Gas supply not responsible for low power generation, NNPC insists

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has rejected claims that issues in its gas transportation system are contributing to the drop in electricity generation. The NNPC maintains that its pipelines are available to supply gas to power plants across the country, with no constraints in its operational records that could explain the recent decline in power generation.

This stance comes after a disagreement over the factors behind the worsening electricity supply situation, following the Nigerian Independent System Operator's (NISO) assertion that limited gas availability and reduced water flows to hydroelectric power stations were partly responsible for the decline. In response, the NNPC released a statement on Saturday in Abuja, asserting that the company's operational records do not indicate transportation-related issues in their gas transportation infrastructure.

The company highlighted that gas production has increased by around 10% year to date in 2026, as part of the Federal Government's gas development and monetisation agenda. NNPC's Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, emphasized that the company is focused on realizing the Federal Government's gas development and monetisation objectives, leading to a 10% growth in gas production so far this year.

However, the NNPC clarified that the availability of its transportation network does not automatically imply that all other stages of the gas-to-power chain are functioning optimally. The statement emphasized that gas production, commercial supply arrangements, and actual deliveries to individual power plants must be assessed separately from the availability of transportation infrastructure.

The NNPC also pointed out that factors such as the operational readiness of generating units, maintenance schedules, and actual gas offtake should be considered in determining why electricity generation has declined. In this regard, the company called for a comprehensive review involving gas suppliers, transporters, power generators, and NISO to determine the specific constraints affecting electricity generation and the necessary interventions.

While NISO's statement on November 5 identified limited gas availability and reduced hydroelectric output as contributing factors, the NNPC's statement focused solely on the condition of its own transportation network. The company stressed the importance of accurate reporting across the gas-to-power value chain to address the challenges and maintain public confidence.