ABUJA, JANUARY 4, 2018 – The National Power Grid System has collapsed for the second time in less than 24 hours, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported.
TCN in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, in Abuja on Wednesday, said the latest collapse occurred at about 14.19Hours on 3rd January, 2018.
TCN explained that preliminary information from National Control Centre (NCC) indicated that the tripping of Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene 330kV line, cut off generation from Odukpani Power Station to the grid.
The company said restoration of the grid has reached advanced stage.
The statement added that “TCN has also commenced investigations to determine the exact cause of the system disturbance and the outcome will publicized”.
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing had late on Tuesday disclosed that a fire outbreak on the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System had cut off gas supply to power plants in the western axis.
The loss of power on the grid subsequently led to its collapse.
The Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd (NGPTC) which operates the pipeline reported a fire incident near Okada, Edo State on Tuesday, 2nd January, 2018.
The incident required a shutdown of the pipeline supplying gas to Egbin 1,320MW; Olorunsogo NIPP 676MW, Olorunsogo 338MW, Omotosho NIPP 450MW, Omotosho 338 MW and Paras 60MW power stations.
According to a statement by the government, 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).
The Ministry had assured that “once the national grid is restored output from the hydroelectric power stations and all other unaffected gas fired thermal power stations will be increased to the extent possible to minimize the impact of loss of generation from the affected power stations while NNPC takes necessary steps to restore gas supply”.
TCN explained yesterday that the system disturbance happened at a time when work on the pipeline was yet to be completed.
The grid would have withstood the Odukpani infraction, if generation along Lagos Region were available, it added.
The company said NGC indicated that a contractor has been mobilised to reconstruct the affected segment of the pipeline, so that gas supply to Omotosho, Egbin, and Olorunsogo I and II can be restored.
According to NGC the work would be carried out day and night and is expected to be completed within 24 hours.
