NIGERIA: Electricity generation drops by 1,087.6MW

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Sunday disclosed that there has been a drop in the electricity generated into the national grid by a  total of 1,087.6Mega Watts of Power.

Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs in Abuja said the drop in electricity generated into the national grid was resulting in load shedding nationwide.

TCN added that the load shedding was necessary to maintain the stability of the grid.

Also, TCN noted that the sharp drop of power generated was occasioned by gas pipeline rupture on June 15, and technical issues at the Shell gas wells on  June 16.

TCN explained further that six thermal power generating stations were currently unable to generate electricity and have therefore been shut down due to the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) pipeline incident.

The company listed the affected power stations to include Ihovbor, Azura, Omotosho gas, Geregu gas, Olorunsogo gas, Sapele and the Egbin power stations.

TCN, however informed that the six power-generating thermal stations had managed to generate 60MW only on each of its units, losing a total of 211MW.

The company also said  Afam VI power station was shut down so that Shell oil company could resolve its gas well issues to enable it to commence gas supply to Afam VI power station.

“With a total loss of 1,087.6MW into the grid, the transmission system has become quite fragile and  TCN is working hard to avert a collapse of the system, by engaging in load-shedding.

“Load-shedding is to ensure that available generation is commensurate with what is allocated to DisCos nationwide, to create a balance and avert grid instability.“

The TCN spokesperson also said NGC was making efforts to ensure that the gas pipeline issues are resolved to restore normal gas supply to affected power generating stations, to enable them to generate into the grid.

The company stressed that Shell had in the morning hours of  June 17 resolved its gas well issue and gas supply partially restored to Afam VI power station.

TCN also noted that there was no collapse of the grid as was reported in some quarters.

The company appealed for understanding, adding that TCN engineers were working hard to maintain the stability of the grid, pending completion of repairs of the gas pipeline by NGC and restoration of full gas supply to affected generating stations.

Meanwhile, many parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had been out of supply in the past two days.