Power outage looms amid scheduled power plants maintenance

By Obas Esiedesa

Electricity generation across the country is expected to dip temporarily as scheduled maintenance on a major gas facility will curtail supply to several thermal power plants.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Thursday announced that Seplat Energy Plc, a joint venture partner and key supplier of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network, has scheduled routine maintenance on its gas production facilities from February 12 to 15, 2026.

According to a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Andy Odeh, the four-day maintenance forms part of standard safety and asset integrity protocols aimed at ensuring the continued reliability and efficiency of critical gas infrastructure.

NNPC said the exercise would result in a temporary reduction in gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network, with some power generation companies expected to experience reduced gas availability within the period.

The company stated: “As a result, some power generation companies reliant on this supply may experience reduced gas availability, which could modestly impact electricity generation levels within the timeframe.”

NNPC added that it is working closely with Seplat Energy to ensure the maintenance is completed as scheduled, while its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), is engaging alternative gas suppliers to bridge anticipated supply gaps and maintain network stability. Full gas supply is expected to resume promptly after the maintenance window.

Corroborating the development, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that it had received formal notification of the planned shutdown and warned of anticipated gas supply constraints affecting some major thermal power plants connected to the national grid.

In a separate statement, NISO said power stations likely to be directly impacted include Egbin, Azura, Sapele, and Transcorp Power Plants. It added that NDPHC Sapele, Olorunsogo, and Omotosho power plants may also experience indirect constraints due to network-wide gas balancing effects.

The operator noted that the temporary reduction in gas availability would lead to a decline in available thermal generation capacity, underscoring the need for careful system operation to maintain grid stability.

“In line with its statutory mandate, NISO will deploy appropriate real-time operational measures to safeguard the integrity and security of the national grid throughout the maintenance window,” the statement said.

It added that any load shedding, if required, would be carried out in a structured and transparent manner in coordination with Distribution Companies (DisCos), with priority given to critical national infrastructure, essential services, and security installations.

NISO assured electricity consumers and market participants that the National Control Centre would intensify system monitoring and contingency planning during the period, with full gas supply expected to be restored on February 16, 2026.

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