Grid Collapse: Minister of Power orders committee to solve the continuous Grid Collapse

The Minister of Power has finally responded to the continuous Grid Collapse in Nigeria which has affected the economy and businesses.

Adebayo Adelabu, the Minster of Power has ordered all transmission companies in Nigeria to implement an agency to solve the continuous collapse of the National Grid.

According to a report from TCN, the National Grid experienced a disturbance on Thursday 7, November due to high frequency which has the power sector.

On Thursday, the special advisor to the Minister on Strategic Communication and Media, Bolaji Tunji, urged every agency in the power sector to adhere to the committee’s implementation recommendations.

“The committee’s recommendations are far-reaching and will offer lasting solutions to the recurrent power grid collapses that have embarrassingly plagued the country in the short and long term,” he said.

In a meeting on Wednesday, the committee identified a poor maintenance culture, inadequate and aging equipment, and other challenges as the cause of the continuous Grid collapse in these past few weeks.

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The committee also identified high voltage as the reason why the Grid keep collapsing, as the voltage it is dissipating has exceeded it limit.

Nafisatu Asabe Ali, the chairperson spoke about this at the ministry headquarters in Abuja.

Grid Collapse

“For the incident on the 14th, lightning arresters in Jebba and Oshogbo shattered. The one in Jebba was for the shunt reactor, and this was caused by high voltage. Subsequently, we had the tripping of multiple 330kV lines. This continued until it became a major event.

“If equipment is exposed to high voltage for extended periods, the insulation degrades, increasing the risk of failure. This was a contributing factor, but the underlying issues include aged equipment. Our findings confirmed that Jebba was commissioned in 1968.

“And some of the equipment was installed alongside the substation. So, aging equipment and maintenance practices are concerns. The relaying philosophy, settings, and coordination also need to be reviewed, with high voltage in Jebba being a significant factor.” she said.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed another grid disturbance, the latest in a series of power outages that have plagued the nation. The incident, which occurred on Thursday morning, was attributed to a sudden frequency spike.

While TCN has initiated recovery efforts, with some areas like the Abuja axis already restored, the full restoration of the power supply is still ongoing. The company has acknowledged the impact of these disruptions on the public and has assured them of its commitment to improving the reliability of the electricity supply.

To address the root causes of these frequent grid collapses, TCN is implementing recommendations from an investigative committee. These include tackling issues such as vandalism of power infrastructure, inadequate human resources, and uncoordinated maintenance schedules.

The company is also undertaking significant repair work on critical transmission lines and substations, including the 330kV Shiroro-Mando line and the Jebba Transmission Substation.

While TCN is working diligently to stabilize the grid, some instability may persist until major repair works are completed. The company urges the public to exercise patience and understanding as they work to improve the nation’s power supply.