…TCN Says Frequency Spike Responsible, Apologies To Nigerians
… Adelabu Orders Report’s Immediate Implementation
The national grid on Thursday suffered another collapse, making it the second time in a week that the grid would experience disturbance.
NewsNGR reports that the grid experienced a partial disturbance on Tuesday, which made the grid record 9th collapse in 11 months.
However, Thursday’s grid collapse made it the 10th time in 11 months, and 164 times in 11 years.
NewsNGR also reports that Thursday’s collapse occurred barely 24 hours after a committee set up by the federal government to investigate the recent grid collapse submitted its report.
The committee, which is headed by the Executive Director of System Operations at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Nafisatu Asabe Ali had identified a poor maintenance culture and inadequate and aged equipment, among other challenges, as underlying reasons for the incessant multiple collapses of the national power grid witnessed in recent months.
Jos Electricity Distribution Company (Jos Disco) in a statement obtained from its verified Facebook page, confirmed the current power outage and attributed it to the loss of power supply from the national grid.
“The loss of power supply from the national grid occurred this morning at about 11:28 hours of today, Thursday, 7th November 2024, hence the loss of power supply on all our feeders.”
“We hope to restore normal power supply to our esteemed customers as soon as the grid supply is restored to normalcy,” the statement stated.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), while also confirming the grid collapse, attributed the latest grid collapse to a frequency spike on one of its substations.
TCN in a statement issued in Abuja by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, also apologized to Nigerians over the incident and assured that the power restoration process had started.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) wishes to inform the public that the national grid experienced a disturbance at approximately 11:29 am this morning, caused by a sudden rise in frequency from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz.
“Recovery efforts began immediately, and the Abuja Axis was restored within 28 minutes. Recovery is still ongoing. The frequency spike was caused by issues encountered at one of our substations, which had to be shut down to prevent further complications.
“In addition to this, we are actively engaged in significant repair work on several critical transmission lines and substations. This includes the 330kV transmission lines along the Shiroro–Mando axis, major upgrades at the Jebba Transmission Substation, and the restoration of the second Ugwuaji–Apir 330kV transmission line.
“Furthermore, following the submission of the investigative report on the causes of previous grid collapses, we have begun addressing the identified weaknesses in the transmission system.
“Efforts are being made to close the gaps highlighted in the report and to enhance the overall stability and resilience of the grid. These efforts include both technical upgrades and strategic interventions based on the committee’s recommendations.
“However, it is important to note that while these repairs and improvements are underway, some degree of instability in the system is likely to persist until all major works are completed.
“We acknowledge the impact of these disruptions and ask for the understanding and patience of the public during this challenging period.
“The company remains committed to improving the reliability of the electricity supply, recognizing the vital role that stable power plays in Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
“We assure the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the grid’s long-term stability, in line with the recommendations of the investigative committee, while also addressing infrastructure damage such as vandalized transmission lines’’, the statement stated.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has ordered the Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN) and all other relevant agencies of the ministry to begin the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the inter-agency committee, set up to address the incessant grid collapses in the power sector.
The Minister’s matching order came as the TCN reported that the national grid experienced a disturbance at approximately 11:29 am, on Thursday, November 7, 2024, which was caused by a sudden rise in frequency from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz.
The Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media, Hon. Bolaji Tunji, in a statement he issued in Abuja, quoted the Minister to have directed all relevant agencies in the ministry to brace up for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the committee, which was submitted on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
“The recommendations of the committee are far-reaching and will proffer lasting solutions to the incessant power grid collapses that we have embarrassingly witnessed in the country in the immediate and long term”, he said.