Strike: Nationwide Blackout Looms As PENGASSAN Shuts Gas Supply

The Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, Joy Ogaji, on Sunday raised an alarm that Nigerians may face a nationwide blackout from Monday as power over an imminent shutdown of thermal plants following directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Ogaji, who raised the alarm over the imminent blackout through a WhatsApp message on Sunday, disclosed that gas suppliers had issued notices to halt supply to thermal power stations in line with PENGASSAN’s strike resolution.
“Good day, all. Thermal GenCos have received notification from our gas suppliers to shut down our thermal power plants following directives from PENGASSAN. The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” Ogaji said in the post, just as she also warned that the development could plunge the country into darkness, as hydroelectric dams alone cannot sustain the national grid.
“Please all be notified of the imminent darkness, as hydros alone cannot sustain the system,” she added.
Her warning comes barely hours after PENGASSAN announced that it would commence a nationwide strike on Monday to protest the dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The oil workers’ union, after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, directed its members in all oil and gas installations to down tools until the sackings were reversed.
The action could cripple crude production, fuel supply, gas distribution and now electricity generation, worsening the hardship faced by Nigerians.