Electricity generation dips by 774mw, drops to 3,292mw in 24hrs
Electricity generation yesterday dropped by 774 megawatts (mw) barely 24 hours after it reached a peak of 4,066mw, national statistics from the Independent System Operator (ISO), a public firm has shown.
The grid recorded tremendous improvement on Sunday after 78,573 megawatts hours (mwh) was wheeled out for distribution to an estimated six million customers by 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos).
It, however fell to 2,876mw during the offpeak period, recording a difference of 1,190mw. This is a time of the day when industry experts feel demand from customers reduced and as such, power plants often ramped down their generation level.
By yesterday, during the period of estimated highest demand of electricity often called ‘peak period’, generation level however went down to 3,292mw signifying adequate power supply for the vast customers in the fresh working day.
Further statistics from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo where ISO controls the nation’s power pool revealed that this month, August, began with high generation of 4,282mw with a capability to reach 4,878mw as at Wednesday August 2, 2017.
However, the trailing constraints of load unutilisation caused by DisCos’ load demand (load rejection), inadequate gas supply and transmission frequency affected sustenance of the positive trend. Sadly, power fell to a pitiable 2,833mw the same day.
Customers denied 2,133mw as load rejection, gas shortage trend
In the midst of the power inadequacy in Nigeria, a huge level of electricity has continued to be unutilised in the national grid and many of the estimated six million electricity users deprived of sustained power supply. The grid data provided for last Thursday showed that 2,133mw was lost to these monstrous issues.
The major disappointment to the national grid and to electricity customers last Thursday was with the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) when 1,253mw was lost to their varied load demand constraints resulting in constraints managing the frequency of transmission network.
Nine power stations were affected by this with 15 of their turbines forced to become idle. From the analysis, the biggest losers were two turbines in Afam VI that lost 283mw.
Sustained gas supply to the thermal stations has been a major challenge. This cut down 505mw electricity supply in four turbines across four power stations under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP). Their capacity record showed that Geregu NIPP could generate 145mw. Alaoji’s two turbines would have produced 240mw and a turbine in Omotosho would have fetched the grid another 120mw.
There was also a challenge with the transmission lines which caused the loss of 375mw, shutting out eight turbines in five power stations. While a turbine in Omoku station lost 115mw, Omotosho Gas lost 114mw from three turbines, and Olorunsogo Gas lost 76mw from two turbines. A turbine in Olorunsogo NIPP lost 38mw, and another in Omotosho NIPP lost 32mw.
Three hydropower plants constrained in rainy season
Daily Trust analysed the generation level of the three hydropower stations which was expected to be high during the rainy season. Data revealed that the expectations are being cut short due to certain technical constraints. Kainji hydro which has installed capacity of 440mw produced 232mw last Wednesday. 208mw was constrained because four of its units have technical issues caused by battery loss, high temperature and fire.
Jebba Hydro has 386mw capacity but generated 251mw. 135mw was lost as three of its units have frequency maintenance issues. Shiroro hydro has 600mw capacity being the largest of the hydro plants but it produced just half of its capacity as 300mw was lost.