National Grid Bounces Back: TCN Swiftly Restores Full Power Following Sunday’s Partial Disturbance
In a rapid response to a partial disturbance at 11:21 a.m. on Sunday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has successfully restored the national grid to full functionality. The incident, which initially affected Ibom power and transmission substations feeding Eket, Ekim, Itu, and Uyo, prompted immediate action by TCN to rectify the situation. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager Public Affairs, provided insights into the incident, emphasizing the prevailing challenges in the power sector, including gas constraints impacting daily operations.
Addressing the Grid Disturbance: TCN’s Swift Restoration Efforts
Amidst a backdrop of challenges in Nigeria’s power generation sector, the national grid encountered a partial disturbance at 11:21hrs on Sunday. TCN, responsible for managing the country’s transmission infrastructure, moved swiftly to initiate the restoration of the affected segment of the grid. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager Public Affairs, reassured the public that the grid has now been fully restored to normal operations.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria, hereby states that the grid experienced a partial disturbance at about 11:21hrs with Ibom power islanded feeding Eket, Ekim, Itu and Uyo transmission substations, during the period of partial disturbance,” conveyed Mbah in an official statement released on Sunday.
Pre-existing Power Generation Challenges: Low Generation and Gas Constraints
Highlighting the context leading up to the partial disturbance, Mbah disclosed that, before the incident, total generation on the grid stood at 3,901.25 Mega Watts (MW) at 8 a.m., a little over three hours prior to the occurrence. She shed light on the persistent issue of low power generation that has plagued the grid since January, further exacerbated by ongoing gas constraints.
“The importance of gas in powering generating stations cannot be overstated. Gas constraints have been a recurring challenge, severely impacting daily power generation. The imbalance created by the combination of low power generation and gas constraints contributed to the partial system disturbance,” explained Mbah.
According to the National Control Centre (NCC), the Internet of Things (IoT) provided insights into the moments leading up to the disturbance. Specifically, just before the incident occurred at Sapele, Steam and Egbin Substations lost 29.32MW and 343.84MW at 11:20:14 hrs and 11:20:17hrs, totaling 373.16MW. This sudden loss of generation capacity, coupled with existing constraints, triggered the partial disturbance.
Gas Constraints: A Persistent Challenge Impacting Grid Stability
The statement from TCN emphasized the ongoing challenges posed by gas constraints, a critical factor in maintaining grid flexibility and stability. Mbah stressed the importance of ensuring a sufficient gas supply to power generating stations, highlighting its crucial role in grid stability. Insufficient gas supply has been a recurring issue, directly affecting the flexibility of the grid to respond to sudden disturbances.
“Sufficient generation allows for better grid management in the event of sudden generation losses like this. Gas constraints continue to impact grid flexibility and stability,” acknowledged Mbah.
TCN’s Commitment to Investigation and Continuous Improvement
In response to the incident, TCN expressed its commitment to investigating the cause of the tripping of Sapele Steam and Egbin power-generating units. Understanding the root cause of such disturbances is essential for implementing corrective measures and preventing future occurrences. Mbah assured stakeholders and the public that TCN would pursue a thorough investigation to enhance the resilience and reliability of the national grid.
As Nigeria grapples with the complexities of its power generation landscape, TCN’s proactive approach to addressing disturbances and improving the overall efficiency of the grid remains crucial for meeting the energy needs of the nation.
