Nigeria’s national electricity grid continues to depend heavily on a few high-performing power plants, even as most others remain largely idle or underperforming, according to the latest operational factsheet released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The report for September showed that Egbin, Kainji and Zungeru were the mainstay of power supply to the grid during the month, accounting for some of the highest load factors and capacity utilisation among all the generating stations.
Out of an installed capacity of 13,625 megawatts, only 5,200 megawatts were available for dispatch, representing a plant availability factor of 38 per cent.
The commission said average hourly generation stood at 4,091 megawatt-hours, meaning that only 78 per cent of available capacity was actually utilised. The grid-connected plants recorded a PAF of 38 per cent. At any point during the month, an average of 5,200 MW was available for dispatch onto the grid.
NERC noted that 10 power stations were responsible for 81 per cent of the energy supplied to the grid in September. Apart from Egbin, Kainji and Zungeru, others in that category included Jebba, Delta, Shiroro, Ihovbor, Okpai, Geregu and Afam.
