Seven grid-connected power plants across Nigeria are expected to experience reduced electricity generation as Seplat Energy shuts down a key gas facility for scheduled maintenance from February 12 to 15, 2026.
ENigeria Newspaper reported that the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) had warned that the outage could trigger temporary power shortages and localized blackouts.
NISO’s notice said gas supply to thermal plants, including Egbin, Azura, Sapele, and Transcorp, will be temporarily curtailed, while other stations such as NDPHC Sapele, Olorunsogo, and Omotosho may feel indirect constraints due to network-wide gas balancing. The system operator emphasized that critical infrastructure and essential services would receive priority if load management measures are necessary.
The scheduled maintenance, affecting the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network, could reduce national thermal generation by an estimated 935MW, roughly 20% of Nigeria’s combined available thermal and hydro capacity. NISO assured the public that any load shedding would be implemented transparently and in coordination with distribution companies.
Seplat Energy, a joint venture partner of NNPC Ltd, described the maintenance as routine, aimed at ensuring asset integrity, operational efficiency, and safety. NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is engaging alternative suppliers to mitigate disruptions and restore full gas flow after the exercise.
Experts, however, say Nigeria’s power system remains vulnerable. Adetayo Adegbemle, Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, criticized the sector’s lack of contingency planning, highlighting the absence of gas storage and strategic reserves to cushion against scheduled or unexpected outages. “With proper foresight, the impact of routine maintenance could be minimized,” he said, noting that reliance on gas-fired plants continues to make electricity supply fragile.
Nigeria’s electricity grid, heavily dependent on thermal power from gas, frequently faces bottlenecks caused by pipeline constraints, maintenance, and other operational challenges. Even with installed capacity exceeding 13,000MW, actual generation often hovers around 4,000–5,000MW, leaving households and businesses susceptible to disruptions.
For millions of Nigerians, this translates into dimmed homes, increased generator use, and higher fuel costs during the maintenance window, underscoring the country’s ongoing challenge of aligning gas supply with power demand.
