ABUJA, Nigeria – Power generation to the national grid dipped below the 4,000 megawatts mark over the weekend, leaving customers across the country with limited electricity supply.
According to data provided by the National System Operator (NSO), an independent arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), only 18 of the 25 power plants in the country supplied power to the grid.
As of 12 noon on Sunday, April 23, 2023, generation stood at 3,518.7MW, marking a significant drop of 18.6 per cent compared to the average generation of 4,324.1MW recorded last Friday.
The largest decline by a single power plant was observed at Azura-Edo IPP, which recorded 256MW – down from the 403.18MW recorded last week. A visit to the Azura-Edo website revealed that only two of its three-generation units were on the grid.
The largest suppliers to the grid during this period were Egbin Power (529MW), Delta Power (502MW), and Kainji Hydro (426MW).
The cause of the decline in power generation is yet to be determined, but the sudden dip has left millions of Nigerians grappling with reduced electricity supply.
“We are working closely with the power plants to identify the cause of the decline in generation and to restore normal operations as quickly as possible,” a spokesperson for NSO said in a statement to the press.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers and assure them that we are doing everything in our power to address the issue.”
As authorities work to determine the cause of the drop in power generation, customers are urged to conserve energy and prepare for potential fluctuations in electricity supply until the situation is resolved.
