By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE NIGERIAN government is set to transfer the management of the national grid to private entities, in a major step toward improving efficiency and addressing recurring grid collapses.
This move aligns with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, which advocates for more disciplined and professional grid management.
The plan, spearheaded by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), will establish an Independent System Operator (ISO) to oversee the grid’s operations.
The decision follows multiple collapses of the national grid, with the most recent incident occurring early Saturday morning.
NERC says an explosion at the Jebba transmission station caused the grid failure, leading to widespread power outages across the country.
This marks the third collapse in one week, after similar disruptions on Monday and Tuesday.
The NERC also confirmed that efforts to restore power have progressed, with electricity restored in 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, by Saturday afternoon.
However, the recurring nature of these grid failures has raised serious concerns about the current state of the nation’s energy infrastructure.
To prevent further disruptions, the federal government is restructuring the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to separate the system operator function.
This shift will pave the way for private companies to manage the grid under the newly formed Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
The government hopes that the ISO’s involvement will bring more discipline to grid management, attract investment, and ensure a more reliable power supply.
NERC plans to hold an investigative public hearing to identify the immediate and long-term causes of the grid disturbances.
The Commission aims to resolve the challenges plaguing the national grid by fostering private sector involvement through the creation of NISO.
Furthermore, as part of this process, NERC has directed TCN to map and transfer its market and system operation assets to NISO within the next 30 days.
NERC also said the new entity will be responsible for overseeing the grid’s operations, entering into contracts with power producers, and managing market-related activities.
Moreover, this transition is expected to usher in a more reliable and efficient energy supply system, benefiting businesses and households across Nigeria, NERC notes.
