GAS SHORTAGE: Nigerians to suffer longer blackouts

There is a strong indication that offices and homes in Nigeria may suffer longer blackout periods as the 11 Distribution Companies (Discos), have again complained of poor energy supply from the generation firms since October 2016.

Already, many states have reported inadequate power supply, compared with the situation in September, despite the rising heat wave.

Both the Discos and Gencos have been raising issues, in the past months, over what they described as a harsh business climate caused by recession and shortfall in gas supply.

They also lamented how the development had seen their plants lying idle since October as dollar scarcity had affected regular maintenance of their facilities.

Signs that the sector is passing through some challenges began on Monday, when officials monitoring power supply through the national grid noticed a shape drop from 2.5 megawatts (mws) to 2.1 mws by 12 noon.

Another sharp drop was recorded between Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving the supply chain in total disarray as the officials raised the alarm in the early hours of Wednesday when they noticed that the power supply had come down to an all-time low of 1.5 mws.

The situation went worse on Thursday with a significant power outage witnessed in major cities in Nigeria, with Lagos having less than 25 per cent on Wednesday through Thursday.

Read also: RECESSION: MAN warns Nigerians to prepare for harder times beyond 2017

Officials said the national grid suffered similar drop from February to April 2016, blaming it on militants’ activities, whose activities they confirmed led to the destruction of oil facilities, and a cut in gas supply to the various generating plants.

At their full operating capacities, hydropower plants in Kainji/Jebba and Shiroro, both in Niger State, should generate about 2.21mw, though they are running on less than half their capacity.

Other parts of the country have complained of reduction in electricity supply, with Abuja getting only 200 mws, less than an average 550 mws.

Kano has been having 50mw since November instead of an average of 350mw.

“This is not time for passing the buck, virtually; the Discos had on October 13, 2016 officially notified the federal government of their challenges, warning that an earlier decline to 2,243mw in the last week of October would worsen if nothing drastic was done to bring sucour to the sector,” said Mr. Geoffrey Odeh, an official of Eko Electricity company.

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