The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) says industrial action within the gas supply chain resulted in reduction in power generation by more than 1,100MW on Sept 28.
According to NISO’s Management in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, available generation in the National Grid fell sharply from over 4,300MW in the early hours of Sept. 28, to about 3,200MW at the lowest point.
“NISO wishes to notify the public of recent major generation shortfalls on the National Grid, caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.
“These disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours Sept. 28th to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point”’it said.
NISO said that the development heightened pressure on the grid, prompting emergency measures to stabilise supply and avert a nationwide blackout.
”To mitigate the crisis, the system operator said that it ramped up generation from major hydropower stations, injecting over 400MW to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.
The agency said that it also implemented real-time load adjustments, frequency support measures, and selective load shedding to preserve operational security.
NISO said it promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid. Key interventions which include
“Hydropower Optimisation: 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,”it said.
According to NISO, these timely actions enabled the it and National Control Centre (NCC) to minimise 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 however reaffirmed 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”.
NAN reports that PENGASSAN attributed its latest action to Dangote Refinery’s alleged unilateral action in sacking over 800 staff members for joining the Association.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of PENGASSAN held an emergency meeting of all its branches on Saturday, and resolved that members should withdraw all services effective 00:01 on Monday..
The federal government has waded into the face-off between the Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN .
A meeting chaired by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, underscored two recent developments, including the purported suspension of the Naira-for-Crude oil arrangement by the Dangote Refinery, and the concerns raised by PENGASSAN.
The conciliation meeting between the Federal Government, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the Dangote Group ended in deadlock late Monday.
The meeting, which lasted more than nine hours, was convened by the Federal Government to resolve the lingering industrial dispute over the alleged sack of 800 workers by the Dangote Refinery.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, who chaired the meeting, told newsmen in the early hours of Tuesday that progress had been made but two key issues remained unresolved.
“The only issues on the table are the reinstatement of the sacked workers and unionisation. Apart from these, no other matters are lingering.
“We have made a lot of progress and we are optimistic that by later today, when we resume by 2 p.m., we should be able to arrive at a resolution,” he said.
PENGASSAN President, Mr Festus Osifo, said no agreement was reached on the reinstatement of the more than 800 dismissed workers.
“Unfortunately, there is no solution for now. All we want is that the 800-plus people who were sent home be reinstated.
“These people are fathers and mothers, and their careers are at stake,” Osifo said.
He added that branding some of the workers as saboteurs had further damaged their chances of securing employment in the oil and gas industry.
“If they go home like that, there is no other company in Nigeria that will employ them because they have been seen as saboteurs.
“These are careers that will be damaged if proper remedy is not put in place,” he said.
Osifo stressed that the strike would continue until the workers were reinstated.
“Our position is clear: if you reinstate them now, we will call off our action now.
“But that reinstatement did not happen. So, as it stands, the strike continues until we reconvene later today,” he stated.
He further confirmed that the Dangote Group had admitted to dismissing the workers.
“They agreed that they dismissed 800 people, and the reason was stated in the letter.
“It cannot be false because the letters of dismissal are already in the media.
“It is not our word against theirs, but what they themselves signed in the communication they released last Thursday,” Osifo said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, expressed concern about the economic risks of the prolonged strike.
“We need to limit the damage of this action to the economy. We need gas flowing, we need crude flowing as inputs into production.
“We do not want the current momentum of growth to be broken,” he said.
Edun added that the government was optimistic about breaking the deadlock,adding that putting the issue behind us so the Nigerian economy can move forward.
