Nigeria’s power supply is expected to improve in the coming weeks as gas pressure is restored to key infrastructure supporting electricity generation, according to industry officials.
Speaking on the development, Adebayo Olowoniyi said ongoing maintenance on a major gas pipeline had significantly impacted supply to power plants, leading to reduced generation nationwide.
He explained that about 75 per cent of Nigeria’s power generation depends on gas, making the sector highly vulnerable to disruptions in gas supply.
“75% of power generation in Nigeria relies on gas. One of the major gas pipelines in the country was undergoing maintenance, but that process is nearing completion, he said.
The current shortfall, he noted, was largely due to the temporary shutdown of a critical pipeline undergoing repairs.
Olowoniyi, who serves as Chief Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power, expressed optimism that the situation would soon stabilise.
He disclosed that the maintenance work is nearing completion and that full gas pressure is expected to be restored within the next two weeks.
“We are confident that within the next two weeks, full gas pressure will be restored to the pipeline, enabling the power plants to receive enough gas to at least return to the level of generation seen over the past three months,” he added.
Once gas supply normalises, he said, power plants would receive adequate fuel to ramp up production, potentially returning electricity generation to levels recorded over the past three months.
The development comes amid public concerns over inconsistent electricity supply, with authorities assuring that the challenges are being addressed and improvements are imminent.
SOURCE: thesun.ng
