NISO Faults Alleged Grid Collapse, Explains It’s Protection Tripping As System Remains Stable

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has faulted the alleged grid collapse on Thursday, saying that the system remains stable except protection tripping which occurred on Onitsha transmission lines.

“We wish to categorically state that no system collapse occurred on the Nigerian National Grid on the said date and time.

At approximately 11:47hrs, a protection trip was recorded on some 330kV transmission lines around the Onitsha Transmission Station.

” The tripping of these lines led to a temporary and localized outage affecting certain areas supplied through the impacted transmission corridors, including portions of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) networks.

“However, the national grid remained stable and fully operational. Generation across other regions was not disrupted. System frequency remained within acceptable operational limits and there was no widespread loss of synchronism or nationwide blackout, conditions that would characterize a system collapse”, NISO clarified in a statement by its management on Sunday.

It said the affected transmission lines had since been restored, and supply reinstated to the impacted locations.

It acknowledged the inconvenience experienced by electricity consumers within the affected corridors, but urged stakeholders, media organizations, and members of the public to desist from rumors and rely only on verified technical updates from NISO which remains the only authentic source of information on all grid events.

“The Nigerian National Grid remains operational and under continuous technical supervision to ensure reliability, resilience, and system security”, NISO further assured.