The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has rejected claims that its gas transportation problems are causing low electricity generation in the country.
In a statement on Saturday, NNPC's Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said its pipelines are fully operational to transport gas to power plants across Nigeria.
"NNPC Limited confirms that gas transportation network operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), remains available to support deliveries to power generating stations nationwide without any constraints," the statement said.
The company added that NGIC’s operational records do not show any transportation issues that could explain the drop in electricity generation.
This comes after the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) recently pointed out that limited gas supply and lower water levels at hydroelectric stations are contributing to the decline in power generation.
"NNPC Limited’s clarification concerns the operational status of NGIC’s transportation network," the statement noted.
Electricity supply in major Nigerian cities like Lagos and Abuja has dropped sharply in the past few weeks, raising worries about the power supply in the country.
The situation has worsened due to high temperatures as the rainy season comes to an end.
The ongoing power outages have put extra pressure on businesses and households, especially with high petrol prices. Many Nigerians are now turning to solar systems and inverters to meet their electricity needs.
On Friday, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the outages across the country are due to planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and gas supply issues affecting some thermal power plants, which have cut down the electricity available on the national grid.
The minister mentioned that he and his team are working to bring the affected power units back online in stages, with the first units expected to resume within 48 to 72 hours.
"We are also working with operators to improve gas supply and speed up repairs to the damaged infrastructure. I thank everyone affected for their patience and will provide further updates as supply is gradually restored," he said.
But NNPC insisted that its gas transportation system is not a problem, reaffirming its commitment to improve electricity generation with safe and efficient gas supply.
"Gas production, commercial supply arrangements and actual deliveries to individual power plants must be assessed separately from the availability of transportation infrastructure," the statement said.
The company explained that to understand the challenges, we must also look at the availability and readiness of generating units, maintenance schedules, and actual gas offtake.
"These factors determine whether gas supplied can be turned into electricity. They should be checked alongside gas supply data to find the reasons for the shortfall," NNPC said.
The company called for a joint review of operational data by gas suppliers, transporters, power generators, and NISO to pinpoint specific issues and guide necessary actions.
It emphasized that accurate reporting across the gas-to-power chain is key to solving the problems and maintaining public trust.
"Our focus remains on dependable energy infrastructure and teamwork that helps turn Nigeria’s gas resources into more reliable electricity for Nigerians," it said.
NNPC also stated its commitment to fulfilling the federal government’s gas development and monetization plans, which it claims have led to about 10 percent growth in gas production volumes so far in 2023.
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