The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed a report by The PUNCH that the poor power supply being experienced by electricity consumers nationwide was caused by a shortage of gas.
The TCN in a statement on Thursday, January 25, affirmed that there had been a gradual decrease in available power generation into the grid due to gas constraints to the power generating companies.
This, the TCN said, has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the grid for onward transmission to electricity distribution companies nationwide.
Nigerians have been lamenting the low power supply since December 2023.
Distribution companies have continued to speak up, saying they were not to blame as they also receive limited allocation from generating companies.
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company said the poor power supply was caused by a gas shortage.
Just like the DisCos, the TCN disclosed that the load distributed to the distribution load centres had reduced, saying it can only transmit what is generated.
The TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said: “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 informed that the TCN was working with other stakeholders in the power sector to keep the grid intact.
“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,” she explained.
The TCN spokesperson noted that the company “is committed to ensuring a gradual increase in electricity supply to load centers as gas improves to the power available thermal plants”.
She pleaded, “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.”
Our correspondent reported earlier that the various gas-fired grids in the country were not getting enough gas supply, leading to low allocation to electricity distribution companies.
