Gas supply to the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), which provides natural gas to key thermal power stations in the country, has declined by over 180 million standard cubic feet per day (mscf/d) in the last few days.
This development has led to a big loss of electricity and power rationing nationwide.
A statement by the Ministry of Power said the Oben gas facility in Delta State supplying gas to the Western axis was yesterday shut at the instance of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to carry out a leakage repair on the Ughelli-Rapele line.
Consequently, 1200mscf of gas from Seplat, an indigenous upstream operator, is now stranded. This development came on the heels of the ongoing maintenance on the Chevron compressor in Escravos, Delta State, which began last week and has caused a loss of 30mscf.
Minister of Power Prof. Barth Nnaji, said: “The total loss of natural gas supply in the wake of both the routine maintenance and the leakage repair has meant a loss of 625 megawatts, an awful loss, indeed, for a nation which used to generate 3,800 MW by last May and now produces 4,400MW.”
He said the power plants affected by the gas cutback include Egbin in Lagos, Sapele, Ughelli in Delta State, Geregu in Kogi State, Omotosho in Ondo State and Olorunsogo (Phase2) in Ogun State.
Nnaji apologised to Nigerians for the decline in electricity and assured that normal power supply would be restored within five days.
He said some steps have been taken to minimise the impact on electricity supply when routine maintenance is carried out on gas pipelines, saying that henceforth all international oil companies must inform the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources at least 90 days ahead of schedule.
The Minister also disclosed that both ministries and their agencies now meet every month with relevant agencies under them to do a prognosis of gas supply to electric power stations in Nigeria.
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625mw lost to gas disruption