The federal government has disclosed the progress made to address the recent challenge in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
It could be recalled that the national grid lost about 1,100MW generation capacity as a consequence of simultaneous disruptions in gas supply to the Okpai, Calabar and the Adam VI power plants. The available generation capacity was exacerbated by the ongoing water management regime at the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro power plants.
In a statement issued by the Honorable minister, Engr Abubakar Aliyu on March 19, listed the progress progress made, amongst many other initiatives,
1) The gas pipeline affected by acts of vandalism has been restored and the Okpai power plant has resumed power generation and currently contributing an average of 300MW.
2) The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc has been directed to enter into fast-track negotiation with NAOC on an interim energy sales agreement with a view bringing the new Okpai II power plant on the grid thereby contributing additional 400MW of generation capacity.
3) The "pigging" of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani power plant is scheduled for completion on March 21, 2022, thus ramping up generation by about 400MW.
4) In order to optimize the capacity utilisation of the power plants owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a special gas pricing for emergency contracting of gas from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd. We expect an on-grid improvement of about 800MW generation capacity from the NDPHC plants.
5) In the medium term, we have agreed with NGPIC (a subsidiary of NNPC) on the framework for the overhaul of the Okolomo gas processing plant thereby restoring the full capacity of the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power plant.
6) While the recent spate of system collapse is regrettable, it was a direct consequence of a snap on a 300KV transmission line. The mitigation measures for avoiding such incidence of blackouts are being implemented through several interventions including the Presidential Power Initiative.
The federal government reassured that all relevant agencies involved in the restoration of normality in power supply have been charged to act in the context of the emergency state of the industry.
Source: www.clintonsdaily.com
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