Gencos lament lingering gas challenges

GENERATION companies (Gencos) have lamented how the persistent vandalisation of gas facilities in the country has rendered many power plants inactive.

Operators of the generating companies, who met in Abuja yesterday under the Genco Roundtable, noted that but for gas, many of the plants would have provided substantial electricity to consumers.

Prof. Chinedu Nebo

Associate Head of Generation, , Onuoha Igwe, who spoke on behalf of the Gencos at the meeting, noted that seven of the 10 National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) plants were running but challenged by the problem of gas.

Of the NIPP, he stated: “NIPP is also a generating firm, we have facilities located in 10 power plants. Currently, seven are running as commercial ventures and three are in different levels of completion.

All seven power plants are running and on the grid. “The owners of the generating plants running across the nation are members of the forum.

All the old legacy power plants (Gencos) and the power plants operated by the IOCs belong to the platform.” Meanwhile, he disclosed: “The Gencos Roundtable has been going on since the legacy power plants went into private hands.

I am aware that NERC has a meeting with Gencos tomorrow. Prior to the meeting with NERC, Gencos hold their meetings.” Nevertheless, he explained: “What you have been seeing in the last year or two is persistent damage to the gas pipelines.

The moment those gas pipelines are disrupted, there is nothing to be done to turn the gas turbine. “And when the gas turbines are not running, you cannot have power, but any moment gas is sustained, and that line has gas, all power plants will come alive. Take for instance the NDPHC power plants.

We have power plants in Olorunsogo, Ihovo, Omotosho, Alaoji, Calabar, Geregu, Sapele and so on. “If the gas pipeline in the Niger Delta area, South-West side is disrupted, it means there would be no gas to sustain the power plant in Sapele, Ihovo, Omotosho and Olorunsogbo.

“As at last week, those plants were only running on one unit each. Take for instance the Olorunsoogo plant that has 600mws for each, if only one gas turbine runs, you are just limited to 170-180mw.

“What has been happening in the past one year is this persistent damage to the gas pipeline, making it impossible for the generating assets already built to generate power for public use. So, the power plants are available but sitting idle.”