Power generation in the country plunged to 2,390.20 megawatts on Monday as number of idle power plants rose from seven to 15, according to latest data from Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

Total electricity generation has been hovering below 4,000MW in recent months and stood at 3,741.30MW as of 6am on Sunday.

The nation generates most of its electricity from gas-fired power plants, while output from hydropower plants makes up about 30 per cent of the total.

But the three hydropower plants accounted for more than 50 per cent of the electricity generated as of 6am on Monday, with Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro producing 366MW, 354MW and 494MW, respectively.

Egbin, the biggest power station in the country, saw its output drop to 176MW on Monday from 306MW on Saturday.

The idle plants are Sapele, Afam IV & V, Geregu, Omotosho, Geregu NIPP, Alaoji, Omotosho NIPP, Odukpani NIPP, Ihovbor NIPP, Gbarain NIPP, Okpai, Afam VI, AES, ASCO and Rivers IPP.

As reported on Monday, electricity generation companies in the country said their plants were being forced to operate below their optimal capacity levels.

Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies, umbrella body for the Gencos, Mrs Joy Ogaji, in an emailed response to questions from our correspondent, attributed the problem to transmission and distribution.

She said, “Specifically, generation companies are pinned down by some operational impediments. The frequency of instructions to either increase load or decrease load (ramp up and ramp down) and, in some cases, shut down, has induced damaging stresses to the components of the machines.

“These instructions, reflective of the grid behaviour, are subjecting key electrical components of the power plants to operational stresses. Our available generation has always been steady between 7,500MW and 8,000MW; you can check the records at National Control Centre, Osogbo.”

Punch