Grid weakens as energy plant availability drops to 41%

Nigeria’s energy grid slipped additional in November as new information from the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee revealed a recent decline in obtainable era capability regardless of improved output from main hydro and gasoline vegetation.

The November 2025 Operational Efficiency Factsheet, launched on Thursday, confirmed that plant availability dropped to 41 per cent, down from 42 per cent recorded in October, leaving the nation with 5,544 megawatts obtainable for dispatch out of a complete 13,625MW put in throughout 28 grid-connected vegetation.

Though availability weakened, era strengthened. NERC reported a ten per cent rise in common hourly era, from 4,271MWh/h in October to 4,701MWh/h in November, following stronger efficiency by main hydro stations.

The factsheet additionally confirmed that the load issue rose to 85 per cent in November, seven share factors greater than the 78 per cent recorded in October. This implies the grid utilised extra of the capability made obtainable by era corporations in comparison with the previous month.

The contrasting developments, decrease availability however greater utilisation, mirror the continued strain on the grid, as operators are pressured to stretch restricted era belongings to keep up provide.

The report learn, “The November 2025 Operational Efficiency Factsheet breaks down how Nigeria’s grid-connected energy vegetation carried out this month. Plant Availability Issue: 41 per cent, exhibiting that a mean of 5,544 MW was obtainable for dispatch out of 13,625 MW put in capability. Common Load Issue: 85 per cent, exhibiting that 4,701 MWh/h of obtainable capability was utilised.”

Hydropower vegetation dominated the leaderboard of prime contributors in November.

Zungeru operated at 100 per cent availability, producing 412MWh/h. Kainji posted 77 per cent availability and produced 565MWh/h, with a excessive 97 per cent utilisation.

Jebba maintained 93 per cent availability, producing 444MWh/h. The Ihovbor gasoline plant additionally featured prominently, reaching 99 per cent availability and producing 419MWh/h, a efficiency that improved on its October output.

“Prime Vitality Producers: Ihovbor, Kainji, Zungeru, and Jebba stood out with robust availability and excessive utilisation ranges,” It added.

In the meantime, Egbin, the nation’s largest thermal plant, operated at 50 per cent availability, down from an estimated 53 per cent in October, however delivered greater output as a result of a stronger 94 per cent load issue.

Some vegetation continued to underperform, contributing to the drop in nationwide availability. Olorunsogo II operated at 8 per cent availability, Afam II at 27 per cent, Sapele Steam I at 3 per cent, and Alaoji I recorded zero availability, the identical sample noticed in October.

Though these belongings maintained comparatively excessive load components, their low availability continues to depress the grid’s operational capability. NERC flagged deteriorating grid stability, with voltage and frequency ranges falling outdoors operational limits.

The month-to-month common decrease voltage fell to 296.50kV, considerably beneath the authorised decrease restrict of 313.50kV and weaker than the typical 302kV recorded in October. The higher voltage stayed inside authorised boundaries at 345.67kV, marginally higher than October.

Grid frequency additionally slipped additional outdoors the permitted band of 49.75Hz – 50.25Hz, ranging between 49.53Hz and 50.62Hz in November, in comparison with 49.60Hz – 50.55Hz in October.

In response to NERC, such deviations heighten the chance of grid disturbances, tools journeys, and partial collapses.

The report comes at a time when the Federal Authorities is pushing aggressive reforms to stabilise Nigeria’s electrical energy market below the amended Electrical energy Act, together with decentralised state-led energy markets and new liquidity measures for the nationwide grid.

Regardless of these efforts, November’s truth sheet underscores Nigeria’s long-running dilemma that stronger era from a handful of vegetation can not compensate for deep structural inefficiencies, ageing belongings, gasoline provide bottlenecks and insufficient transmission capability.