Power plants utilise 85% capacity in October – NERC

Nigeria’s power generation plants utilised 85 per cent of their available capacity in October, although average hourly electricity generation declined by 1.02 per cent during the month, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The commission disclosed this in its October Operational Performance Fact Sheet, published on its official X handle on Wednesday.

NERC said average available generation capacity stood at 4,744 megawatts, while average hourly generation was 4,047MW, representing 85 per cent utilisation.

Despite the utilisation rate, the commission reported a 5.85 per cent decline in average available capacity compared with the preceding period.

Average hourly generation also fell by 1.02 per cent, while the average load factor increased by 4.16 per cent.

The fact sheet showed that Jebba_1 recorded the highest load factor among the listed power plants at 99 per cent, generating 423MW from an available capacity of 429MW.

Omotosho1 followed with a 97 per cent load factor, producing 179MW out of 183MW, while Afam2 recorded 94 per cent, generating 371MW from 395MW.

Egbin1 and Ihovbor2 each recorded a 93 per cent load factor, while Shiroro_1 achieved 89 per cent.

Delta1 and Kainji1 both recorded 84 per cent, while Okpai_1 posted 78 per cent.

Odukpani_1 had the lowest load factor among the top producers at 66 per cent, generating 202MW against an available capacity of 305MW.

NERC also reported deviations in the national grid’s frequency and voltage levels during the month.

The average lower grid frequency stood at 49.46 hertz, while the average upper frequency was 50.66Hz. Both figures fell outside the prescribed operational range of 49.75Hz to 50.25Hz.

Similarly, the average lower grid voltage was 305 kilovolts, while the average upper voltage stood at 353.94kV, exceeding the regulatory range of 313.50kV to 346.50kV.

The commission’s figures indicate that while power plants utilised a significant proportion of their available capacity in October, grid frequency and voltage remained outside prescribed operating limits.