- According to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s power generation has reached a three-year high of 5,313 megawatts.
- Adelabu urges Electricity Distribution Companies to absorb more energy to prevent grid instability and calls on industries to purchase bulk energy.
Nigeria’s power generation has achieved a significant milestone, hitting a three-year high of 5,313 megawatts (MW) on Monday, August 2, 2024. This achievement marks a notable advancement in the nation’s energy sector and reflects ongoing improvements under the current administration.
Bolaji Tunji, special adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made the announcement. Adelabu emphasised the importance of this development and urged Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to fully absorb the increased energy supply to prevent potential issues within the power grid.
In his statement, Adelabu highlighted the risks associated with underutilised power, explaining that DisCos failing to take up the generated power can lead to grid instability. He noted, “When power is produced and not picked by the DisCos, it could lead to grid collapse as the frequency drops.” This underscores the critical need for effective distribution to ensure the stability of the power system.
Adelabu also stressed industries’ need to purchase bulk energy due to the increased generation capacity. “Efforts will be made to encourage industries to purchase bulk energy,” he said. This move is intended to help balance the demand and supply dynamics and maintain system stability.
Earlier in the year, the federal government had committed to ramping up power generation to 6,000MW by the end of 2023. Adelabu reflected on the progress made since this pledge, noting that as of May 3, 2024, the country’s generation capacity had already reached 5,000 MW.
He expressed confidence that the 6,000MW target is within reach, given the advancements achieved in 2023. “Going by the improvements in the sector in 2023, we are confident that power generation in Nigeria will hit 6,000MW before the end of this year,” Adelabu affirmed.
With the continued push towards the 6,000MW goal, the country aims to improve energy availability and reliability, which are crucial for economic growth and development. As Nigeria strives towards its ambitious target, it must optimise power distribution and encourage bulk energy purchases to ensure a stable and efficient energy sector.