Power generation loses 1,108MW, drops to 3,456MW

Electricity generation in the country plunged to 3 , 456 megawatts on Tuesday, losing 1 , 108MW in seven days , according to latest data obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday .Total power generation dropped from 4 , 564 . 60 MW as of 6 . 00 am on February 19 to 3 , 456. 20 MW on February 24 , a day after the presidential and National Assembly elections . It stood at 4 , 358MW as of 6 . 00 am on Saturday.

Data from the Nigeria Electricity System Operator, an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria , showed that generation fell further to 3 , 456 . 60 MW as of 6 . 00 am on February 26 .

The system operator put the nation ’ s installed generation capacity at 12 , 910. 40 MW ; available capacity at 7 , 652 . 60 MW; transmission wheeling capacity at 8 , 100MW ; and the peak generation ever attained at 5 , 375MW .

The nation generates most of its electricity from gas – fired power plants , while output from hydropower plants makes up about 30 per cent of the total .

Total generation capacity of 2020 . 7 MW was unutilised on Wednesday as a result of low demand by Discos ( 1 , 430. 7 MW ) , line constraints ( 440MW ) and water management ( 150MW ) .

Seven of the nation ’ s 27 power plants were not generating any megawatts as of 6 . 00 am on Monday. The idle plants were Olorunsogo NIPP , Gbarain NIPP , Afam IV , and four independent power plants , namely AES, ASCO , Rivers and Trans -Amadi .

Generation from Egbin , the nation ’ s biggest power station , fell to 491MW as of 6 . 00 am on Monday from 581MW on February 8 . The plant , which produced as high as 1 , 085 MW on March 15 , 2016 , has been generating far less than its installed capacity of 1 , 320 MW in more than two years .

The TCN announced earlier this month that the national grid successfully transmitted a new power generation peak of 5 , 375MW on February 7 , 2019 , at 9 pm.

It said it was the first time that the grid had generated , transmitted and distributed such quantum of power , describing it as evidence of the success of the government ’ s policy on incremental power.

The TCN , which manages the national grid , is still fully owned and operated by the government .

Electricity generation companies recently complained that their plants were being forced to operate below their optimal capacity levels .

The Executive Secretary , Association of Power Generation Companies , the umbrella body for the Gencos , Dr Joy Ogaji , attributed the problem to transmission and distribution .

She said , “ Specifically , generation companies are pinned down by some operational impediments. The frequency of instructions to either increase load or decrease load ( ramp up and ramp down ) and , in some cases , shut down, has induced damaging stresses to the components of the machines

“ These instructions , reflective of the grid behaviour , are subjecting key electrical components of the power plants to operational stresses . Our available generation has always been steady between 7 , 500MW and 8 , 000MW ; you can check the records at the National Control Centre, Osogbo . ”

The power grid has suffered four collapses so far this year , according to data from the system operator .

According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission , a total system collapse means total blackout nationwide , while partial system collapse is a failure of a section of the grid .

The grid has continued to suffer system collapse over the years amid a lack of spinning reserve that is meant to forestall such occurrences .

Spinning reserve is the generation capacity that is online but unloaded and that can respond within 10 minutes to compensate for generation or transmission outages .

Out of the five power stations meant to provide spinning reserves , none had any actual reserve as of 6 . 00 am on Thursday , with the contracted reserve put at 295 megawatts.

The power stations are Egbin , Delta , Olorunsogo NIPP , Geregu NIPP and Omotosho NIPP.

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