STRUCTURE, REQUIREMENTS AND
PERFORMANCE OF SYSTEM
OPERATIONS IN THE NIGERIAN
ELECTRICITY MARKET
Engr Jonathan .U. Ndiagwalukwe

TCN APPROVED STRUCTURE FOR THE SYSTEM OPERATOR
ED (System Operations)
PM ( F&A )
PM (Procurement)
PM (Regulation)
GM (Grid Control)NCC
AGM (Ops
Plan)
GM (Power Syst Plan)
AGM (PSPD)
AGM (Sys
Control)
AGM
Ancillary/Liaison
GM (Syst Ops) HQ
AGM(Ops &Plan)
AGM(SO)
SNCC/RCC Shiroro
GM
(Technical Service)
AGM Com Proj
AGM
SCADA Proj
AGM(TS)WEST
AGM(TS) EAST
AGM(TS)
NORTH
AGM (Hydro)

EXERCISE GRID CONTROL SO AS TO
MAINTAIN EFFICIENT, COORDINATED AND
ECONOMIC SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE GRID CODE AND
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES.

• GRID FREQUENCY AND VOLTAGE CONTROL & ECONOMIC
DISPATCH OF GENERATING UNITS
• LOAD ALLOCATION IN TIMES OF INSUFFICIENT GENERATION
• COORDINATE ALL PLANNED OUTAGES FOR THE
MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEM EQUIPMENT
• DESIGN, INSTALL AND MAINTAIN SCADA AND
COMMUNICATION FACILITIES FOR EFFECTIVE GRID
OPERATIONS
• PROCURE & MANAGE ANCILLARY SERVICES
• ENFORCE THE GRID CODE AND THE OPERATIONAL
PROCEDURES
• PERFORM POST FAULT ANALYSIS OF ALL MAJOR GRID
DISTURBANCE

GENERATION PROFILE (2007 – 2011)
YEAR
2007
AVE. GEN.
AVAILABILIT
Y (MW)
PEAK
GENERATION
(MW)
4,156.19
3,599.60
MAXIMUM
DAILY
ENERGY
GENERATED
(MWH)
TOTAL ENERGY
GENERATED
(MWH)
TOTAL ENERGY
SENT OUT (MWH)
%
LOSSES
75,372.00 23,186,542.92
22,255,754.83 8.25
2008 4,232.61
3,596.90
79,897.05 21,597,413.28
21,041,043.67 9.05
2009 4,825.17
3,710.00
82,652.37 20,893,432.80
20,329,451.42 8.41
2010 4,212.70
3,804.30
85,457.49 25,020,297.11
24,362,423.46 9.98
2011
(JAN –
OCT)
4,328.42
4,054.20
90,315.27 22,585,507.64
22,001,560.26 9.32

GENERATION PROFILE
• MAXIMUM ACTUAL GENERATION CAPABILITY TO DATE OF
5317MW (6/10/11)
• PEAK GENERATION TO DATE OF 4,054.2MW PLUS
• MAXIMUM ENERGY GENERATED TO DATE OF 90,315.27MWh
(16/04/11)
• SPINNING RESERVE CAPACITY OF 300MW AS AT TODAY
29/11/11

. FREQENCY CONTROL
 A MEASURE OF STABILITY ACHIEVED WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF SPINNING RESERVE ON
15/01/2011. SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE
NUMBER OF SYSTEM COLLAPSES.
 EGBIN, KAINJI & DELTA REGULATING THE SYSTEM
AT PRESENT.
 IPPs HAVE BEEN INVITED TO JOIN BUT THEY ARE
YET TO DO SO.
 ANCILARY SERVICES INCENTIVE NOW EXISTS
 NERC TO ENFORCE SPECIFICATIONS FOR NEW
PLANTS COMING INTO THE GRID. TOO MANY
BASE LOAD MACHINES IN THE SYSTEM.

. VOLTAGE CONTROL
 LOW VOLTAGE PROBLEM IN THE NORTH AFFECTING
ABUJA, KADUNA, KANO AND GOMBE
 MORE COMPENSATION DEVICES LIKE CAPACITOR BANKS
REQUIRED IN THE INTERIM.
 SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSER OPERATION OF SHIRORO
MACHINES YET TO BE EXPLORED
 LONG TERM SOLUTION IS TO HAVE GENERATION IN THESE
LOCATIONS, MAMBILA FOR EXAMPLE.
 HIGH VOLTAGE NODES LIKE BENIN, OSOGBO AND BIRNIN
KEBBI NEED REACTORS. BENIN HAS JUST RECEIVED ONE FOR
INSTALLATION.
 COORDINATED GRID DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING THE SO,
TSP, GENCOS DISCOS A NECESSITY

 RADIAL NETWORK. TRIPPING OF A SINGLE LINE CAN COLLAPSE THE SYSTEM.
 LOOPS ON THE GRID LIKE ALAOJI-IKOT EKPENE-UGWUAJI-MAKURDI-JOS 330KV LINE
UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE PROPOSED ALAOJI-P/H-DELTA LINES WILL ACHIEVE
THIS
 POWER EVACUATION FROM THE SOUTH EAST LIMITED BY SECURITY ISSUES ARISING
FROM CRITICAL LINES THAT ARE SINGLE CIRCUITS (ALAOJI-ONITSHA AND BENIN-
ONITSHA 330KV LINES).
 2 ND BENIN- ONITSHA 330KV LINE BILLED FOR COMPLETION IN THE 1 ST QUARTER OF
2012.
 2 ND ALAOJI-OWERRI-NNEWI-ONITSHA 330KV LINE STILL AT PROCUREMENT STAGE
 ONLY DELTA POWER STATION CAN BLACKSTART THE SYSTEM AT PRESENT
 GAS SUPPLY ISSUES

 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS IS A VITAL TOOL FOR SYSTEM
OPERATIONS.
 SERVES FOR VOICE, TELEPROTECTION AND SCADA
 VARIOUS COMMUNICATION MEDIA
 OPTIC FIBRE
 POWER LINE CARRIER (PLC)
 MICROWAVE
 RADIO
 GSM
 THE SO IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT TO
INTEGRATE VARIOUS EQUIPMENT FROM DIFFERENT VENDORS FOR
OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

• AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR REAL TIME GRID
OPERATION
• OLD SCHEME HAS 26 RTUs WITH HIGH RTU
OUTAGE RATE
• MEASURERANDS INACCURATE AND UNRELIABLE
• NEW SCADA SCHEME BY SIEMENS (NIG)
EQUIPPED WITH 130 RTUs IS YET TO BE
COMMISSIONED
• IN-HOUSE SCADA RESTORATION TEAM SETUP
• ONE YEAR MTCE CONTRACT APPROVED FOR
SIEMENS OF GERMANY TO REHABILITATE THE
NEW SCHEME

GRID CODE & OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
• GRID CODE EXISTS WITH AMENDMENTS REQUIRED
• FORENSIC REVIEW OF THE GRID CODE WITHIN
SYSTEM OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS.
• AMMENDMENTS TO BE PROPOSED TO NERC AFTER
THE FORENSIC WORKSHOP
• GRID CODE AWARENESS WORKSHOPS FOR
STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTINUE AFTER THE
FORENSIC REVIEW.
• OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES TO BE REVISED TO
MEET CURRENT REALITIES
• OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AWARENESS
WORKSHOPS TO BE ORGANIZED

• CURRENTLY THE SO IS TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON TCN FOR THE
FUNDING OF OPERATIONAL, ADMINSTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL
ACTIVITIES.
• IT IS DIFFICULT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY UNDER THE PRESENT
CIRCUMSTANCE, GIVEN THE NUMEROUS THE VARIOUS
ACTIVITIES LIKE SPINNING RESERVE MGT, GRID CODE
FORENSIC WORKSHOP, FREQUENCY MGT MEETINGS, GRID
CODE AWARENESS WORKSHOPS, OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE
REVIEWS ETC.
• SOME INDEPENDENCE REQUIRED IF THE SO IS TO MEET ITS
OBLIGATIONS TO THE MARKET.
• THE SO SHALL NOT RELENT UNTIL THERE IS STABLE, SECURE
AND RELIABLE POWER SUPPLY IN NIGERIA.