21 December 2009
Why we cannot generate enough power
Posted by admin under: Uncategorized .
Excerpts from an article by Idris Akinbajo in 234Next of 20th December, 2009
A status report on the major power generating stations in the country, from the perspective of the managers, suggests that three major problems stand in their path to meeting the 6000MW target: inadequate equipment; gas supply challenges; and government’s lackadaisical attitude.
Below are the views of the managers and the response of the minister to their claims.
Inadequate equipment and gas supply
Kainji Dam, which has a generating target of 450MW, has been bogged down by maintenance challenges. Although, all its units have been repaired and maintained; officials still fear that “all the units are susceptible to breakdown.” The management of the station says it is “currently running each unit of the station at 55MW instead of 60MW so as not to lose the machines.” For this reason, Kainji cannot meet its target.
The Sapele power station, which has a target of 270MW that it cannot meet, shares the same fate with Kainji. This is due to “gas supply limitation” and “problem of turbine blades,” according to Chidi Ifionu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sapele power station.
The Geregu power plant which has an installed capacity of 523.5MW was allocated a target of 300MW to help realise the Yar’Adua 6000MW dream by December. However, it is only able to generate 150MW at the current review.
Read the rest of the article on 234Next
