Diversification of Nigerian Electricity Generation Sources

Abstract

The electricity situation in Nigeria is grossly inadequate, which is largely responsible for the slow development of the country. This article therefore focuses on the progress made by Nigeria towards increasing electricity generation capacity. New power plants projects have been announced, the majority of which are gas-fired thermal plants and, to a lesser extent, hydropower. But the existing thermal stations and hydropower plants are challenged with the problem of insufficient gas supply and low water levels, respectively. Hence, Nigeria is now determined to increase electricity generation capacity and diversify the energy mix in the short-term by expanding the existing hydropower plants while installing steam turbines in the thermal plants, thus converting the open gas-fired power plants to a combined cycle. The country also plans to install a nuclear power plant in the long-term, coal-fired thermal plants, and renewable power sources (hydro, wind, solar, and biomass) in the medium-term.

Keywords:

• bioenergy
• biomass
• coal
• gasification
• hydropower
• natural gas
• solar
• thermal
• wind