The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has blamed gas shortages and low water levels at hydroelectric power stations for the decline in electricity generation across the country.
The operator said the challenges had reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid, forcing distribution companies to cut supply to consumers.
NISO disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, acknowledging the difficulties faced by electricity consumers nationwide.
It explained that inadequate gas supplies had prevented some thermal power plants from operating at their available capacity.
“The limited availability of gas has constrained the capacity of affected thermal generating stations to operate at their available levels,” the operator said.
It added that “reduced water inflows into reservoirs have impacted the generation capacity of hydroelectric power stations.”
According to NISO, the decline in generation has reduced the electricity allocated to Distribution Companies (DisCos) for onward distribution to homes and businesses.
The operator said this had resulted in “reduced hours of electricity supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks.”
It explained that the level of disruption differed across the country, depending on the electricity available and the allocations received by individual distribution companies.
NISO acknowledged public concerns over the worsening supply situation and said it was working to diversify the national grid's energy sources to improve electricity security.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining grid stability and making the best use of available electricity.
The development comes amid renewed concerns over Nigeria's electricity supply, with operational data reported on Thursday showing that national grid generation had fallen to 449.20 megawatts as of 11 a.m.
NISO said it remained committed to ensuring the secure, reliable and efficient operation of the national grid despite the challenges.
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