BACKGROUND OF THE CHALLENGE
The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) had noticed, and in recent times, the frequent rate, at which the Nigerian National Grid had experienced a minimum of 4 – 6 catastrophic collapses, between April and July 2024, immediately after the tariff of the nations 15% consumers were moved to Band A.
As a professional body of intellectual experts, practitioners, thought and opinion leaders, we wish to express our utmost concern over these recurrent and incessant grid collapse issues that have continued to plague Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) unabatedly.
These catastrophic disruptions, with significant negative economic and social impacts, tend to undermine the operational stability and reliability of the power supply across the country. From available statistics, the national grid has collapsed 4 to 6 times in 2024 alone. This frequent collapse is directly attributed to the cause and effects of the recent tariff review of Band A consumers.
This review has inadvertently led to increased energy conservation efficiency among Band A consumers, significantly reducing their total monthly consumption. This drastic shift has caused a major imbalance in power flow within the NESI, making the grid more vulnerable to collapses.
It is further projected that if a tariff reduction is not implemented, the grid could face more frequent collapses. A tariff reduction will stimulate an increase in energy utilisation and could help balance the demand and supply dynamics, thereby preventing the grid from becoming unstable due to the low energy demand that is currently being experienced.
It should be noted that there is a worrying trend in the daily generation figures, highlighting a drop from the previous daily generation average capacity of 3,000 to 4,000 MW to less than 2,900 MW per day.
In the Nigerian power infrastructure, the NESI relies heavily on the operation of 24 – 25 gas-fired generation plants, across the country, which, due to their sensitivity, now operate at efficiency levels of 30 – 35% rather than the optimal 40 – 45%. These plants’ inefficiencies would lead to increased gas consumption amid ongoing gas supply shortages.
If we recount the background of a recent grid collapse incident, where the system lost 8% of generated power, and due to the grid’s fragile state, it was unable to recover its stability, leading to a catastrophic collapse. Despite restoration efforts, the grid experienced another system disturbance, resulting in another subsequent collapse.
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE
There are serious technical issues plaguing NESI. The grid’s unreliability stems from a fundamental lack of adherence to basic power principles and best practices. The current grid practices overlook critical technical aspects such as load types, power parameters, oscillations, harmonics, and feedback, which are essential for stable system operations. Additionally, there is an absence of reactive compensation schemes, which are crucial for maintaining grid stability.
The nation must have robust protection and control schemes tailored to handle the worst-case scenario faults specific to different circuits on the NESI. If properly designed, these schemes would protect fault-free sections of the network by isolating faulty areas until issues are resolved, thereby preventing widespread grid collapses.
A major factor affecting the power infrastructure is the power flow imbalance, and it has a significant factor contributing to grid collapses within the NESI. It should be noted that such imbalances typically lead to frequency fluctuations, which can destabilize the grid and result in collapses.
The NIEEE calls for immediate action to address these technical challenges, emphasizing the need for infrastructure upgrades, better maintenance practices, and a reconsideration of tariff policy regimes to ensure a more resilient and reliable power grid for the nation.
Addressing grid collapse issues in NESI requires a comprehensive approach that combines infrastructure and assets development, technological innovation, regulatory reforms, and stakeholder collaboration.
The NIEEE is committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to implement these solutions and ensure a stable, reliable, and sustainable power supply for Nigeria.
The press release was signed by The President, NIEEE
