The national electricity grid lost 2,277 megawatts (MW) due to shortage of gas supply to 10 Generation Companies, GenCos.
A total of 3,004MW was lost during the period. Adding to the 2,277MW lost to gas shortage was another 727MW loss resulting from low water level, transmission hiccups and frequency management of the Distribution Companies (DisCos) load demand.
The highest electricity generated on Sunday was 4,392MW while the lowest was 3,336MW, but it could have been higher by 3,004MW barring the four constraints highlighted by an operational report posted by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The constraints of gas to power supply was reduced in 2017 when the federal government intervened with a N701 billion payment assurance Guarantee (PAG) to help raise more funding to the GenCos.
The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) has so far disbursed the fund for nine months of 2017 and is expected to last till 2019 when the liquidity crisis in the power sector would have been resolved.
The 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) are reported to be paying about 30 per cent of their monthly energy invoices while NBET draws about 50 per cent from the PAG to make it about 80 per cent for the GenCos’ financing and gas payment.
Despite this, gas supply to the GenCos has dipped this year with seven GenCos not getting gas to operate on Sunday, and three having below 50 per cent supply.
Analysis of the operational data proved that about 1,640MW was lost to shortage of gas at the seven GenCos. Ihovbor GenCo lost 225MW, Alaoji lost 240MW, Omotosho Gas lost 190MW, and Olorunsogo Gas lost 190MW.
About 145MW was lost at Geregu NIPP, another 290MW was lost at Geregu Gas, and 360MW at Olorunsogo NIPP as they were completely shut down.
Those GenCos that operated minimally were Egbin Steam which lost 457MW to gas shortage, Omoku lost 64MW and Omotosho NIPP lost 75MW to gas inadequacy.
Issues with transmission lines restrained 150MW power generation at the Afam VI GenCo while DisCo’s load demand and frequency management deprived the grid from having 287MW from Shiroro hydropower (87MW) and Afam VI (200MW).
Low water level at Shiroro hydropower constrained another 290MW, the breakdown of power generation for January 28, 2018 revealed.
