Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of Power
The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu said that the Federal Government was making efforts to add 2,550 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
This move is not unconnected to the collapse of the nation’s two electricity grid system experienced within 48 hours last week which led to the loss of about 1,100MW generation capacity.
Aliyu disclosed that the gas pipeline affected by acts of vandalism had been restored and that the Okpai power plant had resumed generation and was currently contributing an average of 300MW to the grid. He added that the development last week was exacerbated by the ongoing water management regime at the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro power plants.
According to Aliyu, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc had been directed to enter into fast-track negotiation with Agip on an interim energy sales agreement with a view to bringing the new Okpai Il power plant on the grid, thereby contributing an additional 400MW of generation capacity.
“The “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani power plant is scheduled for completion tomorrow thus ramping up generation by about 400MW.
“In order to optimise the capacity utilisation of the power plants owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a special gas pricing for emergency contracting of gas from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd. We expect an on-grid improvement of about 800MW generation capacity from the NDPHC plants too,” the Power Minister said.
Aliyu also revealed that government had, in the medium-term, agreed with Nigerian Gas and Power Investment Company Limited (NGPIC), a subsidiary of NNPC, on the framework for the overhaul of the Okoloma gas processing plant thereby restoring the full capacity of the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power plant.
He noted that the recent spate of system collapse was regrettable, saying that it was a direct consequence of a snap on a 330KV transmission line. He added that the mitigation measures for avoiding such incidence of blackouts were being implemented through several interventions including the Presidential Power Initiative.
Reacting to the CBN’s move to inject funds to improve transmission infrastructure, stakeholders in the sector are however divided, insisting that although interventions, such as the alignment of the interface between TCN and DisCos remained critical, it was high time government ensured that the sector operated optimally without support.
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