Nationwide blackout: FG confirms collapse of national grid

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The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has confirmed that the nation’s power grid has collapsed.

In a statement issued around on Wednesday, the ministry said a fire incident at the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System near Okada, Edo State, on Tuesday caused the national transmission grid to trip off.

“It is regrettable that after a sustained period of increasing production and distribution of power since September 2017 to date, the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd reported a fire incident on its Escravos Lagos Pipeline System near Okada, Edo State on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

“The incident requires a shutdown of the pipeline supplying gas to Egbin 1,320megawatts; Olorunsogo NIPP 676MW; Olorunsogo 338MW; Omotosho NIPP 450MW; Omotosho 338 MW; and Paras 60MW power stations.

“The sudden loss of generation due to interruption in gas supply from these stations caused the national transmission grid to trip off around 20:20 on 2nd January 2018. The national transmission grid is owned and operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria,” the ministry stated.