FG misses promised 6,000MW electricity generation •As power generation hovers between 1,500 and 3,200MW

With `19 days to the end of the year, the Federal Government appears to have missed the 6,000 megawatts it promised to generate by the end of the year.

Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri gave this assurance while receiving a delegation from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, in his office on July 29 this year.

However, operational data obtained from Nigeria Electricity System Operator (NSO) indicated rather than improve, electricity generation has declined progressively in recent months.

The highest generation recorded in recent months was 4,285mw recorded on September 16 but it declined to 3,163.5 MW by Wednesday last week.

On Monday this week, combined production of all generating companies in the country peaked at 3,222mw but fell to 3,032mw.

By around 6.00 a.m on Tuesday, total generation stood at 3,167mw.

The largest generating plant, Egbin in Lagos with installed capacity of 1,320MW generated only 1,60MW due to gas supply shortages as compared to the 172MW on November 29.

Industry data also indicated that both Shiroro Power Station in Niger State and Jebba Power Station in Kwara State had their outputs fall to 300MW and 381MW, respectively, from 450MW and 476MW on Friday last week.

Unit 411G3 of Shiroro was out for water management, while 411G4 was out on maintenance.

Jebba’s unit 2G4 was also out for water management and 2G6 due to burnt generator winding and automatic voltage regulator.

However, it was also gathered that at least nine plants have not been generating any electricity due to shortage of gas engendered by activities of vandals.

Trans-Amadi, AES, ASCO Afam IV & V, Odukpani NIPP, and Gbarain, Olorunsogo’s units GT1, 2, 3, 4 and ST2 were said to be out due to gas constraints, while ST1 was out on maintenance.

The GT1 unit of Ibom Power was out on guide vane problem, while GT2 and 3 were out due to maintenance of the gas station for 45 days since October 21.

Twelve units of Afam IV & V were said to have been de-commissioned and scrapped; units GT13, 14, 15 and 16 were out on blade failure; GT17 and 18 were out due to burnt generator transformer; while GT19 and 20 were awaiting major overhaul.

Odukpani’s GT1 was shut down due to low excitation; GT2 out on maintenance; GT3 tripped on fire alarm; GT4 out due to unit transformer problem; and GT5 out due to gas constraints.

Trans-Amadi’s GT1, 2 and 4 were out due to gas constraints and GT3 out on fault, according to the data.

The AES was said to be out of production; ASCO’s GT1 was shut down due to leakage in the furnace; and Gbarain’s GT2 was out due to gas constraints.

A grid operational milestones obtained from NSO showed that Nigeria has an installed capacity of 11,165.40 MW of electricity while national peak demand stands at 17,720 MW.

Similarly, there is available capacity of 7,492.60 MW but peak generation ever attained by the country was 5,074.7MW in February, 2016.