NNPC warns of temporary power dip as Seplat shuts gas plant for maintenance

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced that its joint venture partner, Seplat Energy Plc, will shut down its gas production facilities for four days to carry out routine maintenance, a move expected to temporarily reduce gas supply to power generation companies and moderately impact electricity output nationwide.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, and titled “Notice of Scheduled Maintenance on Major Gas Plant and Facilities,” the national oil firm said the maintenance would take place from February 12 to February 15, 2026.

Seplat Energy, described as a key supplier of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network, is undertaking what NNPC termed routine and mandatory industry-standard maintenance.

“The public is hereby informed that Seplat Energy Plc, a Joint Venture partner of NNPC Ltd and a key supplier of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited pipeline network, has scheduled routine maintenance on its gas production facilities from 12th to 15th February 2026,” the statement read.

It added: “This planned activity forms part of standard industry safety and asset integrity protocols designed to ensure the continued reliability, efficiency, and safe operation of critical gas infrastructure. Periodic maintenance of this nature is essential to sustain optimal system performance, strengthen operational resilience, and minimise the risk of unplanned outages.”

According to NNPC, the four-day exercise will lead to a temporary reduction in gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network, which supplies several thermal power plants and industrial customers across the country.

“During the four-day maintenance period, there will be a temporary reduction in gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network. As a result, some power generation companies reliant on this supply may experience reduced gas availability, which could modestly impact electricity generation levels within the timeframe,” Odeh stated.

Nigeria’s power sector depends heavily on gas-fired plants, which account for over 70 per cent of installed generation capacity. Most thermal plants source gas through the NGIC pipeline network and other transportation systems linking upstream producers in the Niger Delta to generation hubs in the South-West and other regions. In recent years, disruptions caused by vandalism, payment arrears and technical faults have triggered generation shortfalls and forced load management measures.

NNPC, however, assured stakeholders that steps were being taken to cushion the impact. “NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy are working closely to ensure that the maintenance is executed safely and completed as scheduled. In parallel, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is engaging alternative gas suppliers to mitigate anticipated supply gaps and maintain stability across the network,” the statement said.

The company further noted that the situation would be temporary and tightly managed. “Upon completion of the maintenance exercise, full gas supply into the NGIC system is expected to resume promptly, enabling affected power generation companies to return to normal operations. Further updates will be provided as necessary.”

While describing the maintenance as critical for long-term infrastructure integrity, the development again highlights the fragile link between Nigeria’s upstream gas operations and electricity supply stability. With average grid generation often hovering between 4,000MW and 5,000MW despite significantly higher installed capacity, even modest supply disruptions can have ripple effects across distribution networks and consumers. 

The notice comes amid ongoing electricity market reforms and efforts to deepen gas utilisation under the Federal Government’s “Decade of Gas” initiative, with stakeholders stressing the need for sustained investment in redundancy, storage and diversified energy sources to reduce exposure to periodic gas supply constraints.