The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), says Nigeria has successfully increased the power capacity of the national grid to approximately 14,000 MW from the previous 13,000 MW recorded a few years ago.
Executive Secretary of APGC, Joy Ogaji, credited the boost to the recent addition of the $1.3 billion 700MW Zungeru hydroelectric plant in Niger state, which commenced operations in the second quarter of this year.
“The national grid’s installed power generation capacity now stands at approximately 14,000 megawatts, and the commissioning of the Zungeru plant this year has significantly contributed to this increase,” Ogaji said.
In February, the Federal Government designated Mainstream Energy Solution Limited as the preferred bidder for the plant’s concession. The company offered an annual fee of $700 million for a 30-year operating period.
However, despite Ogaji’s assertion of the 14,000MW capacity, the records from the Nigerian Electricity System Operator reveal that the latest on-grid peak power generation, as of Saturday, was 4,803.60 MW.
Finally electricity supply has been restored hours after a nationwide blackout of over 16hours due to the collapse of the national grid on Thursday.
This was disclosed on its Twitter handle, now (X), Eko Electricity Distribution Company told its customers that electricity supply has been restored in the country.
“Dear Valued Customer. Kindly be informed that power supply has been restored from the grid. Thank you for your patience,” the company said.
There had been report earlier on how the country’s power supply dropped by 93.5 per cent to 273 megawatts, MW in the early hours of today, from 4,182MW recorded on Monday, this week, following a complete system collapse, due to equipment failure or grid disturbance in the sector.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) had earlier reported the total nationwide collapse of the national grid.
Over the years, Nigerian energy supply has been in a near-comatose state, making the power sector unable to provide adequate electricity supply to domestic households and industrial producers. This is despite Nigeria being among owners of the world’s largest deposits of coal, oil, and gas.
The energy supply crisis in Nigeria is complex, stems from a variety of issues, and has been ongoing for decades.
Currently, only 45% of Nigeria’s population is connected to the energy grid whilst power supply difficulties are experienced around 85% of the time and almost nonexistent in certain regions.
At best, the average daily power supply is estimated at four hours, although several days can go by without any power at all.
Former Governor Peter Obi interacting with the top Executives and Engineers of the New Capital Power Plant in New Cairo, Egypt. The plant currently generates 4800 megawatts of electricity.
In a bid to bring to an end the epileptic power supply in Nigeria, the former governor of Anambra and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, recently embarked on a three-day visit to Egypt.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that On Tuesday, the 14th of June, 2022, Peter Obi informed Nigerians via his Twitter handle of his trip to Egypt, to understudy by what miracle the third biggest economy in Africa (Egypt) after South-Africa and Nigeria moved their power generation from 20,000 Megawatts to over 40,000 megawatts in four years.
Ironically, Nigeria has remained stuck on 4,000 megawatts since Adam.
The candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, opined that Peter Obi’s going to Egypt, to learn about governance or how some of their economic policies helped to turn their country around when it is nine months to the election, was a sign of unpreparedness.
On the part of Jacson Ude, “Peter Obi is in Cairo for the AGM meeting of Afreximbank and not to understudy Egypt’s education, power and Finance Sector.”
It was gathered that Peter Obi had traveled to Bangladesh, Rwanda, Kenya, Benin Republic, China, India, among others, to study aspects of their development and has been availing the country of his findings in his quest to see a better governed Nigeria.
Power supply difficulties cripple the agricultural, industrial, and mining sectors and impede Nigeria’s ongoing economic development.
Most Nigerian businesses and households that can afford to do so run one or more diesel-fueled generators to supplement the intermittent supply.
A Nigerian comedienne, Dr. Helen Paul, had lamented that “Nigeria Is where you fuel generator to run your business and pay the profit to NEPA.”
Since 2005, Nigerian power reforms have focused on privatizing the generator and distribution assets and encouraging private investment in the power sector.
The government continues to control transmission assets whilst making “modest progress” in creating a regulatory environment attractive to foreign investors.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), has assured customers of its ability and technical competence to provide safe and stable electricity supply.
AEDC’S Chief Marketing Officer, Mr Donald Etim said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
Thenewsguru.com reports that the AEDC was reacting to a message that had gone viral.
According to the message, there will be high voltage on Monday and customers are advised to switch off their appliances.
Etim said that the message was false.
The message states “A PIECE OF ADVICE FROM NEPA, (Power Holden Company)*
”You and the entire Public are humbly advised to turn off all appliances in your home because there is hope for power supply new week starting from May 9, 2022.
”The initial power supply will be coming with high voltage because most industries have switched to their Generating Power supply.
“The first power Supply will or may come with damaging effect. Please, save your Electronic Gadgets and appliances.”
Etim said that AEDC would continue to provide safe and stable electricity supply to customers in their homes and offices.
