National grid collapses, power output dwindles to 230megawatts

Following a major collapse in the national grid during the week (Wednesday and Thursday), leaving electricity output dwindling to a low of 230 megawatts as against the 4,032 megawatts national average, most parts of the country have since been thrown into total darkness.

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And almost 72 hours after the first collapse, which was reported on Wednesday, and subsequently a second collapse at about 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is yet to resolve the fault.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

With the sharp drop in generation only few areas of the country are reportedly receiving limited power supply.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

Power grid collapses in the country have become a recurring decimal with the current incident making it the sixth time so far this year.

Meanwhile, TCN yesterday in Abuja offered explanation for the poor performance of the nation’s electricity grid and its persistent collapse in recent times.

Briefing media men on the challenges facing the grid, the Managing Director, TCN, Usman Gur Mohammed, said unless there were critical investments across the nation’s electricity substations, especially equipping the stations with facilities called “N minus one” to reduce damages in case of eventualities, the grid would continue to fail.

According to Mohammed, though investment hovering around $1.6 billion was raised to address some of the issues facing the power sector, the deals require time to manifest. He added that the country requires frequency control if the grid must work adequately, as high voltage due to prevailing poor distribution network affects transmission infrastructure.

He said: “Though the country has achieved frequency control of around 49.80Hz and 50.25Hz consistently in recent times, the rate of stability must be 100 per cent to sustain the grid.”

“While the country requires spinning reserve commensurate with the current level of power generation, Nigeria has been operating with zero spinning reserve.