Possibility of a total blackout as National Grid collapses

The Federal Ministry of power, Works and Housing has confirmed that the nation’s power National Grid has collapsed.

In a statement issued around 12:44am on Wednesday, the ministry said a fire incident at the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System near Okada, Edo State, on Tuesday caused the national transmission grid to trip off.

“It is regrettable that after a sustained period of increasing production and distribution of power since September 2017 to date, the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd reported a fire incident on its Escravos Lagos Pipeline System near Okada, Edo State on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

“The incident requires a shutdown of the pipeline supplying gas to Egbin 1,320megawatts; Olorunsogo NIPP 676MW; Olorunsogo 338MW; Omotosho NIPP 450MW; Omotosho 338 MW; and Paras 60MW power stations.

“The sudden loss of generation due to interruption in gas supply from these stations caused the national transmission grid to trip off around 20:20 on 2nd January 2018. The National Grid is owned and operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria,” the ministry stated.

Read the ministry’s statement below:

FROM THE MINISTRY OF POWER (Babatunde Raji Fashola)

1. Regrettably, after a sustained period of increasing production and distribution of power since September, the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd (NGPTC) has reported a fire incident on its Escravos Lagos Pipeline System on Tuesday, 2nd January,2018.
2. The incident requires a shutdown of pipeline supplying gas to Egbin 1,320MW; Olorunsogo NIPP 676MW, Olorunsogo 338MW, Omotosho NIPP 450MW, Omotosho 338 MW and Paras 60MW power stations.
3.  The sudden loss of generation due to interruption in gas supply from these stations caused the national transmission grid to trip off around 20:20 on 2nd January 2018. The national transmission grid is owned and operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Credit: PMnews