TCN: National grid collapse caused by tripping of power station units

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has successfully restored the national grid following a system failure.

On July 6, the national electricity grid suffered a collapse for the fourth time in 2024, leading to a nationwide blackout.

In a statement on Sunday by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s spokesperson, the company said full restoration was achieved by 9:57 pm on the same day.

The firm said the system disturbance was suspected to be caused by an unexpected tripping of 3 units of a power generating station, which suddenly removed 313 megawatts (MW) from the grid.

“The system disturbance, which brings to three, the partial grid disturbances, with one total disturbance this year, is suspected to have been triggered by the unexpected tripping of three (3) units of a power generating station, which suddenly removed 313MW from the grid, causing system instability that led to the loss of bulk supply to a section of the national grid,” the TCN said.

“Meanwhile, the system operator reacted to the sudden drop in generation which led to a dip in frequency, by islanding a section of the grid which includes the Ibom Power Station through which the company continued to feed Uyo, Aba, Itu, Eket, Calabar etc even when the other section of the grid had no supply.”

The TCN said operators began grid restoration efforts immediately after the incident, successfully restoring the entire affected section of the grid.