By Sebastine Obasi

Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, yesterday wheeled out about 4,009 megawatts of generated electricity to 11 distribution companies, creating an indication that the country’s power supply is gradually stabilising.

Daily power statistics from Nigerian Electricity System Operator, a section of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, shows that power generation gradually improved during the last Christmas season with a peak generation of 4,208.3 megawatts from the national grid, with a record of 3,366 megawatts as its lowest within the same period.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, on January 3, disclosed that over N534 billion of revenue was lost by the power sector in 2016.

Among the reasons for the loss were shortages in gas supply, frequency and line limitations and water levels management constraints that led to several cases of electricity outage in the country.

NESI, which put the average daily revenue loss at N1.5 billion, said gas constraint remained one of the major challenges facing the electricity sector.

It said that N534 billion was the value of electricity lost on account of the challenges, part of which could have been used to bridge the liquidity gap in the power sector, estimated at N1trillion.

Already, the sector is finding it difficult to access more loans from Nigerian banks due to their inability to meet the payment obligations for previous borrowings.

The situation will also affect the capacity of the power firms to improve on electricity supply to consumers for domestic and industrial uses.

NESI said in its daily statistics on energy losses that the industry lost N1.525 billion on December 24, 2016 alone.

It also disclosed that about 12 power stations could not produce electricity during off-peak period under the review.

Statistics from the National Control Centre, Osogbo, showed that Afam IV-V, Geregu Gas, Alaoji National Integrated Power Project, NIPP and Olorunsogo Gas plants could not produce a single megawatt, MW, on December 25, 2016.

Others that could not produce a single megawatt (MW) on Dec. 25, 2016 include Odukpani NIPP, Okpai, Ibom Power, ASCO, AES, Omoku, Rivers NIPP and Gbarain power plants.

Nigeria has installed power output of 11,165MW, of which the 12 plants have a combined capacity of 2,035MW.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/electricity-generation-hits-4009mw-improves-gradually/

When are we going achieve 10thousand mgw?

4,000MW smack in the middle of the dry season?

It is either this is false or something else is at play we dont know about.
But then, Nigerian media; they leave out the important parts

onoerime:
When are we going achieve 10thousand mgw?

guy chill, they said 'improves gradually' we are getting there.

I was told NEPA was privatized and changed its name to PHCN by investors.

We now have 3 different entities namely Generation, Transmission and Distribution Companies.

Over #200 billion is budgeted for Power/Energy this year alone by the Bubu administration. Since the sector has been privatized, why is the Federal Government spending huge amount of money on a sector already privatized?

Abi na me no go school to know the meaning of PRIVATIZATION ni?

It's just like the Federal Government spending money on the Telecommunications industry. Providing upgradation to MTN, GLO, Etisalat etc systems.

Since OBJ era, we are still struggling to achieve 6,000MW of Electricity while South Africa could boast of 40,000MW.

Shame on all our past and present leaders.

Film trick. The more things change , the more they remain the same in this country.

Our leaders are always on default lying mode. Haven't Nigerians celebrated 'improved electricity' before and then it goes back to square one.

The $16 billion Obj sank in that sector was enough to build 40,000 megawatts, but no, this country is a basket case, always leaking.

Yar'adua did his own , handed over to Jonathan who also spent billions of dollars to throw us deeper into darkness.

It is dumb for a country of 170 million people to celebrate 4,000 megawatts while a country like south Africa, less than 50 million, has over 40,000 megawatts.

These days I don't believe anything government says until I see with my korokoro eyes.

Mtchewwwww, and we are nt even seeing a single impact.

Visible to the blinds

It isn't good enough....and we still have to replace that transmission system....and generate more.

A big country like Nigeria should be generating 60000-70000MW by now. And we should have at least more investment in solar, nuclear , geothermal and waste powered facilities for our electricity supply.

At the same time, Nigerians need to pay their electricity bills. We cannot be refusing to pay our bills, bypassing meter...and be putting pressure on the few millions of Nigerians who actually pay their bills...and do not get enough service at all. Of course, they would be angry.

And to butress my last point....I leave you with this analysis by a fellow Nairalander. Note the bolded....

Paentera:


Take a look at this analysis and understand why it is easier for Ghana to have constant supply:

Progressively Expensive (Electricity Company of Ghana)
N1,292.53 - Cost of 50 kWh (Electricity Company of Ghana) N25.81/kWh
N4,062.04 - Cost of 100 kWh (Electricity Company of Ghana) N40.62/kWh
N9,409.31 - Cost of 200 kWh (Electricity Company of Ghana) N47.05/kWh

http://www.ecgonline.info/index.php/customer-care/services/tariff.html

Pay As You Go
N1,065.00 - Cost of 50 kWh (Ikeja Electric, Lagos) N21.30/kWh
N2,130.00 - Cost of 100 kWh (Ikeja Electric, Lagos) N21.30/kWh
N4,260.00 - Cost of 200 kWh (Ikeja Electric, Lagos) N21.30/kWh

What this analysis shows us is a cost reflective tariff in Ghana which means cost of all inputs are paid for by the tariff with no need for subsidies. In other words, Ghana's electricity industry pays for itself. In the case of Nigeria (which has the cheapest electricity tariffs in the world), the tariffs cannot adequately pay for the value provided by the whole chain from generation - transmission - distribution, hence leading to shortages. To cut the story short, tariffs set in Nigeria in 2015 (at N198/$1) are not enough to pay for the value created in the industry at the current rate of $309/$1 meaning that gas companies (who sell gas in $$) find it profitable to sell their products internationally where they get full payment than to the Power industry that cannot pay for its products.

If we have 40,000MW capacity but cost reflective tariffs are not introduced to the industry or as an alternative, tariffs subsidized (very inefficient & abuse prone) by the government, there will still be issues in the Power sector.

up NEPA

veekid:
Visible to the blinds

And audible to the deaf..... Abi

Things are so bad now, that Nigerians always see little improvement as big achievement.

God will help us....

Goodnews

Good news

sooner or later we get there .....let every state cum local government be generating their own power .....that shd b a closer solution for now....

What about distribution?

Seriously? we don't have light here since Jan 1st.... burning fuel since

mtcheeew, when we stayed for over the past one week without light, the media always painting black white since 19bc

onoerime:


Nigeria has installed power output of 11,165MW, of which the 12 plants have a combined capacity of 2,035MW.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/electricity-generation-hits-4009mw-improves-gradually/

11, 165MW installed capacity, but generating between 2000-4000MW. The village people sitting on this countries progress are really trying, but will fail ultimately.

In my area light just dey dey any how

The best solution is to allow states generate their own light.

That one no mean say we go get light today

By next u will hear it has fallen again

Mynd44:
4,000MW smack in the middle of the dry season?

It is either this is false or something else is at play we dont know about.
But then, Nigerian media; they leave out the important parts

Did you read the article?

ok

Good! I have noticed a lot of improvements in my supply in Lag.

This is true as i can feel the impact over here. When there is reasonable increase in generation it is always noticeable over here

ENOUGH WITH THESE LIES!!! DONT TELL US ABOUT PROGRESS LET US SEE IT..

For more lie, send Muhammed to Lia.

Can't deny there has been a significant improvement where I live. Since Christmas eve power has been interrupted for a total of 2 hours only. Almost forgotten what generator sounds like. Lord knows I can get used to this.