POWER SUPPLY DROPS BELOW 4,000MW AS DANGOTE/PENGASSAN FACE-OFF ENTERS DAY 2
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By Sunmisola Shodayo
Nigeria’s electricity supply dipped below the 4,000 megawatt benchmark on Tuesday morning as the strike by oil and gas employees over a conflict with Dangote Petroleum Refinery entered its second day.
The confrontation between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the $20 billion Dangote Refinery arises from the reported dismissal of 800 employees by the firm.
Investigations into grid supply revealed that by 7 a.m., load distribution to electricity distribution companies had decreased to 3,656MW, down from the 4,320MW recorded the previous day. Abuja DisCo was allocated 537MW, Ikeja Electric 530MW, while Eko DisCo received 451MW.
The majority of gas-powered thermal power plants were offline, with Delta (472MW) and Egbin (447MW) serving as the principal suppliers.
In response to the situation, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) attributed the decline in generation to the industrial action by PENGASSAN within the gas supply chain.
NISO, in a statement on Tuesday morning, noted, “these disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28th September 2025, to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point.
“In response, the NISO promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid. Key interventions include:
“Hydropower Optimization: Strategic ramp-ups from major hydro stations, contributing over 400 MW of additional output to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.
“Generation Dispatch and Load Balancing: Real-time load adjustments to match available generation with system demand, while preventing a system frequency collapse.
“Voltage and Frequency Support: Continuous deployment of reactive power compensation and reserve monitoring to safeguard system integrity.
“Demand-Side Management: Selective load shedding, applied as a last resort, to avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution”.
The agency stated that “these timely actions enabled the NISO NCC to minimize the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages, sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout.
“The System Operator reaffirms its commitment to proactive grid management, operational excellence, and the application of best-in-class practices to guarantee a secure and reliable electricity supply for the nation,” the statement concluded.
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