The quantum of electricity generated in the country fell by over 1,000 megawatts within a space of eight hours on Tuesday. According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the generated electricity dropped by 1,018.5MW between 6am and 3pm.
Data from the System Operator showed that the country generated 2,418.5MW of electricity as of 6am. But in a statement by the TCN around 3pm, the firm noted that the total power generation had dropped to 1,400MW.
The Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Mr. Clement Ezeolisah, said in the statement, “The management of the System Operation/Market Operation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria has alerted that electricity generation into the national grid has dropped to 1,400MW as of Tuesday, 17th of May, 2016.
“The downward trend of electricity generation is due to constraints in the thermal power stations, which have prevented the generators from producing at optimal levels. However, it is noteworthy to report that all stakeholders are working assiduously to achieve improvement in the power supply deliverables. The attendant inconvenience as a result of low power generation is regretted.”
Additional data from the SO, which were obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, showed that the country recorded a peak generation of 2,868.3MW the previous day, while the lowest generation was 2,166.1MW.
The national peak forecast was put at 17,520MW, while the total installed and available capacities for the country were 11,165.4MW and 7,139.6MW, respectively.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing attributed the constraints faced by thermal power generating plants to the persistent poor supply of gas to fire up the gas turbines, stressing that the vandalisation of pipelines in recent times had massively hit the sector negatively.