Power Supply Worsens

Fri, Jan 16, 2015

By publisher

3 MIN READ

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Power supply situation in the country is worsening in Lagos, despite the promises by the federal government to improve the situation

|  By Anayo Ezugwu  |  Jan. 26, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT  |

NIGERIANS are becoming increasingly concerned over the deteriorating power supply situation in the State.   According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, the power supply has dropped from 4500 megawatts, MW, to 3000 MW.  A statement signed by Dave Ifabiyi, assistant general manager, public affairs, TCN, said that the unexpected drop in power generation was occasioned by a recent act of vandalism on the nation’s key gas pipeline, the Trans-Forcados gas pipeline.

The development means that the country’s electricity generation which averaged about 4,500MW in recent times has dropped by almost 1,500MW. It noted that the drop would necessitate regular supply rationing because gas supply to three key power generation companies, Egbin, Olorunsogo, and Geregu had been affected by the act. The vandals, Ifabiyi explained, struck at five different points on the about 50-kilometre pipeline and that repair works on it had commenced but would last for at least two weeks.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced the drop of available power generation to 3,000megawatt for it to wheel to the distribution companies. The drop which has necessitated power supply rationing, is due to gas supply shortages in several power generating stations following reported acts of vandalism on the Trans-Forcados Gas Pipeline, which occurred on January 6. The vandals struck at five different points of the gas pipeline thereby shutting off gas supply to power stations in Delta, Olorunsogo as well as Geregu and Egbin. Repair works on the damaged portions have commenced but it could take 10 days for full restoration of normal services,” the statement said.

TCN therefore appealed to the public to bear with it on the attendant power rationing and promised that efforts were being mobilised for early restoration of normal services. It also called on vandals to desist from their nefarious activities which prevent the nation from achieving the much promised transformation in the power sector.

It should be recalled that Chinedu Nebo, minister of power, during the 32nd edition of the National Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, conference, Lagos, said for Nigerians to enjoy steady power supply in 2015, the country need to increase the megawatts and the gas supply to the generation and distribution companies by at least 70 percent. He explained that with the number of households in Nigeria with electricity standing at more than 29 million, with an average consumption of one megawatt for about 500 homes, electricity supply for consumers will stand at 60 gigawatts, GW, of power daily.

According to him, the country need to address some of the challenges witnessed the in sector in 2014, which include inadequate gas supply to power plants, new Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO-2), lack of metering or unwillingness of electricity distribution companies to provide meters, poor service deliveries, especially by discos in areas of provision of transformers and response to customers’ complaints.  Nebo promised Nigerians that the tariff would eventually come down when the quantity of power generated increases and supply to homes and businesses improve. He explained that just as improvement occurred in the telecommunication sector when it was privatised 15 years ago, the power sector would also witness such phenomenal growth.

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