By Sebastine Obasi & Ediri Ejoh
LAGOS —The nation, again, recently witnessed a power sector loss of about N3.865 billion occasioned by systems collapse, gas and water constraints in five days.

This happened at a time power generation loss shot up to 673 megawatts, MW.  The five days under review were from Monday to Friday last week.

Fashola and Buhari

The sector recorded system collapse on January 27, when it reported gas constraint of 1415MW. Consequently, it lost an estimated N751 million, while generation declined by 73MW. Water constraint was 150MW.

Another system collapse was recorded on January 26, when reported gas constraint was 1374MW, while water constraint remained at 50MW. An estimated loss of N732 million was recorded at a time generation declined by 295MW.  Also, an estimated power sector loss of N770 million was recorded on January 25, when the reported gas and water constraints were 1,455MW and 150MW, respectively, while generation declined by 57MW.

Specifically, Geregu Gas GT12 was said to have tripped on low frequency of 48.4Hz rejecting 116MW. Total load rejected was 416MW, resulting in sharp drop in frequency that led to system collapse. As at 6 a.m, on 26/01/2017, Egbin and Sapele plants were still shut down following the collapse, while Kainji, Jebba and Olorunsogo 1 lost functionality.

January 24 witnessed an estimated loss of N734 million, at a time generation declined by 166MW, while reported gas and water constraints were 1,379MW and 150MW respectively.

However, Jebba, Geregu NIPP and Omoku restored turbines to functionality, while Delta, Alaoji and Okpai did not function.  The sector also recorded a loss of N878 million on January 23, when power generation declined by 82MW. While gas constraint remained the same at 150MW, gas constraint was reported to be 1,679MW. Delta, Geregu 1, Olorunsogo 1 and 11 and Sapele NIPP lost turbine functionality due to gas constraints.

It will be recalled that Tony Elumelu, chairman of Transcorp Group and United Bank for Africa, UBA, said that Nigeria’s power sector will soon collapse if urgent action is not taken.

“The agency of government that has responsibility for making sure that this sector delivers on its potential is not doing well enough. We are owed a lot of money. Transcorp Power Holdings is owed almost N50bn. When we put in the invoice for this month, we should be owed almost N54 or N55bn. How do you survive in business like this? How? Other GenCos I know are actually dying.

“We are struggling because of our diversified resource base, what of others?  Something urgent and drastic must be done. It is as urgent as yesterday. The truth is Transcorp power, as a key operator in the sector, is struggling. And if we are struggling, you can imagine what others are going through.” Elumelu went on to ask the government to allow it generate its own gas, adding that “where we are located, we are sitting on a lot of gas.”