Power infrastructure restored in Nigeria

26 August 2009

Nigeria's energy infrastructure has resumed normal output following damage to its gas supply.

A pipeline in the Niger Delta, which supplies energy to a number of power plants, was sabotaged by unknown attackers, AFP reports.

The line was blown up in Warri, which disrupted the delivery of gas to the Nigerian Gas Company and the state-run electricity firm Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Output decreased to 1,400 MW following the attack. However, Efuru Igbo, a spokesperson for the PHCN, said a level of 2,400 MW had been achieved following repairs to the power line.

Confirming the news, Tony Okonedo, representative of oil and gas corporation Shell, which owns the Utorogu gas site, commented: "We have resumed production at the Utorogu gas plant following the repairs of the vandalised Escravos-Lagos Pipeline."

It was claimed recently by Khosrow Rezazadeh, Iranian ambassador to Nigeria, that the country would not be able to provide enough power for its inhabitants unless it builds a nuclear power plant.

Currently, its energy provision is not enough for its 140 million population, with South Africa producing 43,000 MW for a populace that is a fraction of the size.

Category: Energy