Sequel to the resolve by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to embark on a Nationwide strike which began on Wednesday, May 17, Power generation in the country has fallen by over 1,000 megawatts, MW, within a space of eight hours.
Recall, that in the last 5 months, Power companies have already experienced 4 consecutive system collapse with the nation making history when it generated zero megawatt, leaving over 170 million Nigerians in darkness.
According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, electricity generation dropped by 1,018.5 MW between 6am and 3pm on Tuesday, May 17.
Data from the System Operator showed that the country generated 2,418.5 MW of electricity as of 6am. But in a statement by the TCN around 3pm, the firm noted that the total power generation had dropped to 1,400 MW.
The Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Mr. Clement Ezeolisah, in a statement said, “The management of the System Operation/Market Operation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria has alerted that electricity generation into the national grid has dropped to 1,400MW as of Tuesday, 17th of May, 2016.”
Explaining the reason for the collapse, he said, “The downward trend of electricity generation is due to constraints in the thermal power stations, which have prevented the generators from producing at optimal levels.
“However, it is noteworthy to report that all stakeholders are working assiduously to achieve improvement in the power supply deliverables. The attendant inconvenience as a result of low power generation is regretted,” Ezeolisah said.
Other electricity distribution companies explained that their inability to obtain foreign exchange to import equipment and a revenue shortfall of N300 billion are some of the factors hampering their operations.
The Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. John Donnachie, said, “There is no forex.
“So, every time we have to secure funds to buy meters, we have to do that at the black market, which is hugely expensive. We should be a priority industry to grow jobs and to grow this economy”.
The additional data obtained from the System Operation showed that the country recorded a peak generation of 2,868.3 MW the previous day, while the lowest generation was 2,166.1 MW.
The national peak forecast was put at 17,520 MW, while the total installed and available capacities for the country were 11,165.4 MW and 7,139.6 MW, respectively.
While Officials from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has attributed the constraints faced by thermal power generating plants to the persistent poor supply of gas to fire up the gas turbines.
Presently, there are indications that armed militants on Tuesday evening blew up a gas pipeline operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Ogbembiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
This latest attack makes it the umpteenth time oil and gas facilities belonging to the Italian oil giant would be attacked in the state this year alone.
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