Abuja — Nigerians should expect improved power supply by October this year, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) said yesterday.

There has been a noticeable drop in power supply in the last one month, with many parts of Nigeria going for weeks without electricity.

However, PHCN has given a situation report, with a promise that the power generated by the hydro stations, which stands at 594 megawatts, will hit 1382 megawatts between October and November when water levels are expected to be high.

This, according to the company's spokesperson, Mrs. Efuru Igbo, would mitigate the abysmal power supply situation.

Although the country currently needs anything between 4000-6000 megawatts to achieve a fairly stable power supply, the current output is estimated at 2000 megawatts because of problems with gas supply.

As at yesterday, the hydro plants at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro, all in Niger State, generated 127 megawatts, 225 megawatts and 242 megawatts respectively, way below their installed capacities, owing mainly to the fact that they are yet to hit their peak in terms of available water level.

By October to November, she said, Nigerians could expect to enjoy a much improved supply, although she said 75 per cent of electricity generation in the country is based on the thermal power stations currently bedevilled by gas shortage.

Restating the government's determination to meeting the 6000 megawatts target by December, Igbo said the power utility company was building injection substations throughout Nigeria as well as distribution substations, rehabilitating lines and constructing new lines.

She said all distribution transformers, circuit breakers and isolators had been procured from known manufacturers.

"A majority of the lines materials are in our stores," she said.

According to her, among the items procured are 7.5MVA to 15MVA transformers and 33/11KV panels with an estimated value of over N2 billion, which will improve voltage level and relieve overloaded transformers and lines.

A document obtained by THISDAY showed that transmission projects were going on various parts of the country such as Niger, Kebbi, Kano, Lagos and Rivers States.

They are to increase the capability of the transmission grid to wheel additional power to the major load centres, reduce technical losses and generally guarantee quality and reliable electricity supply.

In particular, the document said the project in Afam, Rivers State, would provide additional security to the network in that station to evacuate the power from the new Afam VI power station by Shell.

"Similarly, the project in Kebbi at Birnin Kebbi 330/132KV station will not only improve the supply to Kebbi State but also Sokoto State in addition to providing flexibility of operations in the station," it said.

It also disclosed 16 units of 60MVA transformers had been procured and six of them had already arrived and the clearing process was ongoing, while additional four transformers were on the high seas and would arrive in six weeks.
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"These 10 no. transformers will be installed in Alimosho, Ughelli, Kaduna, Abuja, Owerri and Gombe, Maryland, Suleija, Nnewi and Sokoto transmission stations," the document said. "As soon as the others arrive, they will be distributed to various areas of need. Three 150MVA transformers are also expected in the country within the next three weeks and they will be installed in Akangba, Kaduna (Mondo) and Abuja Katampe transmission stations."

The PHCN spokesperson said the expansion programme would make areas without power to have access to the utility.

Igbo said owing to the vandalism of gas pipelines which had made gas supply to the power plants inadequate, there had been over-dependence on the available hydro power stations, but noted that the Federal Government had been working hard to make gas available through the gas master plan.

She said given all of the work going on across the country, the attainment of 6000 megawatts was a certainty.

October is three months away, what a shame!!

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