18 Power Plants Cut Output In Six Months, Says NERC

Eighteen power plants across Nigeria recorded declines in the first and second quarters of 2025, a report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed.

THE WHISTLER recalls that the two quarters cover January to June.

The commission’s 2025 second report showed that the average hourly generation on the national grid dropped by 5.65%, from 4,770.59MWh/h in the first quarter (Q1) to 4,501.06MWh/h/h/h/h in Q2, while total generation declined by 4.60%, from 10,304.47GWh to 9,830.31GWh.

It attributed the decline in generation to reduced load offtake by grid-connected customers, including electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

Among the 18 plants that recorded drops in performance, Odukpani_1 led with the highest reduction of 100.40MWh/h, followed by Geregu_2 (-81.47MWh/h), Delta_1 (-68.47MWh/h), Shiroro_1 (-46.07MWh/h), Afam_2 (-34.77MWh/h), and Rivers_1 (-31.40MWh/h).

Conversely, four plants—Geregu_1 (+97.29MWh/h/h), Egbin_1 (+87.30MWh/h/h), Ihovbor_1 (+15.11MWh/h), and Olorunsogo_2 (+12.58MWh/h)—recorded increases in average hourly generation compared to the previous quarter.

“In total, eighteen (18) plants recorded decreases in their average hourly generation across the quarters. Significant decreases in average hourly generation were recorded in Odukpani_1 (-100.40MWh/h), Geregu_2 (-81.47MWh/h), Delta_1 (- 68.47MWh/h), Shiroro_1 (-46.07MWh/h), Afam_2 (-34.77MWh/h) and Rivers_1 (-31.40MWh/h) power plants.

“Conversely, increases in average hourly generation were recorded in Geregu_1 (+97.29MWh/h/h), Egbin_1 (+87.30MWh/h), Ihovbor_1 (+15.11MWh/h), and Olorunsogo_2 (+12.58MWh/h) power plants across the quarters, the report stated.

The report further revealed that cumulative average hourly generation from grid-connected thermal plants decreased by 201.38MWh/h (-6.02%) in Q2, with 15 of the 23 thermal plants recording declines.

System performance indicators also showed that frequency and voltage levels deviated from the normal operating ranges during the period.

During the period under review, the average lower daily frequency stood at 49.33Hz and the upper at 50.78Hz, both outside the standard operating limits of 49.75Hz–50.25Hz, although still within stress limits.

Similarly, the average lower system voltage of 300.05kV fell below the 313.50kV limit, while the upper voltage of 345.31kV remained within the acceptable threshold.

NERC attributed the overall decline in generation to reduced demand and energy offtake from grid-connected customers, a situation that continues to affect stability and reliability in the national grid.

18 Power Plants Cut Output In Six Months, Says NERC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper