Blackout, Nigerian Government Explains Third National Grid Collapse in Seven Days

The Nigerian Government has attributed Saturday’s national grid collapse to the explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 8:15 AM.

This information was disclosed in a statement by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

This incident marks the third collapse of the national grid within the past week.

In response, NERC reported that bulk power supply had been significantly restored by 1:00 PM on Saturday across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

NERC expressed concern about the increasing frequency of grid disturbances that have led to substantial outages in various states, reversing recent progress in reducing infrastructure deficits and enhancing grid stability.

Preliminary reports indicated that Saturday’s outage was triggered by the explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station, which caused a subsequent shutdown of power plants due to the loss of load.

However, efforts to restore power have progressed well, with supply significantly restored by 1:00 PM in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

In accordance with the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator from the Transmission Company of Nigeria is currently underway, with the aim of fostering better discipline in grid management and optimizing infrastructure investment.

NERC committed to conducting an investigative public hearing to find a lasting solution to the ongoing challenges facing the national grid.

The date and location of the public hearing will be announced soon, and stakeholders are encouraged to participate.

TCN confirmed the cause of Saturday’s grid collapse, stating that power supply has been fully restored. A spokesperson for TCN, Ndidi Mbah, explained that a current transformer at the 330kV Jebba Transmission Substation exploded, activating the protection system that opened the busbars to mitigate the explosion, preventing fire and further damage.

This year alone, the national grid has collapsed at least eight times, including three incidents in the past week.

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