Electricity generation by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria may worsen nationwide following Tuesday�s revelation that Egbin Power Station would be shut on Friday.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Gas Company, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, said the closure would last 10 days.
Ogiemwonyi, who said this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in his office, said the NGC would embark on �pigging� of the flow line conveying gas from Warri to Egbin during the period.
Ogiemwonyi said the action became imperative following constant blockage of the flow line conveying gas to Egbin by condensate especially from Iwopin.
According to him, the blockage of the flow line by condensate had resulted in pressure drop at Egbin, adding that it was desirable to remove the liquid gas along the flowline in order to ensure unhindered flow of gas to the power station.
He said power generation at Egbin reduced to 625 megawatts recently due to the menace of condensate along the flow line, adding that the station�s generation capacity would increase to 800 megawatts after clearing the flow line of impediments.
Ogiemwonyi said the current effort was initiated to prepare the flow line for optimal utilisation when the Escravos flow line vandalised in February 2006 was ready for operation.
He said, �We are having problems with the evacuation of gas to Lagos. We have huge pressure drop along the flow line to Lagos and we have to carry out another pigging to completely rid the line of liquid gas.
�The liquid gas has been accumulating in the last one year because we could not shut down for maintenance. We are carrying out another pigging this time around to remove the condensate once and for all.
�We will carry out the assignment for 10 days and the implication is that we won�t have enough gas to Lagos (Egbin). The truth is that pigging should be a routine assignment to keep the line�s integrity in place but for over two years now, we have not been able to pig these lines because of the demands of gas�, he added.
Ogiemwonyi said the step was taken in the interest of the public and urged Nigerians to bear with NGC and PHCN.
He said the exercise would culminate in better performance by PHCN as regular supply of gas to Egbin would be guaranteed thereafter.