Seven power plants across Nigeria are expected to experience gas supply constraints as Seplat Energy shuts down a major facility for scheduled maintenance, raising fears of potential electricity shortfalls and looming blackouts, the Nigerian Independent System Operator has warned.

In a notice issued on Thursday, NISO alerted electricity market participants and consumers that the maintenance, slated for February 12 to 15, 2026, would temporarily reduce gas availability to some thermal power plants. The system operator emphasised that critical national infrastructure and essential services would be prioritised should load management measures be required during the period.

Power stations projected to be directly affected include Egbin, Azura, Sapele, and Transcorp Power Plants, while NDPHC Sapele, Olorunsogo, and Omotosho plants are likely to experience indirect constraints due to network-wide gas balancing effects.

The planned maintenance affects gas supply into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network and is expected to temporarily reduce thermal generation capacity on the national grid. At least seven power stations are projected to face direct and indirect constraints during the exercise.

In a separate press statement issued by NISO management and the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, the system operator confirmed that gas availability to seven grid-connected power plants would be curtailed during the four-day exercise.

Earlier assessments by NISO indicate that the maintenance could result in a generation shortfall of about 934.96 megawatts, representing roughly 19.67 per cent of the combined available thermal and hydro generation capacity of 4,753.10MW on the grid.

“Any load shedding, if required, will be implemented in a structured, transparent, and equitable manner in close coordination with distribution companies. Priority will be accorded to critical national infrastructure, essential services, and security installations,” it emphasised.

The operator assured stakeholders that all decisions taken during the period would follow established grid security and reliability standards. “NISO assures all stakeholders and electricity consumers that every action taken during this period will be strictly guided by established operational procedures, grid security requirements, and reliability standards.