KUNLE OLUTAYO
The House of Representatives has
mandated its committee on power to conduct investigation into the root causes of incessant national grid collapse in the country.
The House noted that Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)’s capacity to address the ugly trend to forestall future occurrences and protect the country’s already fragile socio-economic environment isn’t fruitful as expected.
This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Sani Bala from Kano State at plenary on Tuesday.
Moving the motion, Bala stated that national grid collapses occur when there are system disturbances along the transmission lines connecting a number of generating stations.
He expressed concern that since 2013 when the privatisation exercise took place in the power sector, the country has witnessed over 100 national grid collapses; a challenge which experts and operators said would linger for a long time, if not addressed.
The lawmaker said: “The House is concerned that only this year, the national grid has collapsed seven times, (more than the three times recorded last year), thereby, causing national power outages with enormous socio-economic implications.
“Equally concerned that the latest in the series of power failures has been adjudged among the worst, the country witnessed in recent times, which in turn indicates that there is no framework or spinning reserve, meant to forestall such occurrences.
“Also, Worried that it is incomprehensible that all the key power plants in the country, including Egbin, Utorogu, Chevron Oredo, Oben gas-fired power plants, Ughelli, and Chevron Escravos power plants could all shut down at once.
“Still worried that the issue of system collapse may not be unconnected with the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s lack of wheeling capacity, inadequate transmission lines and spinning reserves as well as refusal to fast-track construction of digital control centres instead of the Company’s current analog system.”
He said available statistics from research show that, if the power generated is adequately wheeled and transmitted for distribution to consumers, there will be 30% reduction in the cost of generating power, thus leading to a corresponding reduction in the prices of utilities in the electricity supply industry.
