Blackout mars Christmas celebrations

Blackout mars Christmas celebrations

Posted by Sylvester on Friday, December 27, 2013 0

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Many Nigerians celebrated this year’s Christmas in darkness as electricity supply dropped from 4,500 megawatts to about 4,000mw as a result of limited gas and poor transmission infrastructure.

The drop in power supply means that many parts of the country will be in darkness throughout the weekend as not much would be done until January.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that poor power supply being experienced by consumers was a direct function of limited gas supply and other factors.

“Indeed, the electricity generation companies, GENCOs, have the capacity to generate more megawatts but cannot do that because of limited gas supply to thermal plants.

“This is a major challenge, which we hope to overcome in the sector whenever there is improvement in gas supply.

“There were also transmission issues. Transmission has not witnessed much improvement as expected mainly as a result of issues like limited facilities and vandalism which was worsened as a result of the collapse of transmission tower no 69 that culminated in the loss of 132 KV transmission line,” a source in the Federal Ministry of Power who confirmed the situation said.

The General Manager, Public Affairs of TCN, Mrs. Seun Olagunju, who spoke with National Mirror, said the actual transmission could not be ascertained as she was on holiday.

She said: “I have to be in office before I can confirm that to you. I will certainly let you know when I get back to work.”

But investigation showed that both generation and transmission of power have been affected despite promises to provide more power to different classes of consumers.”

Specifically, the transmission of electricity was expected to witness much improvement after the takeover by Manitoba Hydro International, MHI of Canada as TCN manager.

The deal between the Federal Government and Manitoba was sealed to enable the government reduce generation loses and maximise electricity transmission in the nation.

But not much has changed as the nation that generates a little over 4,000 megawatts still records losses associated with transmission.

This has attracted the comments of many people, including government officials.

For instance, the Chairman, Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatisation, Mr. Atedo Peterside, said: “Transmission is the life-blood of this entire electricity eco-system and it is also potentially the weakest link at present.

“I am reliably informed that currently stranded capacity due to transmission evacuation constraints is in the region of 100mv.

“The ability of TCN to catch up with generation availability and also keep pace with future expansion will depend on its continued access to financing for its needs and also its ability to execute and rigorously monitor project implementation to high professional standards.

“The latter will inspire confidence and open the door to even more funding. Conversely, if that confidence is lost early on, then third party financing will dry up and the burden of financing TCN’s expansion will fall on the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN.

“Unfortunately, the board of TCN is yet to get its act together. Since the appointment of a chairman and some initial board members was first announced some months ago, so much time appeared to have been lost in squabbling over who does what, when and how.

“If TCN does not deliver the goods in 2014, there will be a crisis of sorts when the 10 NIPP power plants come on stream. The same can be said for the Gas Supply and Gas Transportation arrangements.”

Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, also said that Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, are not getting enough power to supply based on transmission issues.

Meanwhile, visits to Mile 12, Ketu, Ojota, Maryland, Palmgrove, Onikpanu, Bariga, Lagos Island, Oshodi/ Isolo, Apapa, Mushin, Iyana Oworo, Ijaye Ojokoro and Alagbado neighbourhoods of Lagos State revealed the areas had been experiencing a blackout since December 25.

Some of the residents, who spoke on the issue expressed displeasure over the failure of the DISCO’s to supply stable electricity under the existing arrangements.

A resident of Mushin, Mr. Ayo Adeyinka, said that the privatisation of the power sector had not been beneficial to the citizens in spite of the government’s efforts to make things work.

“We have never seen it like this before. There was light on December 24, although it was on and off till 7a.m. on the Christmas Day.

“Since that time, up till this morning, we have not seen light in any part of this area,’’ he said.

A resident of Ketu, Mr. Sunday Olarewaju, noted that the Ikeja Disco management had not given any explanation for the prevailing blackout.

“We do not know if electricity workers are on strike or not.

“In our usual way, we have checked the transformers and moved round but there is no sign that a major fault was responsible for the blackout,” he said.

Olarewaju said that the residents’ representatives were planning to go to the nearest Disco office to demand an explanation for the blackout.

Mr. Adeloju Shokoya, a resident of Lagos Island, expressed regret that he and his family had a “harrowing experience celebrating Christmas without electricity.

“If there is light, you will not meet most of us outside; we would have been somewhere else watching films or football matches.

“I have been on generator since Christmas Day with the hope that they would soon restore electricity supply. Up till this morning, we have not seen even the normal flashing they give us at times,” he said.

Another Lagos Island resident, Mr. Adetola Williams, however, said that the people would continue to enjoy themselves, whether there was light or not.

Whether there is electricity or not, man must enjoy himself. Yesterday, we were outside drinking and we used generators to power our musical sets in order to enjoy ourselves.

“From the look of things, we may do the same again today because l don’t understand this palaver anymore.

“You know they do what they like but they cannot spoil our enjoyment and merriment in this Christmas period,” he said