The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has released its August 2026 operational performance report, revealing that Nigeria's grid-connected power plants operated at an average of 86% of their available capacity. The report highlights that the power plants had an average available capacity of 4,758 megawatts (MW) during the month, with an average hourly generation of 4,102MW. This indicates that about 656MW of the available generation capacity was not utilised on average during the period.
The NERC report shows that some major energy producers recorded high load factors, with Kainji_1 operating at 98%, generating 345MW out of 352MW available capacity. Afam_2 recorded 99%, with 262MW generated against 265MW available. Egbin_1 operated at 96%, generating 333MW from 347MW of available capacity, while Ihovbor_2 recorded 92%, generating 418MW from 454MW of available capacity. Other major plants, including Delta_1, Zungeru_1, Odukpani_1, Shiroro_1, Jebba_1, and Okpai_1, also recorded significant load factors.
Despite the relatively high utilisation rate, the NERC report noted breaches of prescribed grid frequency and voltage limits during the month. The average lower grid frequency was 49.34Hz, while the average upper grid frequency was 50.67Hz, exceeding the prescribed operating range of 49.75Hz to 50.25Hz. Similarly, the monthly average lower grid voltage was recorded at 302.29 kilovolts (kV), while the average upper grid voltage stood at 349.68kV, both exceeding the prescribed voltage range of 313.50kV to 346.50kV.
The data showed significant differences in plant utilisation, with some plants recording 100% load factors. Olorunsogo_1 generated 115MW from 115MW of available capacity, while Omoku_1 and Igbafо_1 also recorded 100% utilisation. Omotosho_1 generated 148MW from 149MW available, representing a 99% load factor. However, some plants recorded substantially lower utilisation, with Afam_1 operating at 67%, Ikeja_1 at 76%, and Ihovbor_1 at 79%.
Several listed plants recorded zero generation during the month, including Sapele_2, Alaoji_1, Geregu_2, and Ibom Power_1. On the other hand, Olorunsogo_2 generated 87MW from 109MW available, while Sapele_1 generated 25MW from 27MW available. The varying utilisation rates across plants highlight the complexities of Nigeria's power generation landscape.
The NERC report provides valuable insights into the performance of Nigeria's power plants. The commission's data indicates that the grid operated at a relatively high utilisation of available generating capacity in August. However, frequency and voltage excursions remained notable operational issues, requiring attention from stakeholders to ensure a stable and efficient power supply.
Overall, the August figures demonstrate the need for continued monitoring and improvement of Nigeria's power infrastructure. Key points from the report include:
Key points
- Nigeria's grid-connected power plants operated at an average of 86% of their available capacity in August 2026.
- The power plants had an average available capacity of 4,758MW and an average hourly generation of 4,102MW.
- Frequency and voltage breaches were recorded, with average grid frequency and voltage exceeding prescribed limits.
