Electricity grid loses 1,015MW over gas, distribution constraints

The Nigerian electricity grid lost 1,015 megawatts (MW) at the weekend as it dropped from a threshold of 4,207MW reached on Saturday to 3,192MW on Sunday, industry report has shown.

Despite this loss, Daily Trust reports that drop in gas supply, poor load demand by the Distribution Companies (DisCos) among other constraints hindered the generation of 3,710MW of electricity last Friday.

A daily operational report from the Independent System Operator (ISO) has it that as at Sunday, the grid dropped to 3,192MW. Electricity generation rose to a little over 5,000MW threshold in the last three days of April and rose to a peak generation of 5,162MW on May 1, 2018.

The highest generation recorded after that was 4,712MW last Friday before the grid crashed to 4,207MW on Saturday with the lowest generation at 2,32 9.9MW. A significant quantum of energy of about 83,234 megawatt hour (MWH) was sent out to the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) for supply to electricity customers, the report indicated.

The electricity transmission frequency also rose from a tolerable state of 49.86 Hertz (Hz) to 51.26Hz, a situation experts said could trigger a collapse of the system and result in blackouts across some areas in the country.

As at Sunday, the earliest peak generation recorded was 3,192MW showing a significant drop of 1,015MW.

deprive

DisCos, low gas supply customers of 3,710MW

Meanwhile, 3,710MW of electricity was not available for generation at the weekend due to some constraints in delivering it to electricity users.

Records of power generation from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing show that about 1,513MW was not available at six power plants due to the constraints of getting enough gas supply.

The breakdown shows that Omotosho, Alaoji, Geregu, Olorunsogo and Odukpani power stations all under the National Integrated Power Plants (NIPP) could not generate 1,305MW while Geregu Power which was privatised in 2013 had inadequate gas to generate 208MW.

Constraints in transmission lines affected power generation in three power stations with the loss of 197MW. Trans-Amadi could not generate 40MW, Ibom Power lost 73MW and Olorunsogo NIPP could also not produce 120MW as a result of issues with the lines.