Darkness looms as power generation drops to 1,601mw

Chinazor Megbolu

Unless the power sector could quickly access the Federal Government’s N200 billion gas intervention fund, the nation may be plunged into pitch darkness as power generation has dropped to 1,601 megawatts.

The Federal Government recently approved N200 billion payment for improved gas supply to the electricity Generation Companies (GenCos) towards boosting power supply to the citizenry.

In a statement obtained from the Operational Report of April, 29th 2020, uploaded on the Nigeria System Operator’s website on Thursday, it showed that power generation, as on Wednesday, has dropped to 1,601MWs.

The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, in April 2020 announced the intervention during a meeting with the Minister of Power, Engr. Saleh Mamman and the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed respectively.

The statement noted that between Tuesday and Wednesday, power supply generation in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has plunged from 2,883Mws to 1,601Mws.

It also stated that the peak generation for Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 was 5,188mws with the lowest generation of 2,883MWs if compared to that Monday, April 27, 2020 when it was put at 4,641mw, lowest generation 3,120mw respectively.

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had on Wednesday, announced a loss of power supply to the national grid through a statement signed by the General Manager Public Affairs, TCN, Mrs. Ndidi Mba.

She hinted that the reason behind the loss could not be confirmed.

According to her; “TCN would commence investigations into the cause of the supply loss as soon as full recovery is achieved.

“We are committed to ensuring grid stability and consistent bulk power supply, especially at this time of the pandemic”