The nation’s electricity grid may have experienced another collapse at the weekend as the quantum of energy generated into the grid dropped to 92.30 megawatts (MW) on Sunday, the Daily Trust reports.
Records of daily operations in the power sector showed that the highest generation was 3,621MW but it sharply dropped to 92.30MW during the period as the system frequency rose to 51.18 Hertz, a level that could trigger system collapse.
Further statistics from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing proved that beside the reported collapse at the weekend, the national grid had recorded eight system collapses in 2018 with the most recent occurring in June.
While seven were total collapse of the system, plunging the entire country into darkness in January (when five such incidences occurred), in February and in June. There was a record of partial system collapse in April.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) which manages the grid system in its response said the system collapse occurred at about 14:27hrs of July 8, 2018. “Restoration commenced immediately after the collapse and the system was fully restored by 15:13 hours the same day.”
The spokesperson of TCN, Mrs Ndidi Mbah who confirmed this to Daily Trust said the collapse was caused by tripping of Sapele-Delta and Delta-Benin transmission lines, which reduced generation into the grid by 640MW.
“The line was fully restored by 3:15 pm Sunday and normal transmission of power also restored, yesterday,” she noted.