FG Identifies Causes of Recurring National Grid Collapse

Federal Government Attributes Frequent Grid Collapse to Inadequate Maintenance

“The root cause of this was the unavailability of the second reactor at Jebba, which is due to the network's..."

Nigeria's national grid collapses for the ninth time in 2024, attributed to vandalism, poor maintenance, and aging infrastructure.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has identified poor maintenance, outdated equipment, and related issues as the primary causes of the frequent national power grid collapses experienced in recent months. These challenges led to the blackouts on October 14 and 19, which were triggered by electrical voltage exceeding the capacity of the equipment.

Causes of Grid Collapse

The investigative committee, chaired by Nafisatu Asabe Ali, presented its report at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja on November 6. The report revealed that:

Lightning Arrestor Failure: Lightning arrestors at the Jebba and Oshogbo transmission stations failed.

CT Explosion: A CT explosion occurred at Jebba Station.

These incidents caused the grid collapses on October 14 and 19.

This development comes after the national grid collapsed for the ninth time in 2024, just 24 hours prior to the report's presentation.

“Regarding the incident on Monday, October 14, lightning arrestors in both Jebba and Oshogbo were damaged.

“The one in Jebba, which was for the shunt reactor, was affected by high voltage. This led to the tripping of multiple 330kV lines, which continued until it escalated into a major failure.

“The root cause of this was the unavailability of the second reactor at Jebba, which is due to the network's design and, at times, its topology. This makes Jebba particularly susceptible to high voltage fluctuations.

“Prior to this incident, Jebba had two shunt reactors, but one of them failed. As a result, the voltage surged to around 400KV, exceeding the threshold. High voltage levels can damage the insulation of equipment.

“Prolonged exposure of equipment to high voltages leads to the degradation of insulation, increasing the risk of failure.

“This was a contributing factor, but the underlying causes are aged equipment. Our investigation revealed that Jebba was commissioned in 1968, and some of its equipment dates back to that time. Additionally, the maintenance culture is a significant issue.”

The Nigerian power grid's frequent collapses can be attributed to several key factors, including:

Vandalism: Intentional damage to power infrastructure, disrupting electricity supply.

Technical Issues: Absence of free governors at power generation plants, hindering efficient regulation.

Maintenance Challenges: Disorganized maintenance schedules, leading to equipment failures.

Human Resource Gaps: Inadequate skilled personnel, impairing effective management.

To address these challenges, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu plans to secure additional funding through the 2024 Supplementary Budget and 2025 Appropriation Bill. This financial boost aims to implement comprehensive reforms, ensuring a stable power supply. Adelabu expressed confidence that these measures will effectively tackle the grid's recurrent collapses, ultimately enhancing Nigeria's energy sector.

“This frequent grid collapse is unfortunate and personally troubling to me as the Honorable Minister of Power responsible for overseeing this sector,” he said.

Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu plans to submit an updated report to President Bola Tinubu, supporting his request for additional funding to address the financial implications of preventing frequent grid collapses.

He remarked, “Today's meeting is to review the report from the agency committee formed about two and a half weeks ago, which was tasked with identifying the root causes of the frequent grid disturbances we've faced in recent months.

“This situation is detrimental to us as a country, to the power sector, and to the Ministry of Power and other related agencies.”

The committee proposed several key recommendations to address Nigeria's frequent power grid collapses.

Equipment Optimization: Conduct audits and tests on existing equipment to ensure they're functioning efficiently.

Enhanced Maintenance: Improve transmission lines and equipment maintenance to prevent failures.

Harmonics Filter Installation: Install harmonics filters for Disco and Genco customers to regulate voltage

Decentralization: Decentralize the TCN central store to enhance logistics and response times.

Free Governor Mode Enforcement: Enforce the Free Governor Mode of Operation to prevent frequency fluctuations.

Optical Ground Wire Upgrade: Eliminate makeshift optic fiber connections for Optical Ground Wires to ensure reliable communication.