Blackout Looms as TCN Fails to Allot Generated Power

Despite low output from Nigeria’s 23 power plants, over 1000 megawatts of energy are currently not assigned to power distribution companies (DisCos).

Investigation has revealed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria failed to allot 1,357MW of energy from a measly 3, 871MW generated on Sunday.

According to statistics acquired by TCN’s Nigerian Electricity System Operator, nine DisCos out of 11 were given a total of 2, 514MW on Sunday, leaving 1,357 unallocated.

A breakdown of the allocation for Sunday showed that Abuja DisCo received a total of 289.92MW; Benin DisCo, 226.89; Eko DisCo, 377.31MW; while 251.89MW was allocated to Enugu DisCo.

While Ibadan DisCos got an allocation of 348.73MW, Ikeja DisCo received the highest load of 478.15MW.

Jos DisCos got the lowest allocation of 138.66MW, Kaduna DisCos received 201.68MW, while Kano DisCos got 201.68MW.

Peak generation for the day was put at 3, 871.60 MW.

Nigeria’s power generation has been on a record low of not up to 4000MW in the last two years.

While generating companies have blamed the situation largely on inability of TCN to transmit quantum of power generated to DisCos, the DisCos have most times dragged TCN for weak transmission lines, low allocation, liquidity gap and others. The TCN, on the other hand, sometimes accuses the DisCos of load rejection.

Although the country’s national grid has a 13,014.14MW capacity, the GenCos generate a meagre 7,652.6MW, while TCN has capacity to wheel 8,100MW.

Experts say Nigeria needs at least 30, 000MW electricity for its over 200 million population to reach sufficiency. The national peak forecast is 19798MW.

Time peak generation ever attained was 5801.6MW, and that was two years ago.

Findings showed that in March, about 14 gas-powered plants out of 23 connected to the national grid were down as a result of any of gas constraints, pipeline pigging, fault in generating units, water management, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.

With almost nine years of privatisation, the Federal Government said it had spent over N2 trillion on resolving decades of rot in the power.

Source: punchng.com