Nigeria's third power grid collapse this week linked to transformer explosion | Business Insider Africa

Oct 20, 2024

Nigeria's national grid has collapsed for the third time this week. However, the country's power authorities have noted that they are in the process of looking for a lasting solution to the reoccurring inconvenience.

The pattern of Nigerians enduring power outages throughout the week appears to be ongoing, as reports of another power grid breakdown surfaces.

The power grid in the West African country, which has failed numerous times during the year, broke down twice during the week, leaving many households without power for most of the week.

While the problem seemed to have been fixed, a recent report reveals that the national grid has collapsed for the third time this week.

The Nigerian newspaper, The Punch revealed that the recent power grid collapse resulted from a current transformer explosion.

Around 8:16 AM on Saturday morning, the distribution of electricity for most of the country came to a halt.

In a statement posted on its social media accounts, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) provided an update on the collapse saying it “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 0815 hrs and an associated cascade of power plants shut down arising from the loss of load.”

However, the commission claimed that work to restore power supply had progressed, "with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT."

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

The NERC also revealed that it would shortly conduct an inquiry to determine the root of frequent grid disruptions and large outages in an effort to find a long-term solution to the problems facing the national grid.

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