Four-day maintenance on major gas facilities to affect thermal power plants as NNPC moves to cushion impact…..
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced that its joint venture partner, Seplat Energy Plc, will temporarily shut down gas production facilities for routine maintenance, a move expected to reduce gas supply to power generation companies and slightly affect electricity output across the country.
The disclosure was contained in a statement released on Thursday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, titled “Notice of Scheduled Maintenance on Major Gas Plant and Facilities.” The maintenance is scheduled to take place from February 12 to February 15, 2026.
According to the national oil company, Seplat Energy a key joint venture partner and one of the major suppliers of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited pipeline network is carrying out what it described as mandatory, industry-standard maintenance on its gas production assets.
The company stated that the planned shutdown is part of routine safety and asset integrity procedures aimed at ensuring the continued reliability and safe operation of critical gas infrastructure.
NNPC explained that such periodic maintenance is necessary to sustain optimal system performance, strengthen operational resilience, and reduce the risk of unexpected outages.
The four-day exercise is expected to temporarily lower gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network, which delivers feedstock to several thermal power plants and industrial customers nationwide.
During the maintenance window, some power generation companies dependent on this supply may face reduced gas availability, a situation that could moderately affect electricity generation levels within the period.
Nigeria’s electricity sector relies heavily on gas-fired plants, which account for more than 70 percent of installed generation capacity. Most thermal stations obtain gas through the NGIC pipeline network and other transportation systems that connect upstream producers in the Niger Delta to major power generation hubs, particularly in the South-West and other regions.
Historically, disruptions to gas supply — whether from pipeline vandalism, financial constraints, or technical challenges — have often resulted in generation shortfalls, forcing grid operators to implement load management measures.
Despite the expected impact, NNPC assured stakeholders that measures were being put in place to minimise disruptions during the maintenance period.
The company said it is working closely with Seplat Energy to ensure the exercise is completed safely and on schedule. At the same time, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is engaging alternative gas suppliers to bridge anticipated supply gaps and help maintain network stability.
NNPC further emphasised that the situation would be temporary and carefully managed, noting that full gas supply into the NGIC system is expected to resume immediately after the maintenance is completed, allowing affected power plants to return to normal operations. Additional updates will be provided when necessary.
While the maintenance is considered essential for long-term infrastructure integrity, the development once again highlights the close link between Nigeria’s upstream gas operations and the stability of electricity supply.
With grid generation frequently ranging between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts despite significantly higher installed capacity, even minor disruptions in gas supply can trigger wider effects across the power value chain and for electricity consumers.
The announcement comes at a time when the Federal Government is pushing reforms in the electricity market and promoting increased gas utilisation under its Decade of Gas initiative. Industry stakeholders continue to stress the importance of sustained investment in redundancy, storage capacity, and diversified energy sources to reduce the grid’s vulnerability to periodic gas supply constraints.
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