Just in: Blackout looms as power plants breakdown in Nigeria
Some parts of Nigeria have been thrown into total darkness as a result of power outages/shortages caused by a breakdown of nine National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs) supplying electricity to the national grid.
The affected plants are Sapele, Afam, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Ibom, Egbin, Alaoji and Ihovbor while Jebba Plant is currently down for annual maintenance.Also, seven other integrated power plants namely Geregu, Sapele, Omotosho, Gbarain, Omoku, Paras and Alaoji are experiencing gas constraints while the Shiroro plant has water management problems.
Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Aaron Artimas on Thursday, said the development has drastically affected power generation, thus affecting supply to the national grid.
“In view of this, the Minister of Power regrets this unfortunate situation and offers his sincere apology to all affected Nigerians on the inconveniences the power shortages are causing.
“He assures that the ministry through the appropriate agencies is working assiduously to rectify the technical problems affecting the plants as well as resolving the gas issues to the others,” it read.
The minister further assured that the national grid will be restored to its previous historic distribution peak of about 5,600MW of electricity
