Power supply has increased in Nigeria from the former level of 1,400MW to virtually double giving Nigerians a glimpse of hope about electricity.
Nigeria’s electricity generation has inched up to 2,820 megawatts (mw) from the 1,400mw recorded last week according to the Guardian.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which made this disclosure in its daily operation report released on Tuesday, put the country’s peak demand forecast at 17,720mw.
TCN, while also putting installed electricity generation capacity at 11,165mw, noted that the country has only been able to generate 5,500mw of power in February, which remained the highest since 2014.
According to the statement released TCN and signed by the Asst. General Manager (Public Affairs), Clement Ezeolisah, the downward trend of electricity generation was due to constraints in the thermal power stations, which have prevented the generators from producing at optimal levels.
Corroborating TCN, the Federal Ministry of Power stated in its energy generation report released on Monday that out of the total energy generated, the country was only able to send out 2,529.88mw.
The country’s electricity generation has failed to peak since privatisation, leading to over reliance on generators. The nation generates most of its electricity from gas-fired power plants, while output from hydro-power plants make up about 30 per cent of total generation.
Electricity supply to households and businesses across the country has worsened in recent weeks on the back of renewed attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta by militants.
Nigeria attained a new record peak generation of 5,074.7MW and highest maximum daily energy wheeled nationwide of 109,372MWH in February, 2016.
Throwing more light on the country’s electricity generation profile, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in its latest energy watch listed the constraints to regular power output to include gas, line limitation and water management.
The gas constraint remained the highest power generation challenge in the country, leading to a shortfall of 3,568mw of electricity as at May 22.