Nigeria’s national power grid dropped by 97.1 per cent from 3,152.7MW at 1100 hrs to 88MW by 12 noon on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
Homes and businesses were again left without public power supply as a result of the development.
Vanguard reported data from the National System Operator (NSO) showed that as at 5pm, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), was still battling to restore the grid as supply rose to 246MW with Afam VI (1.6MW), Ibom Power (70MW), Olorunsogo Plant (58.6MW), Omotosho Plant (67.9MW), and Trans-Amadi (47.7MW), the plants on the grid.
This is the third collapse of the grid in less than a week after 421 days of stability.
While it was unclear what caused the latest grid collapse, a source quoted by Vanguard said that the incidences of the past few days need to be thoroughly investigated.
“What is happening to the grid is unusual. It bordering on sabotage and deliberate attempt to discredit the effort by the government to improve power supply”, the source who declined to be named added.
Few days ago, Engineer Sule Abdulaziz, the Managing Director of TCN had revealed that fixing damaged equipment at the Birnin Kebbi Transmission Station would cost about $4 million.
The station was destroyed by a fire incident in the early hours of Friday disrupting power supply to Kebbi and Sokoto states.
Two major transformers, 90 MVA and 60MVA as well as the control room were destroyed in the incident.
[Vanguard]