Experts proffer solution to grid collapse as Nigerians decry outage
NIGERIANS were, yesterday, plunged into darkness once again as the nation’s electricity grid collapsed.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN)- managed grid went down at approximately 11: 51am yesterday, reducing the system’s capacity from 2,407 megawatts to a mere 31MW by 12noon, and reaching zero by 1: 00pm. Despite the Federal Government privatising the sector over 11 years ago, the grid remains unreliable, failing consumers on more than 141 occasions.
Distribution companies are already alerting customers about the situation, even as the generation companies have repeatedly expressed concerns over the impact on the safety and durability of their equipment.
Kaduna Electric confirmed that the loss of bulk power supply left Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states in darkness.
According to the system operator’s platform, all 20 power plants, except Ibom Power with 31 megawatts, were offline by 11: 51am. FORMER Director of Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law ( CPEEL), University of Ibadan, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, and Head of Electrical and Electronic Department, University of Ibadan, Dr. Oladayo Olakanmi, yesterday, decried the incessant grid collapse in the country, describing the development as unacceptable.
Speaking with Guardian in Ibadan, in separate interviews, the two experts called on government to decentralise power supply to address the perennial problem.
Adenikinju said: “The grid collapses are unacceptable. Its cost is enormous and its implications are huge. The government should focus on how to mitigate the vulnerability. The government must start to implement some of the recommendations made to revive the sector. The sector must be decentralised to reduce vulnerability. It can be regionalised.”
On his part, Olakanmi, an Associate Professor of Energy and Power, said a single national grid could not serve the country effectively.
He noted: “The incessant grid collapse is very unfortunate. The way out is for government to decentralise generation, transmission and distribution of power supply.”