The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has attributed the shortage of gas to be the cause of the ongoing poor power supply experienced by electricity consumers across the country.
In a statement released on Thursday, TCN affirmed a gradual decline in available power generation into the grid due to constraints in gas supply to power generating companies, impacting the quantity of bulk power accessible for transmission to electricity distribution companies nationwide, The Punch reports.
Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction with the low power supply since December 2023, and distribution companies have clarified that they are not solely responsible, as they also receive limited allocations from generating companies.
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company specifically pointed to a gas shortage as the cause of the problem.
TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, explained, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN hereby announces that there has been a gradual decrease in an available generation into the grid due to gas constraints to the thermal generating companies, which has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid for onward transmission to the distribution load centres nationwide.”
Mbah assured that TCN is actively collaborating with other stakeholders in the power sector to maintain grid stability.
She stated, “TCN is doing everything possible in collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector to ensure that it continues to keep the grid intact in spite of the current low power generated into the system. Consequent upon the current load on the grid, load distributed to the distribution load centres have also reduced, as TCN can only transmit what is generated.”
Emphasizing the commitment to improvement, Mbah pleaded for understanding, stating, the company “is committed to ensuring a gradual increase in electricity supply to load centers as gas improves to the power available thermal plants. “Please bear with us as we continue to work with the stakeholders in the value chain to ensure that supply through distribution companies to electricity consumers nationwide improves.”
The reported gas shortage has affected various gas-fired grids in the country, resulting in low allocations to electricity distribution companies.