Blackout imminent as 6 power stations shut down

Indications have emerged that there might be a significant reduction in the supply of power to electricity consumers in the country as electricity generated into the national grid dropped by 1,087.6 Mega Watts.

The problem, if not addressed quickly, may affect business activities in the coming week as business owners would have to seek for alternative sources of power to run their businesses.

This would incur additional cost of production and may negatively impact on the overall prices of goods and services in the country which recorded 16th straight month of decline in May.

In a statement issued by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mrs Ndidi Mbah, on Sunday in Abuja, the company said the drop in electricity generated into the national grid was resulting in load shedding nationwide.

The TCN, while attributing the sharp drop of power generated to gas pipeline rupture on June 15, and technical issues at the Shell gas wells on June 16, explained 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.

Read Also: SERAP drags Fashola to court to reveal spending on power

“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 statement read.

Mbah 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 generate into the grid.

The company also said 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 stability of the grid, pending completion of repairs of gas pipeline by NGC and restoration of full gas supply to affected generating stations.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now