Nigeria's Nationwide Blackout Continues - Gov. Failed To Release Funds To Repair Power Plants - AA

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The current nationwide blackout may worsen as funding continues to be the major albatross to the maintenance of the existing electricity infrastructure in the country.

THISDAY learnt that the Federal Government has not released funds for any repair work on the existing power plants. This has left the infrastructure in a state of near collapse.

Added to this is the fact that the water treatment plant at the 1,350mw Egbin Power Station is in a bad state, a development which has hampered electricity production from the plant thereby causing power generation to the national grid to drop to 860mw. Besides, inadequate gas supply to power the turbines is also said to be one of the factors responsible for the consistent decline in power generation in Nigeria. Sources at the Ministry of Power revealed yesterday that the existing power plants, built over 15 years ago, are aging and have been functioning far below their installed capacity. The sources noted that most of the power plants built by former President Olusegun Obasanjo government are yet to come on stream, owing to lack of gas to power the turbines.

Given this scenario, experts maintain that generation of 6,000mw by next year will remain a mirage since power supply to the nation will continue to depend on the existing infrastructure for at least the next two to three years. According to the sources, for government to achieve the 6,000mw, these existing infrastructure, which remain the sources of electricity production, must be repaired. Efforts should also be geared towards the completion of the power plants being built in conjunction with the international oil companies, they said. "Prior to 1999, Nigeria had seven power stations - the newest one was the 15-year-old Shiroro Power Station.

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