Electricity generation declines to 1,360mw

•‘Sector records N20b loss in one month’
The Nigerian electricity sector recorded the lowest generation of 1,360 megawatts (mw) on October 15, 2017, according to the daily generation report from the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

Besides, the country lost over N20 billion to reported frequency management constraint due to loss of DisCo feeders and gas constraint, data from Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) shows.The country’s electricity generation had fluctuated between 3,500mw and 4,500mw in the last few months before the latest development.

This is a far cry from the country’s installed capacity of 11,165.40mw and national peak demand forecast of 19,100mw.According to TCN, although, the country’s current transmission capability has increased from 5,500mw to 7,000mw, peak energy generation ever attained remained 5,074mw, which was recorded in February last year.

The Federal Government and investors in the country’s power sector have initiated different strategies to ensure regular electricity in the country, but are usually frustrated by series of constraints.

For example, NESI explained that on October 11 2017, average power sent out was 3,655 MWh/hour (down by 123.98MWh/h).According to NESI, the reported gas constraint was 410mw; reported line constraint was 0mw; frequency management constraint due to loss of DisCo feeders was 1993.5mw.

NESI disclosed that the power sector lost an estimated N1.149 billion on October 11 2017 alone.Reviewing the progress made in the sector in the last one month, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the sector has recovered 100mw from the damaged Afam IV Power Plant, which he recalled, had been inoperative since January 2015.

The Minister also reported that the TCN has energized the Jebba-Kainji 2nd 330KV line and the 2nd Ajaokuta-Abuja 330KV line both of which were inoperative since 2015 while in the last one month, “specifically on Wednesday 4th October 2017”, the Federal Executive Council has approved the verified sum of Federal Government MDA debts of N25.9Billion, and its payment by setting it off against the debts owed by the DisCos to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET).

The Minister, who promised to communicate soon on how the amount has been applied to reduce debts owed by DisCos to NBET, informed also that promising progress was being made in recovering debts due from international customers.

Fashola listed the successful connection of power to Magboro, Ibafo and neighbouring communities in Ogun State, the metering of 196 out of 244 customers on Ajijedidun, Adamolekun and Abiola Alao Streets in Ijeshatedo in Lagos, particularly and the progress made to restore power to 16 out of 36 communities in Ondo North (Akoko Communities) and the challenges in Okitipupa.