Power grid collapse linked to line tripping – TCN

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has attributed the recent power disruptions experienced in parts of the country to line tripping incidents, debunking widespread rumors of a national grid collapse.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, the company confirmed that the national grid remained stable and operational throughout the day despite the challenges.

According to the statement, the disruptions were caused by the tripping of two key transmission lines: the Osogbo-Ihovbor line and the Benin-Omotosho line. These events, which occurred at approximately 1:41 PM, significantly impacted electricity supply, particularly in the Lagos axis. The cascading effects of the tripping also disrupted operations at several major power generation facilities, including:

Mbah clarified that prior to the incident, total grid generation stood at 4,335.63 MW. However, the tripping caused a sharp drop in generation to 2,573.23 MW. Despite this substantial reduction, she emphasized that the grid did not experience a collapse, as power supply was quickly restored to most affected areas.

By Saturday evening, operations at the affected power stations had resumed, with only the Benin-Omotosho 330kV transmission line awaiting full restoration. TCN’s technical teams were said to be actively working to address the issue and fully restore the remaining affected areas.

“Earlier today, at about 13:41 hrs, the Osogbo-Ihovbor line tripped, followed by the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line. These consequently affected bulk supply only on the Lagos axis,” Mbah stated.

The TCN spokesperson criticized media reports suggesting a collapse of the national grid, describing them as misleading and inaccurate.

“Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, hereby states that the nation’s grid did not experience any collapse today, contrary to the widely published misinformation in the media,” the statement read.

Mbah reiterated TCN’s commitment to minimizing disruptions through ongoing investments in grid infrastructure upgrades. She highlighted the company’s focus on preventive maintenance and expansion projects aimed at increasing transmission capacity and ensuring more stable power delivery across the country.

Nigeria’s power sector faces longstanding challenges, including aging infrastructure, limited generation capacity, and strained transmission lines. These issues contribute to occasional disruptions in the delivery of electricity, underscoring the need for robust investments in the sector.

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TCN has been implementing grid expansion initiatives to enhance the resilience of the system and meet the nation’s growing demand for electricity.

As of Saturday, the company reassured Nigerians that power supply had largely normalized and reiterated its resolve to improve the reliability of the country’s power infrastructure.