Expert Suggests Regionalisation Of Power Grids To Tackle Ongoing Blackouts

Expert Suggests Regionalisation Of Power Grids To Tackle Ongoing BlackoutsPresident-elect of the Nigerian Academy of Science and Professor Emeritus at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Abubakar Sambo, has suggested that the frequent collapses of Nigeria’s national power grid could be mitigated through the regionalisation of the grid.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sambo made this recommendation on Thursday during the 12th convocation lecture at Kwara State University, Malete. He emphasized the need for state governments to leverage the 2023 Electricity Act to provide reliable electricity for their citizens, noting that only eight out of the 36 states have registered for the act.

According to Sambo, “The Electricity Act 2023, signed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, is a game changer in providing electricity to Nigerians.”

In his lecture titled “The Optimum Utilisation of Nigeria’s Energy Resources for the Sustainable Growth and Development of the Nation,” Sambo discussed the recent power outage that affected 17 northern states, plunging them into darkness for nearly two weeks after transmission towers were damaged by bandits. He warned that such incidents should not be allowed to recur and suggested that the frequent collapses of the national grid could be addressed through regionalisation.

Sambo proposed that states should establish their own state-wide grids, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, as part of creating their electricity markets. He explained that regional grids could operate independently, so that faults in one state would not affect others. Additionally, he recommended interconnecting state grids with those of neighboring states for greater resilience.

Sambo further stressed the importance of dispatchable power plants in each state, particularly renewable energy plants and small modular reactors, which can be easily deployed at strategic points along the national grid. He also urged the completion of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is only 70% complete. SCADA enables real-time monitoring of the grid, helping operators detect faults, manage loads effectively, and respond promptly to issues.

In addition, Sambo called for enhanced security monitoring of energy infrastructure, using cameras and sensors to prevent damage or theft of critical components like cables, transformers, and other equipment. He pointed out that electricity theft and the pilfering of electrical materials have been major challenges, further hindering the provision of reliable electricity to Nigerians.

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