Yemisi Izuora
Power generation has partially improved with daily average energy generation put at 4,223.84 megawatt/hours (mwh/h), while daily average energy sent out was 4,137.70 mw/h as at the beginning of the week.
Power generation recorded on Monday was put at 4,581.90mw, less than the highest peak of 4,883.90mw achieved in November, last year.
This is coming as generation at Egbin thermal plant hovers around 1,500MW despite gas supply challenges.
Already, the recent attack on the Nigeria Gas Company’s pipeline connected to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s facility at Escravos, is expected to impact negatively on the Olorunsogo NIPP plant (capacity 600MW), and other power plants.
Checks by Oriental News Nigeria showed that Egbin’s 5 turbines are generating at capacity of 220MW and pushing out over 1,500MW daily.
Special Adviser, Communications to the Minister of Power, Hakeem Bello, said in a statement, that the sabotaged gas pipeline, which contributes to the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), has led to a loss of 160mmsfcd of gas daily.
Bello explained that at a cost of $2.50 per thousand scf, the country is losing about $400,000 or N78.8 million daily.This, he noted, is in addition to losses to be incurred daily from affected power generation ($1,988,223 or N391,680,000 daily).
“The total daily loss to the country is therefore estimated at N470,479,931. Repairs of the damaged pipeline is estimated as costing ($609,137 or N120,000.000). The real sector of the economy has also been counting its losses as some cement companies around the country are also affected.
“The latest incident has occurred just as the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources along with allied agencies has been making concerted efforts to improve gas supplies to the Power Plants.
“The pipelines are being actively monitored for further attacks or other unforeseen impacts. Available records show that six incidences of vandalism from December 2014 to February 2015 which affected the Trans Forcados Pipeline (at Oben,Sapele, Oredo ) and Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (CNL) led to a loss of 1,100 MMScfd”, he said.