Nigeria may face more darkness as 9 power plants shutdown

Nine of the nation’s 27 power plants were idle on Thursday, leaving a total generation capacity of 2,079.1 megawatts stranded.

Total power generation in the country stood at 3,269.6MW as of 6am on Thursday, up from 3,074.6MW the previous day, according to the Nigerian Electricity System Operator.

The data obtained from the system operator showed that the idle plants included five of those built under the National Integrated Power Project, namely Alaoji, Olorunsogo II, Omotosho II, Ihovbor and Gbarain.

Other plants that did not produce any megawatt of electricity as of 6am on Thursday were Afam IV & V, Ibom Power, AES and ASCO.

The shutdown of the power plants was attributed to gas constraint, low load demand by the distribution companies, maintenance, frequency response and rupturing of gas pipeline, among others.

Two units (GT11 and GT12) at Afam IV & V were said to have been scrapped; GT13, 14 and 16 out on blade failure; GT19 and 20 awaiting overhaul; GT17 out due to low load demand by the distribution companies, and GT 18 out due to gas constraint.

Alaoji’s GT1 and 3 were out due to low load demand by the Discos; GT2 out due to high air inlet differential pressure, and GT4 awaiting spare part.

Olorunsogo’s GT1 was out on inspection; GT2 and 3 out due to gas constraint, and GT4 out due to low load demand by the Discos.

Gas constraint and low load demand by the Discos left three units at Omotosho and two units at Ihovbor idle, while a unit at Gbarain was shut down due to the rupturing of the gas pipeline.