In a bid to address the challenges of low gas supply to Gas (Thermal) Power Generating Stations in the country, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo and his Power counterpart, Adebayo Adelabu have set up an Inter-ministerial Committee.
It said the committee will help suggest ways and means of achieving a steady and sustainable gas supply to the Gas Power Generating Plants to meet both the domestic and industrial needs of Nigerians.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee was constituted at the end of the meeting between the two Ministries in Abuja.
At the meeting, Ekpo identified decade of Gas legacy debts; vandalization of gas resources infrastructures in the Niger Delta Region; domestic pricing of gas in dollars among others, as challenges causing the low supply of gas to the thermal power plants.
He, however, expressed his willingness to work harmoniously with any individual, organization, or Agency to solve these challenges.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu stressed the need for the two Ministries to work collaboratively and solve the problem of low gas supply to the Thermal Power Plants to achieve uninterrupted power supply in the country,
He noted the importance of stable power supply to economic development in the country saying: “there is absolutely nothing that can be done in Nigeria without stable power.”
Members of the committee were drawn from the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power, Regulatory Agencies, Operators, and Critical Stakeholders in the Gas and Power Sectors.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had attributed the recent partial grid collapse to lingering gas constraints.
According to the Company, gas constraints have continued to impact grid flexibility and stability.
“Ensuring sufficient gas supply to power generating stations is crucial for grid stability as sufficient generation allows for better grid management in the event of sudden generation losses like this. TCN will investigate the cause of tripping of Sapele Steam & Egbin power generating units,” it noted.