Gencos Decry Impact of Incessant Grid Collapses on Their Operations

*Vandals hit TCN towers in Bayelsa again 

*Governor Otu to chair committee on national electrification

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Sunday Okobi in Lagos

The umbrella body of all electricity generating firms in Nigeria, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), has raised the alarm over the impact of incessant national grid collapse on its commercial and operational activities.
This was as Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has been appointed to serve as the chairman of the Committee on National Electrification. Otu’s appointment, which took immediate effect, was made during the 146th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held yesterday at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The appointment was seen as a significant step towards addressing the critical challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity sector, as it underscores the urgency of implementing sustainable solutions under the ‘Electricity Reform Act 2023’ and the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan.  
Power supply has recently faced frequent grid failures, hitting about nine times as of the last count this year alone.

Speaking in Abuja at a workshop for members of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN), the Chief Executive Officer of APGC, Dr. Joy Ogaji, described the effect as “devastating”.
She noted that whether on machinery or both from a technical and commercial standpoint, particularly in the face of dwindling resources amid poor payment from the off-takers, the Generation Companies (Gencos) were unhappy about the turn of events.
“Given the frequency of grid collapses in the country and the impact of it on our businesses we have thought it wise to provide clarification on how it affects our businesses
“While we certainly need a huge jump in our electricity supply projection, it is imperative to preserve lives and equipment to sustain our rapid economic growth and meet the growing demand.
“We therefore need to make every effort to efficiently manage all stages of value chain with intentional focus on maximising efficiency in the entire electricity chain,” the APGC CEO stated.

According to her, grid collapse poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s power sector, resulting in frequent disruptions, equipment damage, and substantial revenue losses for Gencos.
Technically, she explained that grid collapse can cause catastrophic damage to generators, transformers, and other critical infrastructure, leading to prolonged downtime and costly repairs.
Commercially, Ogaji explained that the impact was equally severe, as Gencos face reduced power sales, penalties for non-delivery in bilateral and cross border trades, and increased operational expenses.
“The dwindling resources exacerbate these challenges, making it difficult for Gencos to maintain, repair, and replace damaged equipment, ultimately compromising the reliability and efficiency of the power supply.
“Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from government, regulatory bodies, and the power sector to improve infrastructure, enforce maintenance protocols, and ensure financial viability for Gencos,” she maintained.

In his submission, a power expert, John Jacob, put losses to Gencos due to system collapse, system instability, ramp down as well as unplanned outages in billions of Naira.
He listed the major causes of grid collapse as inadequate generation in the grid, tripping of an overloaded line or feeder as well as tripping of fully loaded generators at very low frequency.
According to the engineer, the causes of tripping include: over-loaded line or feeder, old Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) infrastructure without replacement, lack of maintenance of leaking transformers, explosions, vandalism of power lines and towers, among others.
Also, in his presentation, another industry expert, Prof. Stephen Ogaji, urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to approve the procurement of ancillary services that provide secondary controls or spinning reserve.

In addition, he urged the System Operator (SO) to as a matter of urgency complete and commission the SCADA project to enable them to oversee all the power systems properly.
“The system operator should put in effect the earlier proposed Generation Dispatch Tool (GDT). The System operator should implement and enforce all the provisions of the Grid Code,” he recommended.
Ogaji stated that there was an urgent need to take proactive actions to prevent the incessant disruption of normal grid operation and, by extension, improve the lives and performance of thermal gas turbines.
“Failure to do so, may lead to reduced plant availability as spares are not locally sourced and cost of generation will be astronomically high, even beyond the current 59 per cent average contribution to end user cost,” he argued.

Meanwhile, suspected vandals have again attacked and disrupted ongoing repairs of the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line and have also stolen tower components from the Benin-Egbin, Benin-Omotosho 330kV transmission lines.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) regrets to report that its Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line, which is currently under repair due to previous vandalism, was again targeted by vandals. The attack, which affected towers 29 to 31, resulted in the theft of approximately one-third of the conductor,” the company said yesterday in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah.

Preliminary findings, it said, indicated that the incident occurred at night, stressing that in an attempt to prevent further theft while repair arrangements are being made, local security has been engaged at Ula Ikata in Ahoada East council.

“Efforts to replace the stolen 250mm conductor are currently underway. Despite challenges posed by difficult terrain and flooding, the restoration of the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line is approximately 85 per cent complete,” the TCN said.

Earlier in November, suspected vandals, it said, also attacked transmission towers in the Okada and Ofosu communities along the 330kV Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho transmission lines. “A total of 31 towers were affected in this incident,” it added.

However, Otu’s appointment has been seen as a significant step towards addressing the critical challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity sector.

Otu’s leadership comes at a pivotal time when the nation grapples with issues such as frequent grid collapses, rising electricity tariffs, and the urgent need for renewable energy integration.

One of his aides disclosed that the governor was pleased with the appointment, saying he sees it as an opportunity to serve the nation, with a promise to ensure that his committee delivers on its mandate and in record time.

He further noted that his experience as a transformative leader in Cross River State, where his “People’s First” administration has prioritised citizen welfare and economic progress, positioned him to bring innovation and accountability to this national assignment.

“His commitment to ensuring that the committee delivers results aligns with the goals of making electricity reliable, affordable, and environmentally conscious for all Nigerians,” he stated.

The Electricity Reform Act 2023 sets out that Otu’s mandate will not only address immediate concerns but also lay the groundwork for a modernised energy ecosystem that supports Nigeria’s development agenda.

He stated that the appointment reflects confidence in his ability to unify stakeholders and implement effective strategies to meet the needs of the Nigerian populace.