By Ejiofor Alike

The country’s power supply, which had hit 4,400 megawatts few weeks ago, has dropped to 3,900mw, due to limited gas supply from the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and failure of the gas pipeline that feeds Sapele Power Station, THISDAY has learnt.

It was, however, gathered last night that the excavation of the failed gas pipeline will commence today, for the purpose of laying new lines that will supply gas to the 240mw-capacity Sapele Power Station.

Managing Director of Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Saidu Mohammed, however, told THISDAY that the Sapele Station was shut down due to a leak on the gas delivery line and not as a result of inadequate gas supply.

“The station has adequate gas supply but there is a delivery line, which has been leaking. They have to shut down the station to repair the leak,” he said.

But the Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, operators of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Mr. James Olotu, told THISDAY Sunday night that the station was shut down because there was no gas to fire the two units of the plant.
“It is not that the NGC is sabotaging us; it is just that people have been vandalising the lines. This frequent shut down of the station due to inadequate gas supply damages the engines. When you shut down and restart, you are damaging the machines. When you shut down, you will have to wait for about three days for the engines to cool down before you restart the engines. Power is available now but there is no gas to fire the machines,” he said.

Olotu noted that the Sapele NIPP Station was established because the PHCN Phase 1, which is about 30 years old could no longer supply power. “That is why the NIPP came and now there is no gas,” he said.

The inadequate gas supply from the IOCs has hampered power generation in recent weeks as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has the capacity to generate 5,600mw but limited gas supply to fire the machines has restricted generation to 4,400mw before the latest drop in supply.

A source at PHCN, who confirmed the development, told THISDAY that local problems at the distribution companies is also affecting the distribution of the 3,900mw that is currently available, resulting in epileptic supply to some areas.

For instance, in Eko Distribution Zone, there is ongoing NIPP project at Ojo 132,33KV Transmission station, which has interrupted services to customers in Festac and environs; Trade Fair Complex; Ajangbadi and environs; Ojo environs and Satellite.

The project, which will take 25 days to be completed, involves the installation of a 60MVA Transformer and the replacement of obsolete 33KV switch gears at the station.

Power consumers in Ikoyi and Victoria Island axis in the same zone are have also been experiencing epileptic supply in recent days, due to local problems on the distribution infrastructure.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/power-supply-drops-to-3-900mw/109184/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

And power continues to hold Nigeria down.

I no fit laff

" a source at PHCN"

phocking country - I thought they said phcn no longer exists

There is no company called PHCN in the world —NERC boss


http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/the-polity/6366-there-is-no-company-called-phcn-in-the-world-nerc-boss

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when they announced 4,600MW, we felt the stability in supply to our homes and offices.B4 this is brought to the open we have noticed it as well. so whats the solution and when do we expect it to reach the 10,000MW they said can sustain Nigeria daily?

^^^^ Hate to burst your bubble there but I believe much of the increase actually goes to supplying companies and not necessarily homes.

Just yesterday we had people praising the government and declaring that absolutely, the power situation had actually improved. Improved when in fact supply had gone down? I think it is best you make sure you check any sense of improvement you feel next time against reality. That way you folks don't keep coming up as . . . . when you do make your praise announcements.

Na wa o, bad news upon bad news

lol! Where are the folks who went all trigger happy wit their mouths throwing all forms of insults at Ghana and Ghanaians

Kobojunkie:

^^^^ Hate to burst your bubble there but I believe much of the increase actually goes to supplying companies and not necessarily homes.

Just yesterday we had people praising the government and declaring that absolutely, the power situation had actually improved. Improved when in fact supply had gone down? I think it is best you make sure you check any sense of improvement you feel next time against reality. That way you folks don't keep coming up as . . . . when you do make your praise announcements.

senseless post, junkie gidi ni e,

the same gas dem dey flare? STFU

We should try to verify the source of our news before posting or use the right caption. most posters here goofs when it come to caption like this poster.
First and foremost Nigeria has one of highest gas reserves in the world and flares more than 50% due to inability of our locomotive system to handle the large volume (thanks for WAGP which takes most of this gas to other countries). The inefficiency of NEPA it pull gas frequently from IOC"s is costing the them alot both in terms of lost revenue and other thing. The Government should not allow only NGC to handle gas distribution in the country since it has became obvious that they can't cope with gas distribution. If we have other coy that has gas distribution network pipe line, archiving 10k maggawatt will surely be at hand.

While should a country with large gas reserve suffered such a problem? it is due to lack of forward looking leadership without provision for possible event like this.

^^^
Insincere Leadership