As the power sector contends with the challenges of inadequate supply of gas and other operational challenges, the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) yesterday claimed that they lose an average of N48 from every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity they distribute because of the non-review of electricity tariffs in the past 30 months.

The power plants, which do not have gas to operate were the 634.5 megawatts (MW) Calabar National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) plant built in the Odukpani area of Cross River State by the Niger Delta Power Holding Limited (NDPHC); 754MW Olorunsogo NIPP plant; and 504MW Alaoji NIPP plant.
According to the record, the three plants could not generate 230MW; 360MW; and 360MW respectively.

However, reasons for the shutdown of three other plants – 270MW AES power plant; 180MW Rivers IPP and ASCO plant were not stated.

Other plants such as the Omoku in Rivers State; Omotosho NIPP in Ondo State; Geregu NIPP in Kogi State; Omotosho II; Olorunsogo in Ogun State; Geregu 1; Afam VI; Azura Edo; Egbin in Lagos State; Delta; Shiroro; and Jebba had challenges of gas, and water, as well as frequency constraints.

For the period under consideration, record indicated that these constraints prevented the generation of 3,036MW of power, while only 3,399MW was available to the grid.

It further explained that 1,664MW was not generated due to unavailability of gas, 1,293MW due to frequency constraints, 39.4MW due to unavailability of transmission infrastructure, and 40MW due to water management issues.

Further the record showed that for the period, Delta; Egbin; Shiroro; Azura Edo; Afam VI; Geregu; Olorunsogo; and Omotosho NIPP plants could not generate 431.25MW; 445.66MW; 230MW; 211MW; 225MW; 168MW; 140MW; and 120MW respectively because of frequency constraints.

Also, the Jebba power plant could not generate 40MW because of water management, while Olorunsogo; Omotosho; Geregu and Omotosho NIPPs lost 152MW; 152MW; 145MW; and 120MW respectively on account of gas constraints even though they were operational.

Equally, Ibom power plant could not generate 39.4MW because of line constraints.
“On July 21, 2018, average power sent out was 3,399MWh/hour – down by 81MWh/h from the previous day. 1,664MW was not generated due to unavailability of gas. 39.4MW was not generated due to unavailability of transmission infrastructure, while 1,293MW was not generated due to high frequency resulting from unavailability of distribution infrastructure. 40MW was recorded as losses due to water management. The power sector lost an estimated N1,457,000,000 on July 21, 2018 due to insufficient gas supply, distribution infrastructure and transmission infrastructure,” said the report.

It further explained: “On July 20, 2018, average power sent out was 3,480MWh/hour – down by 381.22MWh/h from the previous day. 1,626MW was not generated due to unavailability of gas. 196.6MW was not generated due to high frequency resulting from unavailability of distribution infrastructure. 160MW was recorded as losses due to water management.

“The power sector lost an estimated N1,432,000,000 on July 20, 2018 due to insufficient gas supply, distribution infrastructure and transmission infrastructure. The dominant constraint on July 20, 2018 remained unavailability of gas – constraining a total of 1,626MW from being available on the grid.”

Thisday