For the first time Nigeria Power generation hits 5,074.7MW

For the first time in Nigeria, electricity generation rose to 5,074.7megawatts on Tuesday.

This is coming after the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had promised that the country would increase its power generation by 2000MW before the end of this year.

Nigeria’s power generation had hovered around 4,000 to 4,500MW for most part of 2015.

The System Operator of the Transmission Company of Nigeria revealed the attainment of the new record peak generation of 5,074.7MW on Wednesday in Abuja, stating that a highest maximum daily energy of 109,372MWH was wheeled nationwide the previous day.

The Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Clement Ezeolisah, said the new peak generation of 5,074.7MW was attained at 9.30pm on the said day.

Ezeolisah, in a statement, said, “While the previous peak generation of 4,883.9MW was achieved on Monday, November 23, 2015, the previous highest maximum daily energy wheeled nationwide was 107,142.32MWH and recorded on Tuesday, January 26, 2016.”

The Managing Director, System Operation/Market Operation, TCN, Dipak Sarma, attributed the twin peak achievements to the enhanced cooperation among all the power sector stakeholders and concerted efforts by system operators at the National Control Centre and other stations to ensure that generated electricity was wheeled to the distribution companies and that there was no stranded power.

The power minister had on Tuesday stated that given the various plans undertaken by the present administration in the sector, power generation would increase by an additional 2000MW by the last quarter of 2016.

Fashola had explained that a lot had changed in the management of power in the country in recent times.

“Distribution of Power is no longer government business, but has been taken over by private Companies.  Also government has privatised power generation which has steered towards the full privatisation of the sector with transmission aspect being managed by Manitoba International of Canada,” the minister had said.

According to him, the 2016 budget focused more on the transmission, completion of on-going projects, refurbishing power plants and tackling gas supply issues, adding that if all these are well addressed, the expected projection would boost electricity generation in the country.

By Punchng.com.