TCN Working To Save National Grid From Collapse; Blames Insufficient Gas Supply

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, says the current power outage being experienced across the country is due to gas constraint.

TCN can only transmit power to distribution companies, gencos based on the quantum of gas available, according to a statement by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s general manager of public affairs.

The transmission firm however called for understanding among Nigerians, saying efforts are in top gear to normalize the situation.

For days, many parts of the country have been thrown into darkness, as many businesses which depend on electricity for their seriously laments severe loses due to the problem.

Cold rooms owners in Lagos, for instance, including artisans like welders, barbers have cried to the different distribution companies to restore power in other to save their businesses from collapsed.

The gencos said the problem is beyond them.

According to TCN spokesperson, it’s currently working with other stakeholders within the electricity distribution chain to ensure that the national grid keeps running.

The statement said, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN hereby announces that there has been a gradual decrease in available generation into the grid due to gas constraints to the thermal generating companies, which has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid for onward transmission to the distribution load centres nationwide.

“TCN is doing everythisng possible in collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector to ensure that it keeps the grid intact despite the current low power generated into the system.

“Consequent to the current load on the grid, load distributed to the distribution load centres have also been reduced, as TCN can only transmit what is generated.

“TCN is committed to ensuring a gradual increase in electricity supply to load centres as gas improves to the power available thermal plants.

“Please bear with us as we continue to work with the stakeholders in the value chain to ensure that supply through distribution companies to electricity consumers nationwide improves”, the company stated.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians are wondering why enough gas could not be supplied to TCN by the federal government.

This is an anomaly considering that Nigeria has one of the largest gas reserves in the world.