Nigeria’s available power generation capacity has plunged by 2,324 megawatts due to deteriorating plants/units’ capacities and poor maintenance caused by liquidity challenges, among others, the Federal Government has said.
It stated that though the country’s installed power generation capacity increased marginally, the quantum of available power crashed by over 2,300MW between 2015 and 2022.
An analysis of the latest 2022 Electricity Market Competition Report by The PUNCH on Friday, showed that the country’s available power capacity dropped from 6,401MW in 2015 to 4,059MW in 2022.
The report, which was put together by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, an agency of the Federal Government, read in part, “The installed capacity in NESI (Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry) grew by 7.95 per cent, from 12,132MW as of December 2015 to 13,097MW as at December 2022.
“During the same period, however, the average available capacity decreased by 2,324MW, from 6,401MW recorded in 2015 to 4,059MW in 2022.
“This is due to deteriorating plants/units’ capacities, poor maintenance due to liquidity challenge and access to forex (foreign exchange), non-binding contracts and delay payment, and introduction of stringent regulatory measure against wrong declaration.”
The power sector regulator, however, stated that “it is also noteworthy to mention that during the period, Gbarain National Integrated Power Project was out of operation till date. The non-availability of this plant may have also overstated the reduction in available capacity linked to the old plants.” ADAPTED FROM THE PUNCH
