Gas supply constraint cuts power generation at Egbin, 5 others

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said the national grid was experiencing reduced power generation.

It said this is due to emergency maintenance by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) on its gas pipeline supplying gas to Egbin, Omotosho, Olorunsogo and Paras Genration Companies (GenCos).

This was reportedly caused by leakage discovered on the EscravosLagos Pipeline System (ELPS) gas pipeline, leading to a total shutdown of the four GenCos last Thursday.

Daily Trust had reported that power generation dropped to 3,600 megawatts (MW ) with over 800MW lost to multiple constraints.

In a statement signed by the General Manager Public Affairs of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, the company said prior to the maintenance, Omotosho NIPP and Olorunsogo NIPP GenCos were down due to gas supply issues.

It said the repair has been completed by NGC and the pipeline is being pressurised prior to resumption of gas supply to the affected power stations.

TCN said it has diverted about 312MW load from the Benin-Egbin 330kV transmission line which tripped at 23.14hours on Tuesday, 23rd April, 2019, to Omotosho –Ikeja West and Ayede-Ikeja 330kV transmission lines, due to on-going repair works on the Benin-Egbin 330kV transmission line.

It said the tripping was caused by a line cut between Ofofu and Okada towns in Edo state but that engineers are working to fix it.

The diversion of load from the line which feeds Lagos axis caused a rationing of about 280MW of electricity. TCN said the energy rationing to Lagos was further increased by the gas supply issues and sudden gas pipeline leakage.

“TCN regrets inconveniences and wish to assure Nigerians that power supply would return to normal as soon as normal gas supply is restored to the affected power stations and transmission repair work is completed.”