Power Generation Rises to 4,349.7MW

The Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) Tuesday said that the country’s power generation has increased to 4,349.7 megawatts (MW), adding that it was a peak all-time generation milestone in the country’s power sector.


Disclosing the new generation capacity which it announced despite increasing public distraught on the recent decline in electricity supply across the country, the chairman of PTFP, Mr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, explained in a statement from the Head, Media and Communications of PTFP, Mrs. Awele Okigbo, that the increase was occasioned by diligent management of power systems in the country by various managers in the sector.


Dagogo-Jack specifically singled out for commendation the new management contractor for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) and Systems Operator in TCN.
He said their contribution to the “small feat” was valuable.


He also attributed the new generation capacity to key developments in the sector such as the successful return of the Egbin Power Plant back to the national grid after a prolonged maintenance schedule, the final commencement of operation of the third gas turbine at the Omotosho National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) plant and restoration of gas supply from the Escravos gas plant belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) on the western gas network to the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS ).


According to him in the statement: “The power sector managers achieved a new record performance in generation reaching a new all-time new peak generation of 4349.7 megawatts on December 17, 2012.


“This is very exciting and cheering news. To be clear, we are not surprised. We are focused as a team to prove to Nigerians that this government is serious about power and in spite of all the challenges on the way, power will grow from level to level as we progress.”

While commending key operational players whose diligence he noted contributed to the increase, Dagogo-Jack said: “I assure you that the best is yet to come.”

PTFP had recently said that it was closely following up the shutdown of the Escravos gas plant belonging to Chevron on the western gas network to the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) to ensure that the development does not extend beyond the stipulated timeframe.


It also disclosed that it initiated measures to reduce the impact of the partial shutdown of the Escravos gas plant on electricity supply across the country, adding that the plant was shut down by CNL on November 26, 2012 as part of an important scheduled interruption to enable it tie in wells and lay pipes for sustainable gas supply to the domestic market and the gas-to-liquid plant.


The partial shutdown which was said have been restored, was to have lasted for three weeks and would result in the reduction of gas supply by Chevron for electricity generation with a net reduction of about 300MW.

Source: Thisdaylive