The darkness being experienced by the nation over the inadequate
power supply, may persist further, as supply have dropped abysmally to
an unprecedented low of 1.327 mega watts.
This is following an alarm raised by the Federal Government over the epileptic power supply which is blamed on the on-going strike by Labour Unions in the oil and gas sector.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, gave the hint after he accompanied the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo to brief the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, on the current power problem in the country.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting with Sambo, Igali noted that it had become necessary to update Nigerians on the current power situation in the country.
He said before government started facing the current challenges, the power sector had generated between 4,800 megawatts at the beginning of the year, “with a potential to get up to 6,000 megawatts based on the available gas and hydros”.
Igali continued: “Besides, pipeline vandalization which has continued to have very negative impact on the power supply situation in the country, the on-going strike by labour unions in the oil and gas sector has added additional toll. The current strike by both senior and junior staff unions of the NNPC, NUPENG and PENGASSIN, has led to further reduction of the amount of gas available to most of our power plants, especially in the western axis.
“As at 12.00 noon Friday, 22nd May, 2015, Utorogu, Chevron Ore Do and Ob En gas plants are shut down while Ugheli and CNL Escravos are isolated already. On the eastern axis, Shell Gas, ALAKIRI has also been shut down. This has led to the several power plants being stranded. This includes EGBIN, OLORUNSHOGO I & 11, OMOTOSHO 1& 11, GEREGU I & 11, IHONVOR and SAPELE (NIPP) on the western axis and ALAOJI on the eastern end”.
Lamenting the current state at which power supply has dropped, he said, “The overall effect is that power supply which had started picking up steadily since the beginning of the week, following repairs of various vandalized portions of the ELP Line and the Trans-Forcados Gas Pipelines has fallen to all-time-unprecedented low of 1,327m was at 1.00 p.m. on Friday, 22nd May, 2015. This situation could get worse if the strike action continues.
“The Federal Ministry of Power hopes, that the on-going discussion between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation and, the Labour Unions, will end amicably and soonest to save the country from such a major disruption of essential services. Indeed, it is hoped that the Labour Unions would help restore supply of gas to the power plants even while negotiation are on-going”.
Senate Summons Okonjo-Iweala, Diezani Over Fuel Scarcity
However, sequel to a resolution of the Senate on Thursday mandating its committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) to investigate the persistent fuel scarcity in the country, the committees yesterday summoned coordinating minister for the Economy and Finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her Petroleum Ministry counterpart, Diezani Alison-Madueke to appear before it.
Also invited by the joint committee are the group managing director of NNPC, managing directo PPMC, director DPR, PPPRA MOMAN (Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria), IPMAN (Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria and NARTO (National Association of Road Transport Owners).
Business and commercial activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have almost been brought to a halt due to the acute scarcity of fuel. Motorists queue for hours at handful of filling stations which still sell the product in the FCT.
Joint chairmen of the committees, Senators Paulker Emmanuel and Magnus Abe, signed the invitation to all the stakeholders in the oil industry.
A part of the invitation reads: “On Thursday, May 21, Senator Abdul Ningi drew the attention of the Senate to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country and the untold hardship on the generality of Nigerians.
“He urged the Senate to look into the matter with a view to finding the causes and lasting solution to the problem.
In view of this, the Senate directed its committees on Downstream Petroleum sector and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to investigate the matter and report back on Tuesday, May 26.
The committee’s report, it was gathered, is expected to be submitted to the Senate for deliberation at Tuesday’s plenary.
This is following an alarm raised by the Federal Government over the epileptic power supply which is blamed on the on-going strike by Labour Unions in the oil and gas sector.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, gave the hint after he accompanied the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo to brief the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, on the current power problem in the country.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting with Sambo, Igali noted that it had become necessary to update Nigerians on the current power situation in the country.
He said before government started facing the current challenges, the power sector had generated between 4,800 megawatts at the beginning of the year, “with a potential to get up to 6,000 megawatts based on the available gas and hydros”.
Igali continued: “Besides, pipeline vandalization which has continued to have very negative impact on the power supply situation in the country, the on-going strike by labour unions in the oil and gas sector has added additional toll. The current strike by both senior and junior staff unions of the NNPC, NUPENG and PENGASSIN, has led to further reduction of the amount of gas available to most of our power plants, especially in the western axis.
“As at 12.00 noon Friday, 22nd May, 2015, Utorogu, Chevron Ore Do and Ob En gas plants are shut down while Ugheli and CNL Escravos are isolated already. On the eastern axis, Shell Gas, ALAKIRI has also been shut down. This has led to the several power plants being stranded. This includes EGBIN, OLORUNSHOGO I & 11, OMOTOSHO 1& 11, GEREGU I & 11, IHONVOR and SAPELE (NIPP) on the western axis and ALAOJI on the eastern end”.
Lamenting the current state at which power supply has dropped, he said, “The overall effect is that power supply which had started picking up steadily since the beginning of the week, following repairs of various vandalized portions of the ELP Line and the Trans-Forcados Gas Pipelines has fallen to all-time-unprecedented low of 1,327m was at 1.00 p.m. on Friday, 22nd May, 2015. This situation could get worse if the strike action continues.
“The Federal Ministry of Power hopes, that the on-going discussion between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation and, the Labour Unions, will end amicably and soonest to save the country from such a major disruption of essential services. Indeed, it is hoped that the Labour Unions would help restore supply of gas to the power plants even while negotiation are on-going”.
Senate Summons Okonjo-Iweala, Diezani Over Fuel Scarcity
However, sequel to a resolution of the Senate on Thursday mandating its committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) to investigate the persistent fuel scarcity in the country, the committees yesterday summoned coordinating minister for the Economy and Finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her Petroleum Ministry counterpart, Diezani Alison-Madueke to appear before it.
Also invited by the joint committee are the group managing director of NNPC, managing directo PPMC, director DPR, PPPRA MOMAN (Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria), IPMAN (Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria and NARTO (National Association of Road Transport Owners).
Business and commercial activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have almost been brought to a halt due to the acute scarcity of fuel. Motorists queue for hours at handful of filling stations which still sell the product in the FCT.
Joint chairmen of the committees, Senators Paulker Emmanuel and Magnus Abe, signed the invitation to all the stakeholders in the oil industry.
A part of the invitation reads: “On Thursday, May 21, Senator Abdul Ningi drew the attention of the Senate to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country and the untold hardship on the generality of Nigerians.
“He urged the Senate to look into the matter with a view to finding the causes and lasting solution to the problem.
In view of this, the Senate directed its committees on Downstream Petroleum sector and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to investigate the matter and report back on Tuesday, May 26.
The committee’s report, it was gathered, is expected to be submitted to the Senate for deliberation at Tuesday’s plenary.
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