The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has issued a power dip warning following the planned shutdown of a major gas facility operated by its joint venture partner, Seplat Energy Plc. The four-day maintenance exercise, scheduled from February 12 to February 15, 2026, is expected to temporarily reduce gas supply to power generation companies, potentially leading to a modest decline in electricity output nationwide.
In a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, the company explained that the shutdown is part of routine and mandatory industry-standard maintenance. Seplat Energy, a key supplier of gas to the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) pipeline network, will carry out the maintenance to ensure long-term safety, reliability, and operational efficiency of its facilities.
According to NNPC, the temporary disruption will reduce gas volumes flowing through the NGIC pipeline network, which supplies several thermal power plants and industrial customers across the country. Given that over 70 percent of Nigeria’s installed electricity generation capacity is gas-fired, even short-term supply gaps can have noticeable ripple effects on grid stability and consumer power availability.
For millions of Nigerians already grappling with inconsistent electricity supply, the announcement raises concerns about possible load management measures during the maintenance window. Historically, gas supply interruptions — whether from technical faults, vandalism, or financial disputes — have often translated into lower generation levels, with national output frequently hovering between 4,000MW and 5,000MW despite higher installed capacity.
However, NNPC sought to reassure stakeholders that mitigation efforts are underway. The company said it is working closely with Seplat Energy to ensure the maintenance is completed on schedule, while NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is engaging alternative suppliers to cushion anticipated shortfalls. Full gas supply is expected to resume promptly after the maintenance, restoring affected power plants to normal operations. The development once again highlights the delicate link between Nigeria’s upstream gas infrastructure and electricity stability, even as the Federal Government pushes forward with reforms and its “Decade of Gas” agenda.
source: punch