Nigeria’s Grid Power Plants Utilised 81% of Available Capacity in September, NERC Says

By Atlantic Reports

Nigeria’s grid-connected power plants utilised an average of 81 per cent of their available generation capacity in September, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The commission disclosed this in its September Operational Performance Fact Sheet posted on its official X handle on Thursday.

According to the report, an average of 5,038 megawatts (MW) was available for dispatch during the month.

Average hourly generation stood at 4,089 MW, representing an average load factor of 81 per cent of available generation capacity.

Kainji Leads Plant Utilisation

The NERC fact sheet also highlighted the performance of individual power plants during the month.

Kainji_1 recorded the highest load factor at 98 per cent, indicating that it operated close to its available capacity during the period.

Afam_2 and Egbin_1 followed, with each recording a load factor of 94 per cent.

The three plants were identified among the top energy producers based on their reported utilisation levels during September.

What the Figures Show

The reported figures provide an indication of how much of Nigeria’s available grid-connected generation capacity was actually deployed for electricity production during the month.

An 81 per cent average load factor means that, on average, the generation fleet produced electricity at a level equivalent to 81 per cent of the capacity that was available for dispatch.

However, available generation capacity does not necessarily represent electricity ultimately delivered to consumers. Transmission constraints, distribution limitations, system demand and other operational factors can affect how much generated electricity reaches end users.

NERC’s monthly operational performance reports are therefore useful for tracking the utilisation of the country’s generation fleet and identifying changes in power-sector performance over time.

The September figures also underline the importance of looking beyond installed generation capacity to determine how much electricity is actually available and utilised on the national grid.

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