Abubakar Aliyu, minister of power, says mitigation measures
to avoid recurrence of national grid collapse are being implemented.
The national power
grid had collapsed twice this week.
The system collapse occurred when the country was battling
scarcity and a hike in fuel prices.
In a statement on Saturday, Aliyu disclosed that the recent
system collapse was a direct consequence of a snap on a 330kV transmission
line.
“While the recent spate of system collapse is regrettable,
it was a direct consequence of a snap on a 330kV transmission line,” the
statement reads.
“The mitigation measures for avoiding such incidence of
blackouts are being implemented through several interventions, including the
Presidential Power Initiative.
“We wish to reassure all electricity consumers that all
relevant agencies involved in the restoration of normality in power supply have
been charged to act in the context of the emergency state of the industry.
“The Federal Ministry of Power shall continue to
periodically update the nation on the progress.
According to the minister, the national grid lost about
1,100MW generation capacity as a consequence of simultaneous disruptions in gas
supply to the Okpai, Calabar and the Afam VI power plants.
“The available generation capacity was exacerbated by the
ongoing water management regime at the Kainii, Jebba and Shiroro power plants,”
he added.
The minister noted power generation would return to normalcy
soon.
According to him, the Okpai power plant has resumed power
generation with 300 megawatts capacity.
“The gas pipeline affected by acts of vandalism has been
restored and the Okpai power plant has resumed power generation and currently
contributing an average of 300MW,” he said.
“The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc has been directed
to enter into fast-track negotiation with NAOC on an interim energy sales
agreement with a view of bringing the new Okpai Il power plant on the grid
thereby contributing additional 400MW of generation capacity.
“The “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the
Odukpani power plant is scheduled for completion on March 21st 2022, thus
ramping up generation by about 400MW.
“In order to optimise
the capacity utilisation of the power plants owned by the Niger Delta Power
Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has
approved a special gas pricing for emergency contracting OF gas from the
Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd. We expect an on-grid improvement of about
800MW generation capacity from the NDPHC plants.
“In the medium-term, we have agreed with NGPIC (a subsidiary
of NNPC) on the framework for the overhaul of the Okoloma gas processing plant,
thereby restoring the full capacity of the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power
plant.”
On Thursday, Tony Elumelu, chairman of the United Bank for
Africa (UBA) Plc, had listed erratic electricity supply, hikes in diesel
prices, and frightening food inflation as issues bedevilling the country.
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