Energy experts have warned that the power supply crisis in Nigeria may deepen and assume a nation-wide dimension.
By Yakubu Lawal
The experts said that the looming crisis was due to inactivity in some of Nigeria's power generating stations and lack of maintenance on existing power infrastructure nation-wide.
But the management of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc (PHCN) has said that the delay in the repairs of the Escravos-gas pipeline vandalised in February 18, 2006, was resulting in the shortfall in generation and consequent load shedding.
"As at the time of writing, four calendar months after the incident occurred, repairs have not commenced," a statement issued by the management said.
"As a result of this, there has been incessant molestation of PHCN staff, destruction of office facilities and installations across the country."
The warning also followed the incessant electricity outages being experienced in parts of the country since late last year, which had also raised concerns among Nigerians.
The experts, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend in Abuja, hinged their position on "the present serious power outages across the country, with no immediate solutions in sight".
The industry players further expressed belief that the impending crisis was compounded by the past neglect of the existing power stations in relation to their maintenance and proper management.
"A lack of long-term planning, mismanagement and corruption on the part of some of the workers of the former National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), now Power Holding Company of Nigeria, more especially by some of the technicians, also worsened the situation," they said.
"We do not have enough electricity because we do not have enough power stations," one of the energy experts said.
International standards
The expert said international standards dictate that countries should have an electricity reserve capacity of at least 15%.
"Unfortunately, Nigeria has none in its electricity capacity and that is the dilemma in our power sector. We are currently not generating enough to meet the nation's demand, not to talk of reserving some megawatts as backup," an electrical engineer noted.
However, the federal government has promised to achieve 10 000 megawatts of electricity power by 2007.
The PHCN currently generates about 3 000 megawatts of power, but about 800 megawatts are now being lost due to inadequate gas supply to fire the thermal generating plants.
The power sector in the country is currently undergoing a reform programme designed to ensure stable and regular power supply.
The reform had led to the incorporation of the PHCN, which took over from NEPA assets and liabilities, as part of steps aimed at unbundling the latter into various business outfits.
PHCN, which replaced NEPA, is being prepared for outright privatisation to ensure efficient service delivery.
The Guardian