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Nigeria’s Power Grid Partially Restored After Collapsing for the Sixth Time

October 15, 2024

Nigeria’s Power Grid Partially Restored After Collapsing for the Sixth Time

Following a nationwide blackout in Nigeria yesterday, October 14, 2024, Nigeria’s power grid partially restored after collapsing for the sixth time in 2024.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) reportedly received 30MW and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) received 20MW, totalling 50 MW. Furthermore, as of 7 p.m. yesterday, only Ibom Power was operational, with only 42.7 MW.

At the time of the blackout, several distribution companies, including Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, notified customers of the power outage.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company wrote that the outage being experienced is due to a system failure from the national grid, which has affected supply to its franchise areas. The company added that power will be restored as soon as the grid is stabilised.

Highlighting that the development has resulted in a loss of supply to all its interface Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) stations, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company mentioned it is unable to provide services to its customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.

“We are on standby, awaiting detailed information on the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo,” EEDC stated.

Last occurred in July 2024

When a similar situation occurred in July 2024, TCN blamed the unexpected tripping of three power generation units, which removed 313MW from the grid.

However, Sule Abdulaziz, TCN’s Managing Director, stated in a report that it could transmit up to 6,000 MW of electricity to distribution centres across the country by the end of the year, highlighting the company’s continued efforts to strengthen its grid.

The nationwide blackout comes as the country’s fuel prices continue to rise. Additionally, even when the grid stabilises, the electricity access cost remains a concern.

In April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced a significant increase in electricity tariffs of up to 240%. While this received disapproval from organised labour, in May 2024, NERC announced a reduction in the electricity tariff, from ₦225/kWh to ₦206.8/kWh.

Furthermore, NERC has granted MTN Nigeria a permit to generate 15.94 megawatts (MW) of electricity across four captive power plants in Lagos State, allowing it to own and operate power plants that generate electricity for its use rather than resale.

In addition to MTN Nigeria, Golden Penny Power received a licence for a similar project to improve off-grid power generation in multiple states. Golden Penny Power Limited was licensed to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states.

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