A nationwide blackout is looming as the power generating companies (GenCos) said they may be forced to shut down their thermal power plants following strike directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The executive secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, Dr. Joy Ogaji, confirmed the development in a message to stakeholders on Sunday. She revealed that gas suppliers had already issued notices to halt supply to thermal power stations in compliance with the union’s directive.
LEADERSHIP checks reveal that thermal power plants currently generate over 70 per cent of the power on the national grid.
“Thermal GenCos have received notification from our gas suppliers to shut down our thermal power plants following directives from PENGASSAN. The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” Ogaji stated.
She cautioned that hydroelectric dams alone cannot sustain the national grid, warning of “imminent darkness” if the strike proceeds.
The warning comes shortly after PENGASSAN announced plans to begin an indefinite nationwide strike action on Monday over the dismissal of more than 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The union, after an emergency NEC meeting on Saturday, directed its members across the oil and gas sector to down tools until the dismissals were reversed.
Industry experts said the strike action could paralyse crude production, fuel supply, gas distribution, and electricity generation. With thermal plants responsible for over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s power supply, analysts feared that the shutdown may overwhelm hydro power stations and trigger a total grid collapse.
