By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA- Electricity generation got a boost last week with additional 300 Megawatts, following the restoration of operations at Shell’s Afam VI power plant.

The Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP, which announced this via a statement issued by its Head, Media Communication, Mrs. Awele Okigbo in Abuja, said the development brought total system generation up to 3248.4 megawatts.

According to the statement, “the Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP, is pleased to announce the restoration of operations at the Shell Afam VI Generating Station, thus adding 300MW of electricity back to the national grid.

“Afam VI experienced a cutback in power generation on Saturday, August 9 due to the vandalism and bunkering of crude oil pipelines which affects the disposal of liquids from gas operations. As at 5:00 pm on Thursday, Afam’s 300MW has brought total system generation up to 3248.4MW.

Commenting on the development, the Chairman of PTFP, Mr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, commended the patriotic zeal with which Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, worked round the clock to fix the damage and resume production within a short turnaround time.

He also strongly condemned these acts of vandalism and bunkering and the effect it has on Nigeria’s electricity industry. “It is high time these vandals and bunkerers realize that they are plunging Nigeria into darkness. Their actions have a deleterious impact on the economy.” he said.

Power generation dropped to about 2,628.6MW due to persistent sabotage of the pipelines in the eastern axis network, and the Shell Afam VI facility is a critical component of thermal power generation in the country.