The Federal government said Saturday that mitigation measures aimed at preventing incidence of blackouts as experienced in the recent past, were being implemented through several interventions and Presidential Power Initiative.
This is even as it gave insight into measures already taken to recover and restore power to the consumers after almost a week of blackouts in most places due to transmission system collapses, vandalism and insufficient gas supply.to the power generation companies.
The Minister of power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu reeled out the measures taken during emergency meeting convened by him on March 1 4th 2022 towards the restoration of normal supply of electricity supply nationwide and the development of a framework for sustainable improvement of supply.
He said the gas pipeline affected by acts of vandalism has been restored and the Okpai power plant resumed power generation to currently contribute an average of 300MW.
Further, he said that the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc has been directed to enter into fast-track negotiation with NAOC on an interim energy sales agreement with a view of bringing the new Okpai Il power plant on the grid thereby contributing additional 400MW of generation capacity.
Also, the minister indicated that the “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani power plant is scheduled for completion on March 21st 2022 to facilitate ramping up generation by about 400MW.
He state that in order to optimise the capacity utilisation of the power plants owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a special gas pricing for emergency contracting of gas from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd.
Consequently, he said “We expect an on-grid improvement of about 800MW generation capacity from the NDPHC plants.
“In the medium-term, we have agreed with NGPIC (…a subsidiary of NNPC) on the framework for the overhaul of the Okoloma gas processing plant thereby restoring the full capacity of the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power plant.”
Engr. Aliyu regretted the recent spate of system collapse, explaining that it was a direct consequence of a snap on a 330kV transmission line and reassured electricity consumers that all relevant agencies involved in the restoration of normality in power supply have been charged to act in the context of the emergency state of the industry.
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