By Godswill Odiong
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has swiftly responded to a partial disturbance in the national power grid today, successfully restoring the system following a momentary lapse.

In a statement by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN reported a partial disturbance in the national power grid at 11:21 a.m. Ibom power was temporarily islanded, supplying Eket, Ekim, Itu, and Uyo transmission substations during the incident. Swift action was taken by TCN to initiate the restoration process, and as of now, the grid has been fully restored.

Prior to the disruption, the total generation on the grid stood at 3,901.25 MW at 8:00 a.m., just over three hours before the partial collapse. The persistently low power generation since January 2024, exacerbated by ongoing gas constraints, has contributed to the challenge faced by the grid.

The National Control Center (NCC), utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT), revealed that Sapele Steam & Egbin Substations experienced a total loss of 29.32MW and 343.84MW at 11:20:14 a.m. & 11:20:17 a.m., respectively, totaling 373.16MW. This loss, combined with the existing low power generation due to gas constraints, created an imbalance leading to the partial system disturbance at 11:21 a.m.

Gas constraints persist as a significant factor impacting grid flexibility and stability. The availability of sufficient gas supply to power generating stations is crucial for maintaining grid stability, allowing for better management during unexpected generation losses. TCN has committed to investigating the cause of the tripping of Sapele Steam & Egbin power generating units to prevent future incidents and ensure a reliable power supply for the nation.