Emergency Measures Restored Power Supply, Says FG

The federal government claims that emergency measures helped the country recover from last week’s nationwide power outage.

Engr Abubakar Aliyu, the Minister of Power, stated this while providing an update on the country’s electricity situation.

Last week, the national grid collapsed twice, forcing President Muhammadu Buhari to apologize to Nigerians and assure them that help was on the way.

‘The minister of power had convened an emergency meeting with stakeholders in the electricity sector.
Aliyu said the situation had improved in a statement he personally signed on Saturday.

Read also: NYSC DG promises greater partnership with NSPM to drive local content initiative

According to him, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc has been directed to enter into a fast-track negotiation with NAOC on an interim energy sales agreement with the goal of bringing the new Okpai Il power plant online and adding 4OOMW of generation capacity to the grid.

“Following the emergency meeting convened by the Honourable on March 14th 2022, in order to restore normal electricity supply nationwide and develop a framework for long-term improvement of supply, we are pleased to provide consumers with an update on the progress made thus far to address the recent challenges in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry,” says the statement.

“It is important for the Nigerian public to remember that the national grid lost about 1,100MW of generation capacity due to simultaneous gas supply disruptions at the Okpai, Calabar, and Afam VI power plants. The ongoing water management regime at the Kainii, Jebba, and Shiroro power plants has exacerbated the available generation capacity. Among the many initiatives that have been implemented thus far are the following:

“Vandalism-damaged gas pipelines have been repaired, and the Okpai power plant has resumed power generation, contributing an average of 300MW.”

“The “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani power plant is expected to be completed on March 21, 2022, resulting in an increase in generation of about OOMW.

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a special gas pricing for emergency contracting OF gas from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company in order to optimize the capacity utilization of the power plants owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC).”

Read also: Tears of joy as Funmi Ayinke offers scholarship, wheelchair to UNILAG student

“In the medium term, we have reached an agreement with NGPIC (…a subsidiary of NNPC) on the framework for the overhaul of the Okoloma gas processing plant, restoring the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power plant to full capacity.”

“While the recent spate of system failures is unfortunate, it was caused by a 330kV transmission line snap.” Several interventions, including the Presidential Power Initiative, are being implemented as mitigation measures to avoid such blackouts.

“We want to reassure all electricity customers that all relevant agencies involved in restoring normalcy in power supply have been charged to act in the face of the industry’s emergency situation.” The Federal Ministry of Power will keep the nation updated on progress on a regular basis.”