Nine days after system collapse, power supply increased by 32,729MW- Report

Solomon Ezeme

Electricity supplied from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to power Distribution Companies (DisCos) increased cumulatively by 32,729.52MW  in nine days with a daily average of 3,636.61MW. This happened after it dropped to 461.8MW on Saturday April 9, due to power system collapse on a transmission line in Akwa Ibom.

This is revealed in data obtained by EnergyDay, on Tuesday, April 19 from the Nigerian Electricity System Operator(SO).

The data showed that the quantum of power transmitted between  Saturday, April 9 and Monday, April 18 to the DisCos increased from 461.8MW to  3,488.49MW y,  following the restoration of the grid system.

An analysis of the data further revealed that power transmission in the country sharply fell by about 88.72 percent from 4,093.7MW on Friday, April 8 to 461.8MW on Saturday, April 9, representing a total shortfall of about 3,631.9MW recorded within 24 hours.

The data revealed that transmission started rising on Sunday, April 10 after intervention initiated by  Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, the country’s Power Minister and other stakeholders in the power sector to restore power to normalcy.

On April 10, electricity transmitted by the TCN increased by 2887.48MW (625.26%) from 461.8MW the previous day to 3349.28MW,which relatively showed the result of the stakeholders’ intervention.

The energy supply trends has since remained positive with no significant decline recorded again to date.

The figure from ( SO) on Monday April 11, shows that about 3,601.2MW of electricity was wheeled to the DisCos, resulting in a further increase of about 7.52% after the 625.26% rise recorded on Sunday, April 9.

Power transmission again rose by some 0.38% on Tuesday, April 12 when power sent to the DisCos increased by 13.84MW from 3601.195MW the previous day to 3615.04MW.

Transmission rose by 154.99MW (4.29%) from 3615.04MW to 3770.03MW the next day, Wednesday, April 13.

DisCos received a total of 3778.33MW electricity on April 14, indicating a further increase of 0.22% in power transmission.

On April 15, the TCN sent out 3857.6MW, leading to another 2.1% rise. Whereas, a 5.05% decline was recorded the following day as transmission fell by 194.84MW, from 3857.6MW on April 15 to 3662.7MW on April 16.

Another 1.53% drop was recorded on Sunday, April 17 when transmission further dropped by 55.9MW, from 3662.7MW on April 16 to 3606.85MW.

Comparing the 461.8MW power transmitted to the DisCos’ networks on Saturday, April 9 when the 88.72% drop was recorded and the present quantum of 3,488.49MW electricity wheeled into the distribution network on Tuesday, April 18, a total of 3026.69MW differential was recorded, which was about 655.41% rise between both days.

Meanwhile, EnergyDay was informed that the data obtained from the system operator was not a true reflection of daily electricity generated by the power Generation Companies (GenCos).

Dr. Joy Ogaji, the Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), said to our correspondent that the Association is presently compiling figures of daily generation as updated on their individual websites.

Ogaji gave assurances  that actual data for electricity daily generation by the GenCos would be released to the media soon.

EnergyDay further gathered that Nigeria’s overall electricity generation capacity increased gradually, from approximately 5,500MW in late 2014, to more than 11,000MW installed capacity by end February 2021.

However, of this installed capacity, the available capacity varies from approximately 7,500MW to 4,200MW, depending on gas availability for the gas-fired power plants, hydrological conditions for the Hydro power plants and power plant maintenance issues.

The actual power generation was constrained to a maximum of 5,500MW by Transmission factors, which are beyond the control of the power generating companies. This supply is premised on an on-grid demand of 28,880MW, as at end February 2022.

This sub-optimal performance by power generation plants was indicated in the commercial performance report of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Market , It showed that at the end of December 2021, NESI Market collections for electricity supplied were only able to cover 64 percent of the cost of supplying electricity.