After Grid was Restored, Ministry of Power Provided an Update on Electricity Supply.

The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry has been updated by the Ministry of Power on the progress made so far in addressing recent challenges (NESI).

Following the grid collapse that impacted some states this week, Minister Abubakar Aliyu met with stakeholders.

Aliyu revealed efforts to restore electricity and develop a framework for long-term supply improvement in a statement released on Saturday.

He recalled that the national grid lost about 1,100MW of generation capacity due to gas supply disruptions at the Okpai, Calabar, and Afam VI power plants all at the same time.

The ongoing water management regime at the Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro power plants, according to Aliyu, has exacerbated the available generation capacity.

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On the status of the project, he confirmed that the gas pipeline that had been vandalized had been repaired, and that the Okpai power plant had resumed power generation, contributing an average of 300MW.

In addition, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Pl has been directed to negotiate with NAOC on an interim energy sales agreement to bring the new Okpai Il power plant onto the grid, which will add 400MW of generation capacity to the grid.

“The “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani power plant is scheduled to be completed on March 21, 2022, resulting in a 400MW increase in generation,” he said.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved special pricing for emergency gas contracting from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd in order to maximize the utilization of Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC) plants.

The government expects the NDPHC plants to increase on-grid generation capacity by about 800MW.

Aliyu announced a framework agreement with NGPIC (an NNPC subsidiary) to overhaul the Okoloma gas processing plant, restoring the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power plant to full capacity.

A snap on a 330kV transmission line, according to the minister, was the direct cause of the recent spate of system failures.

He assured that several interventions, including the Presidential Power Initiative, are being implemented to mitigate the risk of blackouts in the future (PPI).

All relevant agencies involved in the restoration of normalcy in power supply have been charged to act in the context of the industry’s emergency state, Aliyu told electricity customers.