In a clear setback to recent improvement in elecricity supply to some parts of the country, the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd (NGPTC) has reported a fire incident on its Escravos Lagos Pipeline System near Okada, Edo State.
In a statement early Wednesday, the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing said the fire incident which occured on Tuesday, 2nd January, 2018 has led to the shutdown of most of the power generating plants the country depends on for electricity supply.
The Ministry listed the plants affected by the shutdown to include Egbin 1,320MW; Olorunsogo NIPP 676MW, Olorunsogo 338MW, Omotosho NIPP 450MW, Omotosho 338 MW and Paras 60MW power stations.
“The sudden loss of generation due to interruption in gas supply from these stations caused the national transmission grid to trip off around 20:20 on 2nd January 2018. The national transmission grid is owned and operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“Most of Nigeria’s power generation is from thermal power stations that require gas for fuel. The gas is produced by oil and gas companies overseen by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The gas is delivered to the power stations through pipelines owned and operated by Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd (NGPTC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)”, the Ministry further explained.
It however added that TCN and the generation companies are working to restore operation of the national grid.
According to the Ministry, once the national grid is restored output from the hydroelectric power stations and all other unaffected gas fired thermal power stations will be increased to the extent possible to minimize the impact of loss of generation from the affected power stations while NNPC takes necessary steps to restore gas supply.
“We urge members of the public to bear with us as we work to overcome this set back which should be temporary,” the Ministry concluded.