- The power grid failed due to a fire that occurred on the Kanji/Jebba 330kV line 2.
- TCN failed to transmit power to the 11 Discos as the power grid dropped from 4,355.2MW on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, to 0MW on Thursday, September 2023.
In the wake of a nationwide blackout caused by a power grid failure in the early hours of yesterday. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has assured the public that they are working diligently to restore the electricity supply. TCN engineers had been actively working to rectify the situation, initially restoring about 35 megawatts (MW) and subsequently increasing it to 193 MW and 273 MW before experiencing another setback leading to another failure.
TCN, a government-owned entity, explained in a statement issued by its General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, that the grid collapse resulted from a fire incident on the Kanji/Jebba 330kV line 2, and investigations were underway to determine the cause. Mbah emphasized that the process of nationwide grid restoration was well underway, with power supply gradually returning to various regions of the country, including the West, north-central, South, East, and a significant portion of the Northern areas.
Mbah clarified that the temporary setback during restoration should not be considered a second grid collapse. Challenges are not uncommon during grid restoration efforts. Before this incident, the system had been stable despite challenges like a lack of spinning reserve, inadequate system control, and data acquisition tools (SCADA). TCN managed to maintain 400 days of grid stability through the use of in-house measures and tools to manage and ensure grid stability. However, the recent collapse following the Kanji/Jebba line 2 fire incident is being thoroughly investigated to prevent future occurrences and further strengthen the national grid.
This grid collapse marked the first of its kind in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, causing disruptions in electricity supply to all distribution companies (Discos) and plunging homes and businesses across Nigeria into darkness. Several power plants were affected, with some experiencing minimal generation or complete shutdown. The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EEDC) was one of the first Discos to inform its customers about the situation, reporting a total system collapse that left its entire network without power supply in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. The EEDC was awaiting further information from the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo regarding the collapse and restoration of supply.