The Egbin power generating station is currently undergoing a three-day shutdown, as announced by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is one of the reasons for the protracted power outage during the ongoing festive season in the Lagos area.
The decision to carry out the maintenance is to facilitate repairs on the gas pipeline supplied by the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC).
The TCN, through a notice signed by its management, confirmed the station’s closure on Monday, starting from 11:13 hours on December 18, 2023.
During this period, a reduction of 676 megawatts (MW) in bulk power generation is expected, impacting the nation’s grid and affecting the availability of bulk power to distribution companies’ load centres nationwide.
Situated in the Ikorodu axis of Lagos, the Egbin power plant typically contributes over 16 percent of the total electricity generated for the national grid.
Notably, this isn’t the first disruption, as in February 2022, the plant experienced a temporary drop in power generation due to a fire outbreak, with operations resuming shortly afterward.
Lagos residents have continued to grow under the burden of the darkness created as a result of the maintenance which is visible in the cost of cold drinks sellers are forced to cool with the use of iced blocks bought from cold rooms.