TCN wheeled out 105,535.8 megawatts of electricity in September

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Friday said it wheeled out 105,535.8 megawatts of electricity in September.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was an increase of 10,577.1 megawatts over 94,958.7 megawatts wheeled out in August.

The daily statistics of TCN operations obtained by NAN from the Nigerian Electricity System Operator (SO), a section of the TCN, indicated that the 105,535.8 megawatts were the total generated in September.

The increase in September was attributed to improvement in gas supply and increase in water level in most hydro plants..

Daily power generated from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15 were 3,799.6mw, 3,655.6mw, 2,952.2mw, 3,390.3mw, 3,722.4mw, 3,556..7mw, 3,204.6mw, 3,167.1mw, 3,625.5mw, 3,776.8mw, 2,945mw, 3,740.4mw, 3,375.2mw, 3,826mw and 3,615.9mw respectively.

The generation from Sept. 16 to Sept. 30 were 3,292.3mw, 3,762.8mw, 3,676.5mw, 3,936.8mw, 3,813.3mw, 3,482.8mw, 3,617.9mw, 3,586.7mw, 3,212.2mw, 3,767.8mw, 3,394.1mw, 3,863.6mw, 3,197.9mw, 3,658..1mw and 2,909.7mw, respectively.

Daily power generated from Sept. 1 to 30, 2017

Daily power generated from Aug. 1 to Aug.15 were 2,617.9mw, 3,226.2mw, 3,411.3mw, 2,745.8mw, 2,951mw, 3,393.8mw, 3,292.8mw,3,301.7mw, 3,360.5mw, 3,425.6mw, 3,126.8mw, 3,316.1mw, 2,804.5mw and 3,435.5mw, respectively.

Power generated from Aug.15 to Aug. 31 were 3,443mw, 3,443mw, 4,068.6mw, 3,450.8mw, 3,737.6mw, 3,136.9mw, 3,912.8mw, 3,361.9mw, 2,895mw, 2,900.1mw, 3,126.8mw, 3,288.4mw, 2,579.2mw, 3,579.2mw and 3,328.3mw, respectively.

August, 2017 power generation

The electricity were wheeled out to 11 distribution companies.

The TCN said that national peak demand forecast was at 19,100.00mw in September against the 11,165.40mw installed capacity.

7,139.60mw was the available capacity, 7,000mw was the current transmission capacity, while the network operational capacity stood at 5,500.00mw.

The peak generation ever attained in Nigeria was 5,074.7mw, while the maximum energy ever attained stood at 109,372.01mw.

Nigeria power generation statistics

Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, on Sept. 28, said a new electricity regulation that would boost meter supply for consumers nationwide would become operational in October.

Fashola announced the new regulation at a seminar on “Policy Dialogue on the Power Sector’ organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos.

The minister said that the regulation, which would govern meter service providers, would open up the market to more players in the meter supply chain.

It will also strengthen local meter supply and bridge the country’s metering gaps.

“It would enable other businesses that are not distribution companies (DISCOs) to supply meters.

“The core business of the DISCOs is not meter supply, their core business is distributing power, but it needs meters to do so.

“Those who specialise in manufacturing, supplying and installation of meter would now go into that business, subject to licence by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC),” Fashola said.

According to the minister, the Power Payment Assurance Guarantee has eased the debt profile of the sector, thereby increasing power production from 2,690 megawatts in 2015 to 6,911 megawatts on Dec 24, 2016.

“We are trying to develop plans on how to put all of those 6,000 megawatts in the grid because, currently, we can only put 4,225 megawatts on the grid.’’

Mrs Nike Akande, the President of LCCI, said that improved power supply was critical to the survival of businesses and economic growth.

“Statistics show that the country generates about 6,700mw of electricity.

“Out of it, 2,000mw is wasted because of the problem associated with phishing and distribution.

“There is an urgent need to reduce power losses and this can be achieved with a more robust engagement and regulation of the power sector,’’ Akande said.

Mr Effiong Edet, the Chairman, LCCI Power Sector Group, emphasised the need to review the privatisation of the power sector, refinance of debts and government’s 40 per cent equity in DISCOs in order to attract more investors.

According to Edet, other issues are enforcement of prepaid meters, need for a cost-effective tariff, need to decentralise the transmission system and more engagement between the government and private sector.

Mr Kola Adeshina, the Managing Director of Egbin Power Station, said the fundamental problems of the power sector stemmed from its pricing.

“We are talking of industrialisation, but we cannot be industrialised if the cost of electricity is high,’’ Adeshina said.

He urged stakeholders to use the country’s vast gas endowment towards reducing the pricing of electricity.

He emphasised the need for holistic review of the power reforms.