Nigeria’s electricity output has dropped below the 4,000 megawatt mark following persistent gas supply shortages affecting thermal power stations nationwide.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator disclosed that total generation on the national grid stood at 3,940.53 megawatts as of 5:00 a.m. on Thursday. The agency attributed the decline to inadequate gas supply to several generation companies.
According to the system operator, the initial output was already below expected capacity due to ongoing fuel constraints. Within hours, additional generating units shut down between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., resulting in a further reduction of about 292 megawatts.
The operator noted that thermal power plants connected to the national grid require approximately 1,588.61 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate efficiently. However, current supply stands at only 652.92 million standard cubic feet per day, representing about 40 percent of daily requirements.
The shortfall has significantly limited the capacity of gas-fired plants, which account for more than 70 percent of electricity supplied to the national grid. As a result, electricity consumers across several parts of the country are experiencing supply disruptions.
The grid manager stated that it is collaborating with generation companies and gas suppliers to restore adequate fuel delivery to affected plants. It also assured stakeholders that operational steps are being taken to maintain grid stability despite the reduced generation capacity.
This latest development follows a similar warning issued in February when electricity production dropped to about 4,300 megawatts due to gas constraints. The new figure represents a further decline, underscoring the persistent fuel supply challenges within the power sector.
Nigeria’s electricity market continues to grapple with structural issues, including pipeline vandalism, limited gas infrastructure, liquidity shortfalls in the power value chain, and disputes between generation companies and gas suppliers.
Despite holding some of the largest natural gas reserves in Africa, domestic power plants frequently operate below installed capacity due to supply bottlenecks and infrastructure limitations.
Authorities have repeatedly pledged to strengthen domestic gas supply, expand pipeline networks, and improve payment guarantees within the electricity market to stabilise power generation.
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