Nigeria’s power grid records 206 collapses in 9 years as foreign funded investment hits N715bn

NIGERIAN woke up on Wednesday, May 8, to a nationwide power outage that cut off power from many homes and factories leading to reduced load allocations to the distribution companies (DisCos).

At about 5:29 am the following day (Thursday, May 9, 2019), the grid collapsed again, compounding the nation’s energy challenge. Checks revealed that the country’s power grid had collapsed no fewer than nine times in 2019. In January alone, the country’s power grid collapsed twice while at least two major collapses were recorded in April.

Investigation shows that the nine power grid collapses witnessed this year were among at least 206 of such incidents that have been recorded since 2010. Scores of the ‘Total Grid System Collapse’ have occurred after the entire electricity grid goes off for several hours. There were also cases of ‘Partial Grid System’ Collapse’ when a section of the country was thrown into darkness for hours due to major transmission line trips.

Officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) who probe such incidents, traced the cause to high voltage level resulting from multiple tripping on the Alaoji-Onitsha transmission line, a power plant that shut down abruptly and a huge energy load rejected by the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos).

206 collapse in 9 years

Between 2010 and 2019, Nigerian electricity consumers have had to contend with 206 power grid collapse, nine of which occurred in 2019, records obtained from the System Operator (SO), a section of TCN, indicate.

A breakdown of the 206 grid collapse which often led to a power cut for a whole region or even the entire country shows that 109 of the incidents occurred from 2010 to 2013; while 97 others were recorded from 2014 to 2019.

The country went into total darkness 22 times and recorded 20 partial outages in 2010. The grid had 13 incidents of total collapse and six partial incidents in 2011. By 2012, there were 16 total collapses and eight partial ones. In 2013 when preparations for the privatization were topmost, there were 22 total power grid collapses while partial trappings occurred twice.

The post-privatization era also had its fair share of system collapse. Although the situation improved in 2014 as records show, there were nine total collapses and four partial ones. By 2015, the trouble persisted with a record of six total and four partial collapses. It became worst by 2016 when the grid tripped for 22 times and went off partially six times.

Investigations further reveal that in 2017, there were 15 total, and nine partial collapses while last year, 12 total collapses were recorded with one partial collapse.

At least nine total collapses have been recorded this year; four of which occurred in January. The five others were spread across February, April, May, June, and August.

The total collapse on June 30, which dropped grid power to 127MW, was traced to a fire outbreak at the Benin transmission substation in Edo state. On August 30, the national electricity grid recorded another total collapse, throwing the country into darkness for about 10 hours. It was a total collapse as power generation on the grid dropped to 20MW.

Grid outages highest during rainy season

Trend analyses of these collapses further indicate that national grid outages were worst during some months in the rainy season. The highest of such was in May, which had 30 collapses since 2010. June is next with 29 occurrences.

Another trend is the occurrence of more collapses in January. At least 19 incidents were recorded in the nine-year analysis. The negative trend of 17 occurrences per month was recorded in April, September, and October. It slid to 16 occurrences in November, 15 collapses in July, and 14 incidents in March and December. The least occurrences were in August (7 collapses) and February (10 collapses).

TCN on various occasions this year blamed the DisCos’ load rejection for the high frequency of grid collapses in the rainy season. It said once it rains, the DisCos due to their poor networks, shutdown many power feeders which denies customers of supply, and that when the grid voltages became too high for lack of consumption, a collapse or frequency disturbance became inevitable.

Grid limitations cut 17,500MW in 76 months

Records of power generation since the privatization in 2013 to December 2018 indicate that the GenCos have more capacity to deliver power than they had before the privatization.

Analysis of the historical generation data from the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) indicates that the GenCos had made available about 38,546 megawatts (MW) generation capability from November 2013 to December 2018.

While the national grid took only 20,960MW, a huge quantum of 17,582MW representing 45 percent of the total GenCos’ capability was stranded. They were not allowed to generate that quantum into the grid. APGC claimed the existing transmission network is inadequate, fragile and not reliable.

The System Operator (SO) is a department of TCN that controls the national power grid. The GenCos said while they made effort to increase their generating capacity, the SO has the right according to the Grid Code, to instruct them to reduce or cut down their nominated capacity, with which they must have made gas commitments.

READ MORE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/nigerias-power-grid-records-206-collapses-in-9-years-as-foreign-funded-investment-hits-n715bn/

ZonBs Oya over to Una....

I still don't understand this grid collapse thing.

Power will never going to be stable in this country! Not nown but may be later!

Where do they invest these billions they're calling all the time?

Hmmm

If any measure is not taking as regards the issue of electricity supply in Nigeria, we would remain like this for the next 30 years

Shout-out to all the guys who can keep 15 girlfriends without them knowing yet they see you as someone who doesn't cheat

Guys abeg how did you do it, I only have 2 girlfriends and everything scatter which material should I get

And we'll still have at least two more power grid failures before the end of this year.

Bet me

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206 collapse in 9yrs after billions of dollars investments. Who are they deceiving? We already know that when every they want us to have constant power supply we would have. A country that supply electricity to other countries doesn't have sufficient power supply. This country nah scam.

Iiu

And if nothing is done right now, we will keep suffering this for many more years to come.



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Until we have a Gaddafi like leader we will never have light

We are talking about system collapse one idiot up there was shouting zombie. By that your grandchildren started seeing living in tent as development you will rolling in your grave by then. awon wèrè

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Dear FG please, it's time to invite China into our power sector. I know many people would question this, however, we know the countries that are always interested in war, terrorism, slavery among others. We also know countries that are interested in infrastructure development; train, airports and many other projects across Africa. This difference is obvious but CNN, BBC brainwashed youths would have different opinion.....even though they are aware of P & ID $9bn fraud case.

Inside life! Parts of that 715 billion is in some people's accounts.

It was getting better until a clown made it worse...

Yello, Please note that from Oct 21, we will charge N4 per 20 seconds for USSD access to banking services. Thank you.Please can somebody explain the meaning of this to me

Some russian hackers said they couldnt hack our banks because server was always going down....so the collapse is an internal security measure lol

How did other countries they travel to able to fix power? Let them apply the same tech within...simple! All this money is enough to buy or build a power plant that can run on gas or invest largely on renewable energy like solar...

We have so many dumb and greedy bastards up there feeding fat to the detriment of the masses Nigeria is cursed....

Yeye Country.

Fashola has truly failed..

As buhari is to the economy, Fashola is to power.

Useless people..

Officialgarri:
If any measure is not taking as regards the issue of electricity supply in Nigeria, we would remain like this for the next 30 years

I am into prepaid meter business.. And I put it to you that even 1000 years, Nigeria will not see constant power.