Nigeria’s power sector is confronting serious challenges, as highlighted by a recent report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). In October, only 5,506 megawatts (MW) of electricity were distributed to consumers, despite an installed capacity of 13,625 MW. This translates to a plant availability of just 40 percent for the month. The top ten energy producers—primarily hydro and gas‑fired plants such as Egbin, Delta, and Kainji—accounted for roughly 80 percent of total generation. Although the October figure shows a modest two‑percent improvement over September, the industry generated only about 4,290 megawatt‑hours per hour, yielding an average load factor of 78 percent, unchanged from the previous month. These figures underscore persistent problems, including chronic voltage and frequency instability.
The NERC report also revealed variations in performance among individual power plants. Egbin achieved a plant availability factor of 50 percent and a load factor of 90 percent, producing an average of 591 MWh per hour. Delta generated an average of 347 MWh per hour, with 45 percent availability and an 86 percent load factor. Kainji stood out with a 95 percent load factor, though its availability was lower at 75 percent.
Grid stability remains a concern. The report noted that average transmission voltage and frequency levels frequently breached prescribed safe limits, indicating ongoing over‑voltage and under‑voltage events across several transmission corridors. Grid frequency also hovered slightly outside the recommended band, with both lower and upper averages exceeding target operational limits.
The findings come after Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu asserted that the grid can comfortably transmit 8,500 MW, but attributed the modest 5,000 MW generation figure to a misalignment between demand and consumption levels in the country. The NERC report emphasizes the urgent need to improve power plant availability, reduce voltage and frequency instability, and better align demand with consumption to address the chronic challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector.
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