Electricity supply to consumers in Nigeria has worsened, with Distribution Companies (DisCos) receiving 2,926 megawatts (MW), amid inadequate gas supply, reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs and other operational constraints.
The report by Vanguard newspaper stated that the data from Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed the distribution across the DisCos with Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu and Ibadan DisCos receiving 633MW, 264MW, 256MW, 253MW and 391MW, respectively.
Similarly, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt and Yola DisCos received 249MW, 146MW, 167MW, 173MW, 320MW and 74MW, respectively.
According to NISO, the limited availability of gas has constrained the capacity of affected thermal generating stations to operate at their available levels, while reduced water inflows into reservoirs have impacted the generation capacity of hydroelectric power stations.
It explained that the constraints had reduced electricity allocations to DisCos, resulting in fewer hours of supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks.
“Consequently, the reduction in available generation has affected the quantum of electricity allocated to Distribution Companies (DisCos) for onward supply to consumers, thereby resulting in reduced hours of electricity supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Power acknowledged the impact of the outages on households, businesses and public institutions, particularly in areas that had recently recorded improvements in electricity supply.
A statement signed by Adeola Adelabu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Nigeria’s Minister of Power, the ministry said: “We recognise what every hour without power means for individuals, families and businesses, and we do not take it lightly.”
The Ministry further said that preliminary assessments showed that the disruptions were not caused by any major or systemic failure of the national grid.
“They stem from maintenance and operational issues on parts of the power ecosystem, together with a decline in generation caused by constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower water inflows into reservoirs,” the statement said.
The ministry disclosed that the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO and DisCos to resolve the operational constraints, accelerate ongoing maintenance and restore normal supply.
It disclosed that generation has recovered to 3,688.95MW and there could be improvement in electricity supply.
GIK/APA