National Grid Collapses Third Time This Week

For the third time this week, the National Grid has collapsed. Power production ceased at approximately 8:16 a.m. on Saturday, October 19.

Recall that this week the grid failed on Monday and Tuesday before being fixed later.

Energy production reached a peak of 3,968 megawatts at 7 a.m. and was at 3,042 MW at 8 a.m. By 9 a.m., though, it had reduced to 47MW.

TCN attributed the recent collapse to an explosion at the bus section of a current transformer at the 330-kilovolt (kV) Jebba transmission substation in Niger state, according to a statement that was released.

TCN claimed in a statement signed by Ndidi Mbah, its general manager of public affairs, that after the explosion, the commission triggered a safety mechanism that quickly opened the busbars to contain the explosion.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that the national grid experienced a temporary disturbance at about 8:15am, today, 19th Oct. 2024.

“According to the report from the NCC, the bus section of a current transformer exploded at 330kV Jebba Transmission Substation and as expected, the protection system was activated, and this promptly opened the busbars to curtail the explosion, thereby preventing outbreak of fire and further damage to adjacent equipment.

“The action of the protection system led to a temporary disturbance on the grid. Our engineers at Jebba have successfully carried out switchings, isolating the faulty current transformer. They have equally reconfigured the busbar arrangement, restoring power supply to the station, and other parts of the grid,” the statement read.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli