Egbin, Shiroro Hydropower Plants Record Decline In Power Generation
The nation’s biggest power station, Egbin, and one of the three hydropower plants, Shiroro, have recorded significant declines in their output.
Six of the nation’s 27 power plants were idle on Monday, according to industry data obtained by our correspondent from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
Total generation capacity of 817 magawatts was unutilised that day as a result of low demand by Discos (667MW) and water management (150MW).
Egbin power plant, which is located in Lagos, saw its generation dropped to a low of 276MW as of 6.00am on Monday, compared to 491MW on December 24, 2018.
Generation from the plant, which has six units with a combined installed capacity of 1,320MW, was said to have reduced due to low load demand by the distribution companies.
Unit ST1 was said to be out due to transformer problem; ST2 was out due to middle burner level problem, and ST3 out on high vibration since June 19, 2017.
Generation from ST4 reduced due to turbine valve problem; ST5 tripped due to loss of lower burner and tube leakage, and generation from ST6 reduced due to a burner problem.
Shiroro’s output dipped to 210MW on Monday, compared to 355MW on December 18.
Generation from one of its units, 411G1, reduced due to low load demand by the Discos; 411G2 shut down on water management, and 411G3 was out on annual maintenance.
Total power generation in the country stood at 4,060.30MW as of 6.00am on Monday.
The generation fell to 3,874.60MW on January 1 from 4,064MW on December 31, 2018.
The nation’s power grid recorded its first system collapse this year last Thursday, with total generation put at 3,729.30MW as of 6.00am that day.
The gird collapsed 12 times last year – one was a partial collapse while the rest were total.
The Nigeria Electricity System Operator, an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, put the nation’s installed generation capacity at 11,165.40MW; available capacity at 7,139.60MW; current transmission capacity at 7,000MW; network operational capacity at 5,500MW, and the peak generation ever attained at 5,222.3MW.
The nation generates most of its electricity from gas-fired power plants, while the output from hydropower plants makes up about 30 per cent of the total.
