Power: TCN, NDPHC to sign agreement on 265mw spinning reserves

Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) are currently working on a contractual agreement by which National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) plants would provide about 265mw of spinning reserves.

Yakubu Lawal, general manager, communication and public relations, NDPHC, says the reason for the agreement is to facilitate grid responsiveness during swings and disturbances on the transmission network, including attacks on gas pipelines and grid instability.

After 10 years of conception, the provision of spinning reserve and other ancillary services are being practiced all over the world and Nigeria now largely relies on NIPP plants to provide the service, Lawal said.

“Contrary to allegation of non-relevance, the NIPP is definitely not a failed project. The NPDHC has over 2,000mw of generation capacity readily available for deployment as soon as vandalised gas processing projects are completed by the associated nominated gas suppliers, thus presenting the best opportunity for the rapid improvement of power supply.

“In the area of power generation, eight of the 10 power plants in the NIPP portfolio, along with associated gas transmission metering/receiving infrastructure projects to support commercial operation have been commissioned and connected to the national grid, contributing over 2000mw of energy daily. While it is a fact that power generation is often disrupted by acts of vandalism on gas pipelines and transmission lines, the NDPHC does not offer such incidences as excuses.

“The NDPHC has continued to operate these power plants in the interest of the Nigerian economy, despite undesirable security challenges and an accumulated debt of over N94 billion owed it by the electricity market. That’s definitely more than a tangible contribution to the nation’s supply of electricity,” he says.

He notes further that many of the NIPP power plants on the national grid also provide ancillary services in support of system operations, a contribution critical for stabilising the national grid.

“It is noteworthy that the system operator heavily depends on the NIPP plants for the provision of these critical services. Completed power plants include 750MW Olorunsogo II, 450MW Sapele, 434MW Geregu II, 450MW Omotosho II, 450MW Ihovbor, 450MW Alaoji, 563MW Calabar, and 225MW Gbarain. Imminently completed ones include 225MW Omoku, 338MW Egbema and 530mw 2nd Phase Alaoji.

“The NDPHC assets are truly the backbone of the nation’s power infrastructure. The completed power plants have been operated with private sector orientation and supported by Long Term Service Agreements (LTSA) in line with international best practice.”