By Kingsley Okoye
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has shut down six thermal power generating stations to enable the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) pipeline carry out repair work on a ruptured gas pipeline which has caused a drop in electricity supply in the country.
General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Mrs Ndidi Mbah said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, that the drop in electricity affected a total of 1,087.6Mega Watts of Power nationwide.
TCN explained that the six thermal power generating stations were unable to generate electricity due to the gas pipeline and the and technical issues at the Shell gas wells.
The company listed the affected power stations to include Ihovbor, Azura, Omotosho gas, Geregu gas, Olorunsogo gas, Sapele and the Egbin power stations.
TCN said the six power generating thermal stations had managed to generate 60MW only on each of its units, losing a total of 211MW.
The company also said Afam VI power station was shut down so that Shell oil company could resolve its gas well issues to enable it commence gas supply to Afam VI power station.
“With a total loss of 1,087.6MW into the grid, the transmission system has become quite fragile and TCN is working hard to avert a collapse of the system, by engaging in load-shedding.
“Load-shedding, is to ensure that available generation is commensurate with what is allocated to DisCos nationwide, to create a balance and avert grid instability,” Mbah was quoted as saying in the statement.
She said the problem which necessitated the company to adopt a load shedding strategy to maintain stability of the grid, affected the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states of the federation.
According to TCN, the gas pipeline rupture and technical issues at the Shell gas wells occurred on June 15 and June 16 respectively.
The TCN spokesperson also said NGC was making efforts to ensure that the gas pipeline issues are resolved to restore normal gas supply to affected power generating stations, to enable them generate into the grid.
The company also said that Shell had in the morning hours of June 17 resolved its gas well issue and gas supply partially restored to Afam VI power station.
TCN also noted that there was no collapse of the grid as was reported in some quarters.
The company appealed for understanding, adding that TCN engineers were working hard to maintain stability of the grid, pending completion of repairs of gas pipeline by NGC and restoration of full gas supply to affected generating stations.
Meanwhile, many parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had been out of supply in the past two days.
In a telephone interview, AEDC’s Head of Corporate Communication, Mr Fadipe Oyebode, attributed the non supply and load shedding in some areas to the limited allocation from the national grid to AEDC.
Oyebode said AEDC was only allocated 194.58MW from the grid on June 16, out of its total 11 per cent allocation hence its inability to fully supply to its customers.
He, however said that the situation has improved as AEDC’s allocation for June 17, stood at 330.44MW.
