There has been a significant drop in power supply to electricity consumers across the country following the loss of over 1,600 megawatts from the national grid.
According to latest statistics released on the ministry’s website- www.power.gov.ng, total electricity generation supplied to the national grid dropped to 3,175.92MW on Wednesday from 3,914.74MW available on December 15, 2015.
Although, no official statement has been made to explain the latest plunge in power generation and supply, the slide from 4,883.9 megawatts of peak power generation recorded on November 23, 2015 down to 3,175.92 in less than a month represents another big set back in the efforts to actualize stable electricity in Nigeria.
Industry sources are already pointing accusing fingers to the chaotic gas supply dilemma that has plagued the operations of most thermal stations across the country. “Definitely, it must be traced to gas supply or damage to pipelines feeding the plants”, a top official of Ikeja Electric, who spoke under anonymity said, while lamenting the impact of the drop on their service delivery.
“You will notice that power supply has dropped significantly in this part of Lagos since this incident started early this month and the general impression was that we are the cause. The truth remains we are as worried as our customers because we want improved power supply but can only supply what we receive”, he stressed.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had recently said subject to budgetary provisions, the ministry would build some critical infrastructure to transport gas to the power plants in order to add 2,000MW to the country’s stock of electricity in the next 12 to15 months.
By Olisemeka Obeche