Gas Shortage at Akwa Ibom’s Ibom Power Plant Blamed for Recent Power Grid Collapse, TCN Reports

Root Cause of Grid Collapse

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has pinpointed gas constraints at the Ibom Power Plant, supplying Eket, Ekim, Itu, and Uyo transmission substations in Akwa Ibom State, as the primary reason for the recent power grid collapse in the country.

Partial Collapse Amidst Gas Constraints

TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, revealed in a statement on Sunday night that the gas constraints at Ibom Power Plant led to a partial disturbance in the power grid.

Three hours before the partial collapse, the total generation on the grid was 3,901.25 Megawatts (MW) at 08:00Hours.

Persistent Low Power Generation

Mbah acknowledged that the country has been experiencing low power generation since January 2024, exacerbating daily generation challenges due to lingering gas constraints.

Analysis by National Control Center

The National Control Center’s Internet of Things (IoT) analysis indicated that just before the partial disturbance at 11:21Hrs, Sapele Steam & Egbin Substations experienced a total loss of 373.16MW.

Sapele Steam lost 29.32MW, and Egbin Substation lost 343.84MW, contributing to the imbalance leading to the partial system disturbance.

Impact on Grid Flexibility and Stability

Gas constraints continue to impact grid flexibility and stability. Maintaining sufficient gas supply to power-generating stations is crucial for grid stability.

TCN emphasized that adequate generation allows for better grid management in the event of sudden generation losses like the recent collapse.

TCN’s Investigation and Response

TCN committed to investigating the cause of the tripping of Sapele Steam & Egbin power-generating units.

The spokesperson reiterated the importance of addressing gas constraints to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for the nation.

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