Power sector regulator, NERC has raised a warning alarm over the poor state of the national grid, The PRIMANEWS can report.
In its newly released report, The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission said that there was a decline in the stability of the grid network in 2022 as the number of total system collapses which led to blackouts nationwide, increased relative to the preceding year.
“This decline in grid reliability in 2022 is further proven by the fact that the range of 1.73Hz between the average maximum and average minimum grid frequency in 2022 is higher than 1.41Hz which was recorded in 2021.
“While the grid reliability performance declined in 2022, overall, the network has recorded a downward trajectory in terms of number of grid incidents since 2018,” the report said.
Three system collapses have been recorded so far this year.
The report comes on the heels of the Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, declaring that the Federal government in a bid to boost electricity generation, and national grid stability, was planning to invest $20bn investment in new power plants and transmission lines.
While delivering his speech at an energy summit in September, Adelabu said FG would grow the power sector in 2023 and beyond through huge investments.
“The Nigerian government is actively advancing the power sector through various measures. With a $20 billion investment plan, new power plants and transmission lines are set to be established to boost power generation and grid stability,” he said.
Earlier this month; Executive Secretary, the Association of Power Generation Companies, Dr. Joy Ogaji also said the power capacity of the national grid, had grown to 13, 000MW recorded a few years ago to about 14,000 MW.
According to her; the increase was brought about due to the addition of 700MW by the $1.3bn Niger state-based Zungeru hydroelectric plant which came on stream in the second quarter of the year.
“The national grid now has an installed power generation capacity of about 14, 000 megawatts, and this was made possible due to the Zungeru plant that came on stream this year,” she said, adding that it was an opportunity for interested investors to partner with the Gencos.
The NERC said to maintain a trajectory of improvements in network stability; it continues to monitor the implementation of its directive to Discos and the Transmission Company of Nigeria to execute the Service Level Agreements that will ensure grid discipline.
“The Commission is also exploring options for the enforcement of under frequency load-shedding scheme which has been put in place to provide an added layer of security for the grid in the case of a sudden loss of generation,” NERC said.