Opeoluwani Akintayo
12 July 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Data obtained by SweetcrudeReports indicates that Nigeria lost a total of 47,536 megawatts, MW, of potential available power in June.
According to our research, on June 1, an estimated 2,637 MW of power was not generated. On June 4, 2,835MW was also not generated while on June 5 and June 6, 2,62MW and 3,090MW respectively were equally not generated, so also on June 7 and June 8 when 2,494MW and 2,476MW were not produced.
As at June 11, the electricity generating companies or Gencos were unable to produce 2,979MW of potential power, June 12 (2,772MW), June 13 (2,451MW), June 14 (2,468MW), June 15 (2,532MW) and June 16 (3,887MW).
On June 17, 2,975 MW was stuck while on June 18 and June 21, 2,762MW and 3,192MW were not generated.
June 22, 23, 24 and 26 carried ‘0’, meaning there were no constrained power and that all was generated, while on June 25 and June 28, 2,469MW and 2,835 respectively were not generated.
Total amount of power constrained in June, according to our investigations, stood at 47,536 megawatts.
When contacted, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, said the power could have been generated for use but there were complaints of inadequate gas supply, transmission constraint, and demand load from the generation companies, distribution companies and transmission companies.
On January 4, Nigeria’s power generation dropped from 3,959 megawatts, dropping further to 2,662 megawatts on January 22 – one of the lowest.
One of the country’s peak generation was during the rainy season of the second half of 2016, when power hit 5,000MW due to help from the hydro plants. The feat was announced and celebrated by the power generation, transmission and distribution companies.
While Nigeria needs over 46,000MW in order to again sufficiency in peer supply, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, once said Nigeria’s power grid could only support 6,500MW, and 7,200MW when pushed to its limits.