Sam Ikeotuonye & Mkpoikana Udoma 25 January 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The management of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, has said that the power outage experienced in Port Harcourt and its environs since Monday 16th January 2017, is as a result of a partial system failure from the national grid.
The company, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. John Onyi, explained that there was a fire incident at the Afam-5 Power plant in Oyigbo, Rivers State, limiting loading into the Port Harcourt complex.
PHEDC, in the statement, however, explained that repair work was ongoing to rectify the damage.
“The management of PHED, wishes to inform her numerous customers in Port Harcourt metropolis that the power outage they are experiencing since Monday 16th January 2017 till today is as a result of a partial system failure from the national grid.
“Also, when the grid was restored, there was fire outbreak at Afam 5 resulting into load limitation to Port Harcourt complex,” the company said as it pleaded for the understanding and patience of customers while the repairs lasted..
Likewise, the management of Kaduna Electric, has apologised to the company’s customers in Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states for prolonged power outages affecting the states.
A statement by Mr. Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head, Corporate Communication, said the power outages being experienced across the country is as a result of low generation.
“In the past one week, the power allocation to our company has been hovering around 50megawatts. This is a far cry from the 200-250 megawatts hitherto being allocated to us.
“We sincerely regret the hardship and inconveniences this unfortunate development is causing our esteemed customers. We hope the generation Companies will overcome the challenges confronting them soon and resume full operations,” the company stated in the statement.