By Sebastine Obasi & Prince Okafor
LAGOS — The nation’s electricity generation,
yesterday, rose to 3,688 megawatts, MW,
showing an increase of 64MW, when compared
with generation recorded a day earlier, daily
operational report of Transmission Company of
Nigeria, TCN, has indicated.
The sector, however, lost an estimated
N1,485,000,000 due to gas constraints.
Previously, recorded power generation was
3,624MW, at a time the sector lost an
estimated, N1,428,000,000.
The reduction in power generation was
attributed to heavy rainfall reported from
Onitsha, Benin and Alaoji transmission lines,
which led to load reduction from 70MW to
15MW, 100MW to 20MW and 300MW to 51MW
respectively.
This was said to have led to a rise in system
frequency and voltage which subsequently
resulted in transmission line trippings as
indicated in reports from stations.
The report also showed that eight Generation
Companies, GENCOs, produced zero megawatts
of electricity for three consecutive days.
They include Alaoji NIPP, Olorunsogo NIPP,
Afam IV-V, A.E.S, ASCO, Trans -Amadi, River
IPP and Gbarain NIPP.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of
Community Energy Social Enterprise Limited,
Patrick Tolani, said the nation’s transmission
infrastructure was not only obsolete but also
inadequate.
He said: “Our transmission infrastructure is not
just obsolete, it is equally inadequate.The
distribution infrastructure is substantially below
expectation.
“For instance, it is still difficult to understand
why DISCOs cannot supply prepaid meters to
customers who need them. This is crucial to
engendering fair billing system.
“The regime of estimated billing does not work
in the interest of the customers neither does it
assist the DISCOs in any way.”