Gas supply to power plants across the country has increased as about 300 million standard cubic feet of the product is currently being pumped into the system.
The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Gas Company, Mr. Saidu Mohammed, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday, said, "We have been able to restore gas flow and we are currently pumping 300 million standard cubic feet of gas into the system. We have isolated the vandalised pipeline and re-route gas supply to the second pipeline. Right now, gas supply has increased and the impact of the damage is now minimal.
"The power plants are coming up and they have all been told to raise generation. However, you need to know that we have lost a lot of pressure due to the vandalism (of the pipelines), and we hope to regain pressure as soon as possible so that the power plants can go at full blast. We will still go ahead to repair the vandalised pipeline."
Power generation in the country dropped by 1,598 megawatts on Sunday following the vandalism of two major pipelines supplying gas to eight power-generating stations.
The affected stations are Egbin/AES, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu NIPP, Afam IV and VI as well as River State Independent Power Station.
In a statement signed by the General Manager (Public Affairs), Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Dave Ifabiyi, the company said one of the vandalised pipelines was taking supply from the Okoloma gas plant, while the other was taking from Escravos.
Ifabiyi said, "With the disruption of gas supply through the lines, the Nigerian Gas Company is unable to move gas to Afam IV and Afam VI as well as the Independent Power Plant in Rivers State, resulting in generation loss of 593MW.
"Also, the second vandalised gas pipeline from Escravos to Warri caused a cutback of 1,005MW in power generation from Egbin/AES power generating station, Olorunsogo, Omotosho and Geregu NIPP power generating plants."
According to the statement, with the loss of 1,598MW, the total power generation as of 2pm on Sunday was 2,290MW.
