collapses are due to shortages in gas supply which creates serious load/generation imbalance. But there is a serious effort ongoing to reduce these collapses.

“TCN has secured spinning reserve contracts of 295mw to provide stability and cushion the system in an event of sudden load/generation changeover.”

Meanwhile, the African Progress Panel believed that Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa are still far behind in their respective abilities to generate electricity, hampering growth and frustrating ambitions to catch up with the rest of the world.