The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in a statement issued on Saturday afternoon stated that the National Grid collapse on Saturday morning that threw Nigerians across the country into another blackout, was caused by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station.
The statement reads, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.
“Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and associated cascade of power plants shutdown arising from the loss of load.
“However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.”
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that the national grid experienced a temporary disturbance at about 8:15 am, 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 electricity regulatory commission further stated that in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator function (ISO) out of Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc is ongoing with the expectation that an independent SO would engender more discipline in grid management and optimised investment in infrastructure.
The Commission further said, “In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing with a view to identifying immediate and remote causes of recurring incidence of grid disturbances and widespread outages.
“The date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate.”
There have been reports that the national grid collapse two times within one week while the Saturday collapse made the third time within the same week with the power generation falling to zero MW.
On Wednesday the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced that supply had been restored to the Abuja axis and other major distribution load centres nationwide after the national grid collapsed on Monday.
TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, had disclosed this in a statement, adding that ongoing restoration of the national grid was still ongoing and almost completed.