Again, the epileptic power supply down by 500 mega watts yesterday as a result of a reduction in gas supply to two thermal power stations in the country, the nation's electricity company has said. The management of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced the reduction of the gas supply and directed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc (PHCN) to reduce electricity generation from its two power stations by about 500 mega watts, a statement from the PHCN has said



PHCN said "in view of this, we have no alternative than to start load shedding again. The load shedding is due to factors entirely outside our control and we deeply regret the inconvenience to our customers". The reduction in the gas supply affects Egbin and Delta Power Stations due to the problem of condensate evacuation from Utorogu gas station. Egbin Thermal station, located in Lagos is the country's major source of electricity at the moment and before the gas reduction is supplying an average capacity of 1,100mw of electricity.



PHCN in the last few months has experienced generation shortages due mainly to restriction in gas supply to power stations on many occasions. The statement said "this latest disruption in gas supply is coming just when all our efforts at improving power supply has started yielding results". "For the past two weeks, power supply stabilized with minimal load shedding eliciting commendation from Nigerians. Just as we were settling down at this comfort level, the NGC has again directed us to reduce generation output from the two thermal power stations by about 500mw". As soon as gas supply is restored power supply will stabilize. Daily Trust learnt that the reduction in the power supply is the second in the series of the since the new President Umar Musa Yar'adua assumes office in May, 2007. President Yar'Adua assured Nigerians with stable electricity supply within a short period of his administration.