Blackout: Nigerian Govt gives reasons for third national grid collapse in 7 days

The Nigerian Government has said that Saturday’s national grid collapse was caused by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 08:15 am hours.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Reacting, NERC noted that bulk power supply has been significantly restored as of 13:00 hours on Saturday in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.“

Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and an associated cascade of power plants shut down arising from the loss of load.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Saturday’s grid collapse made it the third time the system shut down in the last seven days.Reacting, NERC noted that bulk power supply has been significantly restored as of 13:00 hours on Saturday in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.“

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.

“Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and an associated cascade of power plants shut down arising from the loss of load.”

However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.

”The Commission added that in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of System Operator out of the Transmission Company of Nigeria is ongoing.“

In line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator function (SO) out of Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc is ongoing with the expectation that an independent SO would engender more discipline in grid management and optimized investment in infrastructure.

NERC vowed to conduct an investigative hearing towards finding a permanent resolution to challenges of the national grid.

“In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing to identify immediate and remote causes of recurring incidence of grid disturbances and widespread outages.

“The date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate”.

TCN aligned with NERC on the reason for Saturday’s grid collapse.TCN also said the power supply has been fully restored.

A statement by TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah said, “Report from National Control Centre, the bus section of a current transformer exploded at 330kV Jebba Transmission Substation and as expected, the protection system was activated, and this promptly opened the busbars to curtail the explosion, thereby preventing the outbreak of fire and further damage to adjacentequipment.“

The action of the protection system led to a temporary disturbance on the grid.”

Recall that the national grid had collapsed three times in the last seven days. In the process of restoring Monday’s grid collapse, the grid experienced another disturbance.

In this year alone, the national grid had collapsed at least eight times.