Abuja – The Federal Government on Friday in Abuja
raised alarm over dwindling and epileptic electricity
supply across the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr
Godknows Igali, made this known after a meeting with
Vice-President Namadi Sambo to State House
correspondents in Abuja.
Igali, and Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power,
had briefed Sambo on the state of power generation,
transmission and distribution in the country.
He said the ongoing strike by Petroleum and Natural
Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN) and the National Union of
Petroleum and Natural Gas had further worsened the
power supply situation.
The workers were protesting the transfer of the
operatorship of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 to two
indigenous companies, claiming the move would affect
the fortunes of NPDC and its staff.
“With the strike which has gone on for one or two days
there is dramatic turn as of this afternoon we have
gone down for the all time low to 1,327 megawatts.
“So, if you look at it from 4,800 there is dramatic
turn, the loss is terrible,’’ Igali said.
He said as at 12 noon May 22, 2015, Utorogu,
CHEVRON ORE DO, OB EN gas plants were
all shutdown while UGHELI and CNL
ESCRAVOS were already isolated.
He said, “on the eastern axis Shell Gas, ALAKIRI
has also been shutdown. This has led to the several
power plants being stranded and shutdown.
“This includes EGBIN,
OLORUNSHOGO I &
11, OMOTOSHO 1& 11, GEREGU I & 11,
IHONVOR and SAPELE (NIPP) on the western
axis and ALAOJI on the eastern end.’’
According to him, besides, pipeline vandalism which has
continued to have very negative impact on the power
supply situation in the country, the ongoing strike by the
labour unions in the oil and gas sector has added
additional toll.
“The overall effect is that power supply which had
started picking up steadily since the beginning of the
week following repairs of various vandalised portions
of the ELP Line and the Trans-Forcados Gas
Pipelines, has fallen to all-time-unprecedented low of
1,327m was at 1.00 p.m. May22, 2015.
He, therefore, warned that “situation could get worse
if the strike continues’’.
Igali expressed the hope that the ongoing discussion
between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum
Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation and, the labour unions, would end
amicably.
“Indeed, it is hoped the labour unions will help restore
supply of gas to the power plants even while negotiation
are ongoing.’’(NAN)
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