The
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on Wednesday said there would be more
power cuts in the days ahead due to ongoing maintenance works on installations
across the country.
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on Wednesday said there would be more
power cuts in the days ahead due to ongoing maintenance works on installations
across the country.
Nebo, while explaining why there was a sharp drop in power
supply at a briefing in Abuja, said the country lost 1,112 megawatts of
generated electricity in two days due to the shutdown of the Chevron gas plant.
supply at a briefing in Abuja, said the country lost 1,112 megawatts of
generated electricity in two days due to the shutdown of the Chevron gas plant.
He said, “A few days ago, precisely last week Friday, Chevron
shut down its gas plant for maintenance purposes, which was to take place
between Friday and Saturday. And the technical crew in the power sector knew
about the shutdown and this was in order to make sure that damages are not done
before losing the gas entirely.
shut down its gas plant for maintenance purposes, which was to take place
between Friday and Saturday. And the technical crew in the power sector knew
about the shutdown and this was in order to make sure that damages are not done
before losing the gas entirely.
“From time to time, there is going to be shutdown and it
happened two times recently between Benin and Osogbo. If you don’t shut down
these plants in order to have a safe restarting process, you are going to lose
the equipment. Once routine maintenance is done, the process of restarting the
machines that were shut down takes some time.”
happened two times recently between Benin and Osogbo. If you don’t shut down
these plants in order to have a safe restarting process, you are going to lose
the equipment. Once routine maintenance is done, the process of restarting the
machines that were shut down takes some time.”
He said two power stations were affected by the recent shutdown,
stressing that the oil company and the ministry’s technicians had to maintain
the plants.
stressing that the oil company and the ministry’s technicians had to maintain
the plants.
The minister added, “That is why between two and three days, we
lost some 1,112MW. That means Omotoso and Olorunsogo plants were forced to shut
down because there was no gas supply. By design, Chevron has to maintain the
gas pipelines and it was so.
lost some 1,112MW. That means Omotoso and Olorunsogo plants were forced to shut
down because there was no gas supply. By design, Chevron has to maintain the
gas pipelines and it was so.
“You will notice that from Monday, we started seeing some
increase that has stabilised. Right now, we have over 3,300MW.”
increase that has stabilised. Right now, we have over 3,300MW.”
Nebo gave an assurance that occasional system failures would be
addressed.
addressed.
He said, “With regards to occasional system failures, we are in
the process of reviving the huge section of the transmission machinery,
especially the lines that are aged, failing, dilapidated and in need of
replacement. We are working on that.
the process of reviving the huge section of the transmission machinery,
especially the lines that are aged, failing, dilapidated and in need of
replacement. We are working on that.
“And for that reason, whenever a significant part of the
transmission network encounters serious technical problems, you will experience
system shutdown. And whenever you have a serious problem, you must shut down in
order to make sure that the system is not overloaded at one end and create
problems throughout the entire country.”
transmission network encounters serious technical problems, you will experience
system shutdown. And whenever you have a serious problem, you must shut down in
order to make sure that the system is not overloaded at one end and create
problems throughout the entire country.”
The PUNCH had
exclusively reported on Wednesday that the nation had witnessed a significant
drop in power generation from a peak of 4,517MW attained on December 21, 2012
to 3,443MW on Tuesday.
exclusively reported on Wednesday that the nation had witnessed a significant
drop in power generation from a peak of 4,517MW attained on December 21, 2012
to 3,443MW on Tuesday.
The 1,074MW drop is, however, a slight improvement on the
2,987.6MW peak generation recorded on April 6, 2013, when a whopping 1,529.4MW
was lost.
2,987.6MW peak generation recorded on April 6, 2013, when a whopping 1,529.4MW
was lost.
The minister also said that the meeting with labour unions in
the power sector over workers’ final entitlements had been cordial and that
very soon, private investors would take over the power companies they bid for.
the power sector over workers’ final entitlements had been cordial and that
very soon, private investors would take over the power companies they bid for.
He also said the issue with Manitoba Hydro International over
the management contract for the Transmission Company of Nigeria had been
resolved, stressing that the transmission infrastructure had received a boost.
the management contract for the Transmission Company of Nigeria had been
resolved, stressing that the transmission infrastructure had received a boost.
“Manitoba has received the schedule of delegated authority and
most issues in the sector have been resolved,” Nebo added.
most issues in the sector have been resolved,” Nebo added.
Source: Punch
