The Transmission Company of Nigeria has said that the poor power supply being experienced by electricity consumers nationwide was caused by a shortage of gas.
The TCN in a statement on Thursday affirmed that there had been a gradual decrease in available power generation into the grid due to gas constraints to the power generating companies.
This, the TCN said, has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the grid for onward transmission to electricity distribution companies nationwide.
Distribution companies have continued to speak up, saying they were not to blame as they also receive limited allocation from generating companies.
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company said the poor power supply was caused by a gas shortage.
Just like the DisCos, the TCN disclosed that the load distributed to the distribution load centres had reduced, saying it can only transmit what is generated.
The TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby announces that there has been a gradual decrease in an available generation into the grid due to gas constraints to the thermal generating companies, which has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid for onward transmission to the distribution load centres nationwide.”
Mbah informed that the TCN was working with other stakeholders in the power sector to keep the grid intact.
“TCN is doing everything possible in collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector to ensure that it continues to keep the grid intact in spite of the current low power generated into the system.
“Consequent upon the current load on the grid, load distributed to the distribution load centres has also reduced, as TCN can only transmit what is generated,” she explained.
The TCN spokesperson noted that the company “is committed to ensuring a gradual increase in electricity supply to load centers as gas improves to the power available thermal plants”.
She pleaded, “Please bear with us as we continue to work with the stakeholders in the value chain to ensure that supply through distribution companies to electricity consumers nationwide improves.”
“Consequent upon the current load on the grid, load distributed to the distribution load centres has also reduced, as TCN can only transmit what is generated.”
Nigerians have been lamenting the low power supply since December 2023.
The various gas-fired grids in the country have not been getting enough gas supply, leading to low allocation to electricity distribution companies.
Confirming this, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company told its customers that it was not getting enough allocation from generation due to gas shortages and other related issues.
“Kindly be informed that the present reduction in power supply across our network is due to gas shortages and other related issues arising from the generating companies.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this has caused even as we work with our partners for a speedy resolution,” the EKEDC said this in a post on its social media handles on Tuesday.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Power reposted the EKEDC update on its X handle, lending credence to the fact that the grids are not getting the required gas supply to generate enough power.
It was gathered that the national grid had dropped drastically since December, and that the generation companies were not ready to take responsibility.
But the other distribution companies at the receiving end of the situation are being affected by the development.
Replying to outcries from its customers, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company recently said DisCos were not getting enough allocation to serve them.
IBEDC’s spokesperson, Busola Tunwase, said the erratic power supply was a result of load shedding and reduced allocation.
“If we get the supply, we have to give it out. If we don’t get it, we cannot give it. Electricity is to our benefit. If we give you a 24-hour supply, you will pay us our money. It is an allocation issue. DisCos are not getting enough allocation” she enunciated.
In reacting to the many complaints of its customers about lower supply in Abuja and environ, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc said, “We sincerely apologise for whatever issues the outage may have caused. Rest assured that we are giving this issue our full attention.”
Nigeria’s electricity generation has been hovering around 4,000MW; but this has been dropping due to insufficient gas supply.
The 20 gas power plants have under-performed, leading to power generation dropping below 2,000MW in 2022.
