Nationwide Darkness Looms as Electricity Grid Loses 1,585mw Again

 

Daily power report from the Nigerian System Operator (NSO) has shown that the national electricity grid yesterday, dropped to 2,116megawatts (mw) from the 3,701mw obtained on Monday as a difference of 1,585mw was lost but the cause is yet to be ascertained. 

 

Following the systematic percentage load allocation to the 11 electricity Distribution companies (Discos), the Discos got less than half load allocation to them thereby causing critical poor supply situation across the country.

 

According to Daily Trust, calculated percentage of load sharing indicates that Ikeja Disco usually gets 15% share of the grid standing at 316mw, being the highest allocation to a Disco yesterday. It requires over 600mw to averagely satisfy its heavily industrialised customers.

 

The least load of 3.5% resulting in 73.8mw was allocated to the Yola Disco supplying power to the Northeast. It was equally less than half of its ideal consumption capacity.

 

Ibadan Disco which has 13% allocation got 274mw; Abuja Disco by the percentage (11.5%) got 242mw instead of its average 450mw required for optimum distribution.

 

Eko Disco was to get 232mw (11%) of the grid level while Benin and Enugu Discos got 189mw (9%) each. Kaduna and Kano Discos got 169mw (8%) each, far less than their capacity. Port Harcourt and Jos Discos got 137mw (6.5%) and 116mw (5.5%) of the grid’s share.

 

Some Discos’ officials when contacted yesterday said the allocation was so poor that it would cause blackout in various axis of their franchise areas even while they ration supply.

 

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) responsible for wheeling power to the Discos, whose section, NSO reported the drop, is yet disclose the reason behind the huge loss of supply in just one day.

 

TCN at the weekend said it recovered from what seemed to be the fourth system collapse this year where it lost about 200mw. While two collapses occurred in March, two others have been recorded so far this month.

 

Its spokesperson, Mrs. Seun Olagunju said in a text message that the Generation companies (Gencos) would know the challenges better. “TCN only transmits what the Gencos generate,” she added.

 

A Genco source however said there are maintenances on some vandalised gas-to-power pipelines and that had critically reduced gas supply to some power stations recently.